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George Floyd Death: Clashes Across US As Protesters Demand Justice

 

Protesters have clashed with police in cities across the US over the killing of an unarmed African-American man at the hands of officers in Minneapolis.

Minnesota’s governor said the tragedy of the death of George Floyd in police custody had morphed into “something much different – wanton destruction”.

New York, Atlanta, Portland and other cities have seen violence, while the White House was briefly locked down.

An ex-Minneapolis policeman has been charged with murder over the death.

  • In pictures: Unrest spreads across US
  • Why has a US city gone up in flames?

Derek Chauvin, who is white, was shown in footage kneeling on 46-year-old Mr Floyd’s neck on Monday. He and three other officers have since been sacked.

Mr Chauvin, 44, is due to appear in court in Minneapolis for the first time on Monday.

A protester throws a fire extinguisher into a burning building overnight in MinneapolisA protester throws a fire extinguisher into a burning building overnight in Minneapolis

President Donald Trump has described the incident as “a terrible, terrible thing” and said he had spoken with Mr Floyd’s family, whom he described as “terrific people”.

The Floyd case has reignited US anger over police killings of black Americans, and reopened deep wounds over racial inequality across the nation.

It follows the deaths of Michael Brown, Eric Garner and others, which have all occurred since the Black Lives Matter movement was sparked by the acquittal of neighbourhood watchman George Zimmerman in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin in 2012.

What’s the latest on the protests?

Minnesota remains the most volatile region, with curfews ordered for the Twin Cities of Minneapolis-Saint Paul from 20:00 to 06:00 on Friday and Saturday evening.

Protesters defied the curfew on Friday. Fires, many from burning cars, were visible in a number of areas with fire officials unable to reach some sites.

Television pictures also showed looting in Minneapolis, with police officers thin on the ground.

Prosecutor details charges of murder and manslaughter

Only at about midnight (05:00 GMT) did police and National Guard troops move in in any numbers, the Star Tribune reports.

State Governor Tim Walz, in an early morning press briefing, described the situation as “chaotic, dangerous and unprecedented”.

He said he took responsibility for “underestimating the wanton destruction and the sheer size of this crowd” when questioned about the lack of police on the streets.

He said the Guard deployment was the largest in state history but admitted “there’s simply more of them than us”. He said those on the streets “don’t give one damn” about the stay-at-home order.

The Pentagon has put the military on alert for possible deployment in Minneapolis.

  • Twitter hides Trump tweet for ‘glorifying violence’

On Friday evening, crowds gathered near the White House in Washington waving photographs of Mr Floyd and chanting “I can’t breathe” – invoking his last words and those of Eric Garner, a black man who died after being held in a police chokehold in New York in 2014.

The White House was then temporarily placed on lockdown, with the US Secret Service closing entrances and exits.

In Atlanta, a state of emergency was declared for some areas to protect people and property. Buildings were vandalised and a police vehicle was set alight as protesters gathered near the offices of news broadcaster CNN.

Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms issued a passionate plea, saying: “This is not a protest. This is not in the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr. You are disgracing our city. You are disgracing the life of George Floyd.”

A police car burns in Atlanta, Georgia, as people protest against the death in Minneapolis police custody of African-American man George Floyd
A police car burns as protesters gather near the CNN offices in Atlanta, Georgia

In New York’s Brooklyn district, protesters clashed with police, throwing projectiles, starting fires and destroying police vehicles. A number of officers were injured and many arrests made.

Mayor Bill de Blasio tweeted: “We don’t ever want to see another night like this.”

The mayor of Portland, Oregon, has declared a state of emergency amid looting, fires and an attack on a police precinct. An immediate curfew until 06:00 local time (13:00 GMT) was imposed and it will restart at 20:00.

Protesters use milk to treat the sting of tear gas in New York City
Protesters use milk to treat the sting of tear gas in New York City

In Detroit, police are investigating after a 19-year-old man was killed when a vehicle pulled up to protesters and shots were fired into the crowd.

In Dallas, officers launched tear gas canisters after they were pelted with stones, with tear gas also fired in PhoenixIndianapolis and Denver.

Protesters blocked roads in Los Angeles and also in Oakland, where windows were smashed and “Kill Cops” graffiti sprayed.

What are the legal moves so far?

Mr Chauvin has been charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter over his role in Mr Floyd’s death.

Mr Floyd’s family and their lawyer, Benjamin Crump, said that this was “welcome but overdue”.

The family said they wanted a more serious, first-degree murder charge as well as the arrest of the three other officers involved.

Derek Chauvin, 44, is due to appear in court in Minneapolis on Monday
Derek Chauvin is due to appear in court in Minneapolis on Monday

Hennepin County Prosecutor Mike Freeman said he “anticipates charges” for the other officers but would not offer more details.

Mr Freeman said his office “charged this case as quickly as evidence has been presented to us”.

“This is by far the fastest that we’ve ever charged a police officer,” he noted.

According to the criminal complaint, Mr Chauvin acted with “a depraved mind, without regard for human life”.

Meanwhile, Mr Chauvin’s wife has filed for divorce, her lawyers say.

How did George Floyd die?

The full report by the county medical examiner has not been released, but the complaint states that the post-mortem examination did not find evidence of “traumatic asphyxia or strangulation”.

The medical examiner noted Mr Floyd had underlying heart conditions and the combination of these, “potential intoxicants in his system” and being restrained by the officers “likely contributed to his death”.

Protests over death of George Floyd, killed in police custody in Minneapolis
Demonstrations and protests have continued since Mr Floyd’s death in police custody on Monday

The report says Mr Chauvin had his knee on Mr Floyd’s neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds – almost three minutes of which was after Mr Floyd became non-responsive.

Nearly two minutes before he removed his knee the other officers checked Mr Floyd’s right wrist for a pulse and were unable to find one. He was taken to the Hennepin County Medical Center in an ambulance and pronounced dead around an hour later.

The Minnesota police handbook states that officers trained on how to compress a detainee’s neck without applying direct pressure to the airway can use a knee under its use-of-force policy. This is regarded as a non-deadly-force option.

What has the president said?

At the White House on Friday, Mr Trump said he had asked the justice department to expedite an investigation it announced on Friday into whether any civil rights laws were violated in Mr Floyd’s death.

The president also said “looters should not be allowed to drown out the voices of so many peaceful protesters”.

Protests continued outside the White House overnight
Protests continued outside the White House overnight

Earlier, he described the rioters as “thugs” who were dishonouring Mr Floyd’s memory.

Social media network Twitter accused Mr Trump of glorifying violence in a post that said: “When the looting starts, the shooting starts.”

What happened in the arrest?

Officers suspected Mr Floyd had used a counterfeit $20 note and were attempting to put him in a police vehicle when he dropped to the ground, telling them he was claustrophobic.

According to police, he physically resisted officers and was handcuffed.

Minnesota governor on George Floyd death: ‘Thank God a young person had a camera to video it’

Video of the incident does not show how the confrontation started, but a white officer can be seen with his knee on Mr Floyd’s neck, pinning him down.

Mr Floyd can be heard saying “please, I can’t breathe” and “don’t kill me”.

A former local nightclub owner has said Mr Chauvin and Mr Floyd both worked as bouncers at her venue in south Minneapolis up until last year, though it is unclear if they knew one another.

Source: BBC News

Breaking News: Derek Chauvin, Cop Who Knelt On George Floyd’s Neck Till He Died, Arrested, Facing Murder Charges

Breaking News: Derek Chauvin, Cop Who Knelt On George Floyd's Neck Till He Died, Arrested, Facing Murder Charges

The former Minneapolis police officer seen in a video with his knee on George Floyd’s neck has been arrested and faces charges of third-degree murder and manslaughter, according to Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman.

The officer, Derek Chauvin, was taken into custody Friday by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety John Harrington said in a news conference.

“The investigation is ongoing,” Freeman said, adding that he anticipated charges against the other three officers involved in the incident.

“We entrust our police officers to use certain amounts of force to do their job to protect us. They commit a criminal act if they use this force unreasonably,” he said.

The former Minneapolis police officer seen in a video with his knee on George Floyd’s neck before the unarmed black man died this week was taken into custody Friday by state authorities, according to John Harrington, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.

The officer, Derek Chauvin, was taken into custody by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension as fires continued to burn from violent protests overnight as demonstrators demanded justice for Floyd.

“At this point we do not have any further information on charging decisions,” Harrington said at a news conference. “That will be coming from the county attorney, but we did want to let you know that he is in custody.”

CNN has reached out to Chauvin’s attorney and the Minneapolis Police Union for comment.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz pleaded for order.

“What the world has witnessed since the killing of George Floyd on Monday has been a visceral pain, a community trying to understand who we are and where we go from here,” the governor said at a news conference.

Acknowledging protesters’ pain, Walz said disorder in the streets distracts officials and the community from addressing the issues at hand.

“As we put a presence on the street to restore order, it is to open that space, to seek justice and heal what happened,” he said. “I will not in any way not acknowledge that there is going to be that pain, but my first and foremost responsibility to the state of Minnesota is the safety and security of all citizens. We cannot have the looting and recklessness that went on.”

Floyd was arrested Monday after he allegedly used a counterfeit bill at a convenience store, police have said. Outrage grew after a video surfaced showing a Minneapolis police officer kneeling on Floyd’s neck. The 46-year-old, who was unarmed and handcuffed, cried out that he couldn’t breathe.

Walz’s comments came as fires continued to burn Friday across the Twin Cities, he said, spewing ash “symbolic of decades and generations of pain, of anguish.”

Among the buildings set ablaze overnight was the Minneapolis Police 3rd Precinct, where protesters chanted Floyd’s name and “I can’t breathe.” Some tossed fireworks toward the precinct, which is the one closest to where the incident was captured on video.

CNN

COVID-19: Sanwo-Olu Honours 10 Health Workers For Their Dedication

COVID-19: Sanwo-Olu Honours 10 Health Workers For Their Dedication

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has honoured 10 health workers for their dedication and commitment towards the coronavirus pandemic, The PUNCH learnt.

The 10 health workers received the plaques at a simple ceremony held at the State House in Marina as part of the low-key events marking the administration’s first anniversary.

The honoured few, according to a statement by the government are; Sunday Adesola, a principal medical officer; Basirat Adeoye, a senior nurse; a pharmacist, Folarin Amosun; a virologist, Sunday Omilabu; and a medical waste cleaner, Olufemi Akinade.

Others are a public health expert, Bisola Adebayo; a laboratory scientist, Olanrewaju Aladetuyi; a hospital administrator, Abiola Adeloju; an ambulance driver, Alaba Anago; and a gateman, Tajudeen Bankole.

The governor presented them with plaques of honour in appreciation of their resolve in the battle against the pandemic.

He said, “As demonstration of our commitment to winning the battle, we felt the least we can do on the occasion of our first anniversary is to select representatives of the frontline health workers for appreciation.

FG to pay jobless youths N20,000 monthly to sweep markets, clear gutters

FG to pay jobless youths N20,000 monthly to sweep markets, clear gutters

In a bid to curb the high rate of unemployment in the country, the Federal Government has rolled out a scheme which will see unemployed youths in rural areas earning N20,000 per month, The PUNCH reports.

The youths will be engaged in the clearing of drainages, sweeping markets, road maintenance, traffic control, and cleaning of public infrastructures like health centres and schools.

The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr Festus Keyamo (SAN), said this at a news conference on Thursday.

Keyamo said the scheme targeted 1,000 youths each from the 774 local governments across the country.

The minister said the programme is one of the biggest social intervention schemes to be carried out within a short period of time by any government in the history of Nigeria.

The PUNCH reports that the scheme, known as the Special Public Works Programme in the Rural Areas, is domiciled in the National Directorate of Employment for implementation and is expected to take off in October.

The minister’s speech read in part, “The pilot programme earlier approved by Mr. President was designed to mitigate lack of job opportunities in the rural areas through a short-term engagement of 1,000 unemployed persons per local government area for a period of three months.

“It is a dry season/off-season transient job programme and was originally designed for the rehabilitation/maintenance of public and social infrastructure. Participants were to be paid an allowance of N20,000 monthly and were to be recruited largely from the pool of unskilled persons resident in those rural areas.

PUNCH

Kylie Jenner Has Been Lying – Forbes Says She Is No Longer A Billionaire

Kylie Jenner Has Been Lying - Forbes Says She Is No Longer A Billionaire

Jenner, now 22, was named last year by Forbes as “The Youngest Self-Made Billionaire Ever.” Jenner had made millions from her company, Kylie Cosmetics, which she later sold a 51% stake to the beauty company Coty in a deal that valued her company at $1.2 billion.

But, Forbes’ Chase Peterson-Withorn and Madeline Berg reported this week that Jenner and her mother, Kris Jenner, inflated their wealth in documents they provided to the publication about Kylie’s personal wealth and her company’s revenue.

“It’s clear that Kylie’s camp has been lying,” Forbes reported.

Her wealth is likely closer to just under $900 million, according to Forbes’ estimate.

Business Insider has reached out to a representative for Kylie for comment on the report, but the Jenners declined to comment to Forbes about the matter. Coty did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Among a list of discrepancies, Forbes said the Jenners had previously told them Kylie’s cosmetics company had $360 million in sales in 2018, but a Coty presentation showed revenues were actually closer to $125 million that year.

In addition to the adjusted estimates for Kylie Cosmetics’ revenues, Forbes accounted for the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on cosmetics companies, as Kylie still owns part of the company.

Kylie and Forbes had drawn scrutiny after she was named a “self-made” billionaire, as critics said she was born into wealth.

Business Insider

(18+)Toyin Lawani celebrates reaching 1 million followers on Instagram by going naked

(18+)Toyin Lawani celebrates reaching 1 million followers on Instagram by going naked

Fashion entrepreneur, Toyin Lawani celebrated reaching a million followers on Instagram by sharing her naked photo online.

In the photo, the mother of two was pictured completely naked as she enjoyed a bath in a tub. She wrote her caption: ‘Ok let’s celebrate The one million followers.’

See full photo below:Fashion entrepreneur, Toyin Lawani celebrated reaching a million followers on Instagram by sharing her naked photo online.      In the photo, the mother of two was pictured completely naked as she enjoyed a bath in a tub.  She wrote her caption: 'Ok let’s celebrate The one million followers.'      See full photo below.

#JusticeForTina: Trigger Happy Policeman Shoots 16 Year Old Girl In Lagos State

#JusticeForTina: Trigger Happy Policeman Shoots 16 Year Old Girl In Lagos State

The Lagos state police command spokesperson, Bala Elkana, has confirmed the arrest of a police officer who allegedly shot a 16-year-old girl dead in the Iyana-Oworo area of Lagos state on Wednesday, May 27.

According to reports, the trigger-happy policeman was trying to arrest a bus driver for violating the nationwide curfew. In the process, he allegedly shot the bus conductor dead as well as young Tina.

Using the hashtag #JusticefofTina, Nigerians took to social media to demand the arrest and prosecution of the erring police officer.

Following the outcry on social media, an investigation was launched.

Bala Elkana, spokesperson of the state police command, this afternoon, announced via his Twitter handle that the erring police officer has been arrested and will be made to face the full weight of the law.

”The killer cop is identified, arrested and detained at the Headquarters. He will face the full weight of the law. Justice will surely prevail. Members of the Public will be updated on the outcome of the investigation.” Bala tweeted

Watch the heartbreaking video showing the moment residents struggled to save Tina’s life:

N30m Fraud: Why We Released Bobrisky On Bail – Police Speaks

N30m Fraud: Why We Released Bobrisky On Bail - Police Speaks

The Nigeria Police Force says it granted cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, bail because it is “mindful of the people” it takes into custody.

Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, told PUNCH Metro that Bobrisky was arrested in connection to a N30m fraud, adding that the matter was under investigation.

Mba said, “He (Bobrisky) was arrested, but he has been granted bail; he is no longer in our custody but he is still under investigation. He was arrested on the allegation by a businesswoman that he fraudulently collected N30m from her.

“We had to grant him bail because of the lockdown and we are also mindful of the people we take into custody but the case is still under investigation.”

PUNCH Metro reports that the yet-to-be-identified businesswoman had petitioned the police over the matter.

PUNCH

Death Toll In Sokoto Gunmen Attack Rises To 74

Death Toll In Sokoto Gunmen Attack Rises To 74

The death toll in Wednesday’s attack by gunmen on three villages in Sokoto State has risen to 74.

At Garki Village, 25 people were killed while at Dan Aduwa Village, 13 persons were slaughtered.

The assailants also killed six persons in Kutama Village while one person was abducted by the gunmen.

At Kuzari Village, the bodies of 25 persons were found while at Masawa Village five persons including children were killed.

Those severely injured are currently receiving treatment at Sabon Birni General Hospital.Death Toll In Sokoto Gunmen Attack Rises To 74

It was gathered the bodies of those killed are currently being prepared for burial.

The villagers affected have fled to safety and families are not sure of the fate of their loved ones.

Some residents of the affected villages alleged that some of the armed attackers were herders, who used the occasion to attack farmers preventing them from grazing their herd on their farmlands.

SaharaReporters

Buhari Loves Rotimi Amaechi Like A Son – El- Rufai

Buhari Loves Rotimi Amaechi Like A Son - El- Rufai

The Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has revealed why President Muhammadu Buhari loves and trusts Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Transportation like his son.

El-Rufai said Buhari loves Amaechi despite opposition due to his great personality and selflessness to the service of Nigeria.

He disclosed that Buhari’s love for Amaechi was the reason he was picked as the Director-General of the presidential campaign twice.

The governor stated this in his birthday message to Amaechi and was contained in a statement signed by the Ministry of Transportation, NAN reports.

He described the former Rivers State governor as the first Minister in Nigeria’s history to hold the position of the Minister of Transportation twice.

El-Rufai insisted that Amaechi has achieved so much within the period due to his unique qualities of inclusiveness.

He said: “President Buhari loves Amaechi like a son, he trusts him absolutely, which is why in spite of all opposition, many attempts to put Amaechi in bad light, he twice selected him to lead his campaign and also as the Minister of Transportation.”

El-Rufai stressed that Amaechi is a pan-Niger Deltan who loves teamwork and empowers people to do their best.

He added: “Amaechi’s key leadership quality is his sense of inclusion, he likes to bring everyone on board, he loves teamwork, he empowers people to put in their best, he doesn’t pretend to know it all or try to do everything.

“He is one of the few politicians from the Niger Delta that is Pan Nigeria.

“I think in the history of Nigeria there hasn’t been any Minister of Transportation that has been able to achieve the landmark Amaechi has achieved in very difficult circumstances.

“I am very proud of you, am very proud to be associated with you, I am a beneficiary of your friendship, your love and your generosity.

“You have helped me a lot in my campaign, you have raised money for me, you have given me ideas on how to be a better politician and I have learnt a lot from you.

“I am confident that if and when Nigeria is looking for a leader that will take us to a higher level, you will be up there on the frontline among those that will be counted,” El-Rufai said.

Recall that Buhari had felicitated with Amaechi on his 55th birthday.

The president had commended Amaechi for his result-oriented leadership style.

According to Buhari, the former governor’s leadership style has positively reflected on the people.

DailyPost