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5 June 2020In the midst of a 'general uprising', with military leaders lined up against the possibility of using the armed forces against protesters protesting the death of African American George Floyd, killed by police in Minneapolis, and while controversy multiplies for calling those same protesters "terrorists", the US president, Donald Trump, elated by the positive employment figures, faces the press with his face open."Equal justice under the law - he says in a press conference - must mean that every American receives equal treatment in every meeting with the police, regardless of race, color, gender or creed. They must receive fair treatment from the police forces. order. They have to get it. We've all seen what happened last week. We can't let that happen. "
Then, linking Floyd to the employment data, he says, "Let's hope George looks down and says that this is a great thing that is happening for our country. It is a great day for him. It is a great day for everyone. This is a big, big day in terms of equality, it is what our Constitution requires and it is what our country is based on. "
"The National Guard has avoided chaos in Minneapolis," continues Trump, who renews his invitation to governors to ask for the intervention of the National Guard to stem the protests. "We cannot allow looting and theft during protests," he points out. And according to the latest data, the number of National Guard members who intervened in response to protests and civil unrest over the death of George Floyd across the country has risen to 41,500 in 33 states and the capital. Yesterday there were 32,400 in 32 states. In Washington DC, 5,100 are currently operational.
Meanwhile, a new case of violence appears , complete with a viral video. Two police officers from Buffalo, New York state, were suspended without pay after a video filmed them pushing a 75-year-old man to the ground during protests over Floyd's death. The footage, taken by the journalist of the local radio WBFO and then relaunched on Twitter, has gone viral on social networks, sparking controversy and criticism. In the images we see a man with white hair, for now unidentified, who approaches a group of agents in riot gear: a policeman pushes him with a stick and another with his hand and the man falls backwards and he bangs his head on the sidewalk, injuring himself.
"Why do this? Why? The police have to protect people, while these scenes are disturbing, disturbing, they pose a threat." This was said by Governor Andrew Cuomo who, during the daily press conference, passed the Buffalo video shock, where the police are also seen passing by the fallen man and ignoring him despite the man's blood loss from his head. "What happened to George Floyd is a breaking point, it is a sign that too much is too much."
And there are many episodes that accuse the agents of the New York department. According to an independent observatory, The Civilian Complaint Review Board, in just six days, the police were subjected to more than 500 reports of abuse and violence against demonstrators who took to the streets to commemorate George Floyd. Between 23 May and 3 June 523 reports arrived. A thousand complaints had been made against the police a year ago throughout the month of May.
Meanwhile, the Minneapolis judge has set the bail in a million dollars to release the four policemen fired and arrested for the death of George Floyd, pending trial. The bail drops to $ 750,000 if certain conditions are met, such as not working with the police and avoiding contact with the victim's family. One of the four, Derek Chauvin, is accused of premeditated murder, the other three of complicity.