Jubilee Post News & Views
Special Desk
More violence has erupted in cities across the US on sixth day of protests that was sparked after the death in police custody of African-American George Floyd.
Curfews have been imposed in nearly 40 cities, but people have largely ignored them. Situation turned bad as riot police clashed with protesters in New York, Chicago, Philadelphia and Los Angeles, firing tear gas and pepper bullets to try to disperse the crowds. Protestors set on fire police vehicles and shops were looted in several cities, video of which went viral.
The National Guard, which is the US reserve military force for domestic emergencies said that 5,000 of its personnel had been activated in 15 states and Washington, DC, where crowds once again gathered near the White House, this time lighting fires and throwing stones at riot officers.
Unconfirmed reports said the president too was advised safety. It has emerged that in Friday night’s unrest, President Donald Trump was briefly taken by the secret service into an underground bunker at the White House, for safety.
The US is witnessing the most widespread racial turbulence and civil unrest since the violent backlash to the assassination of Martin Luther King in 1968, said a news report.
More than 75 cities have seen protests, with streets only days ago deserted because of coronavirus, thronged with demonstrators marching shoulder to shoulder. There were many instances of police vehicles being vandalised and set alight. Riot officers continued to respond with tear gas and flash grenades.
Trump tweeted, “Law & Order in Philadelphia, NOW! They are looting stores. Call in our great National Guard.”
On the evening of Monday 25 May, police received a phone call from a neighbourhood grocery store alleging that George Floyd had paid with a counterfeit $20 note. Officers 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. Video of the incident does not show how the confrontation started. With Chauvin’s knee on his neck, Floyd can be heard saying “please, I can’t breathe” and “don’t kill me”.
According to a preliminary autopsy by the county medical examiner, the police officer had his knee on Floyd’s neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds – almost three minutes of which was after Floyd became non-responsive.
