Demonstrations in dozens of American cities, curfew in Washington

Text by: RFI Follow

One week after the death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old African American, during an arrest by a white police officer and his team, the movements of anger against violence by the police and racism are now taking place in dozens of cities in the United States.

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At least 75 cities in the United States, according to a count by the New York Times, are experiencing protests against racism and police violence against minority communities this night of June 1. And no less than eleven states (15 according to AFP) have called on the National Guard to secure these events, some of which have been punctuated with violence, such as in Philadelphia, Dallas, Las Vegas, Seattle, Des Moines, Memphis, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Miami, Portland, Chicago and Washington, as well as the country's largest city, New York. In the vast district of Brooklyn, there were nearly 400 denouncing police violence against the black community.

They tell us be the change, so we are out today to show our support. To show that the majority of the black community protests to denounce what is happening and not to ransack businesses. You shouldn't think that everyone there just wants to destroy and loot.

Words from protesters in Brooklyn

Loubna Anaki

As in several other large cities of the country (Los Angeles, Houston, Atlanta), a curfew was decreed this June 1 in the federal capital, Washington, by the mayor Muriel Bowser. But a crowd gathered in front of the White House to chant slogans, lighting fires and holding up signs. The police then fired tear gas in an attempt to disperse it.

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In addition, the movements crossed the borders of the country. In Canada first. At the cries of Black Lives Matter, or fists held out to the sky, thousands of people marched Sunday in Montreal in support of the demonstrations in their neighbor to the south, according to an AFP journalist. While the demonstration itself took place in calm, scuffles broke out in the early evening in the city center when demonstrators launched projectiles against the police. Police responded with tear gas, television footage said.

The day before, several thousand demonstrators had quietly demonstrated in Toronto. The demonstration was organized following the death of a young black woman Wednesday in Toronto, fallen from a balcony on the 24th floor during a police intervention in circumstances still unclear. Finally, in London, hundreds of people demonstrated on Sunday, and footballers also publicly supported it.

For his part, the American president, who is facing the gravest societal turmoil of his mandate, continues to castigate the "  anarchists  ", then the "  antifa  " he announced he wanted to designate as a terrorist organization. He promised to "  stop collective violence  ", while attacking the Democrats and his main presidential competitor, Joe Biden.

Get tough Democrat Mayors and Governors. These people are ANARCHISTS. Call in our National Guard NOW. The World is watching and laughing at you and Sleepy Joe. Is this what America wants? NO !!!

According to the New York Times , during a similar demonstration outside his residence, the White House tenant was led the day before by secret service agents to the shelter in an underground bunker.

Minneapolis

The epicenter of the crisis, Minneapolis experienced another night of protest. A tank truck attempted to force its way through a procession of thousands of protesters on a bridge in central Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Sunday, prompting massive police intervention. "A priori no demonstrator was injured,  " according to a statement from the local police. The injured truck driver was taken to a nearby hospital and taken into custody. He will be subject to criminal prosecution, said Minnesota Governor Tim Walz at a press conference. "  At this hour we do not know his motivations,  " he added.

( with AFP )

Third night of riots and looting in #Minneapolis where the police seem to be behind, no charge but sporadic shots from tear gas pic.twitter.com/WzDGDlxr2e

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