June 1 George Floyd protest news

Our live coverage of the nationwide George Floyd protests has moved here.

Protesters running amok. Innocent citizens under siege. Outside actors engaging in terrorist acts. Police struggling to maintain control and in desperate need of reinforcements.

That was how Chinese state media portrayed anti-government protests in Hong Kong last year, dismissing calls for greater democracy and an investigation into police brutality by focusing on individual acts of violence and property damage. 

Throughout the protests, the US was consistent in its support of people’s right to take to the streets and have their voice heard. Facing widespread unrest and public anger at home in the wake of the death of George Floyd, the reaction from US President Donald Trump appeared markedly different.

On Monday, Trump called for the military to be deployed to “dominate” protesters, and demanded states do more to stem “acts of domestic terror.”

The irony has not been lost on Beijing, which on Thursday marks (or rather doesn’t, the date is highly censored) its own military crackdown on anti-government protesters on June 4, 1989. 

“Washington’s promise of equality and justice for all in the country has remained hollow at best,” state news agency Xinhua said in a commentary titled “The coming suffocation of the American dream.”

“Amid the ongoing anti-racism protests in the country, decision-makers in Washington, instead of trying to sooth the pain and anger of the public, have been fanning the flames, calling protesters ‘THUGS,’ and threatening them with ‘the most vicious dogs, and most ominous weapons,” the commentary said.

China Daily, a state-backed newspaper, noted that “The US, after the killing of Floyd, seems to be on fire, and troops have been mobilized to subdue angry demonstrators.” 

“This is certainly not what the world expects to see in a country that is the world’s sole superpower,” it added. “But that sadly is the reality of the US.”

This rhetoric isn’t just embarrassing for Washington, it’s also a sign of how the US may find its influence damaged by a perceived hypocrisy over human rights at home and abroad. 

Earlier today, Hong Kong’s leader Carrie Lam pointed to the unrest in the US as evidence of Washington’s “double standards.”  

“They attach great importance to the national security of their country, but look at our national security through tinted spectacles, especially the current situation in Hong Kong,” she added. 

The ability of Washington to influence Beijing’s position on Hong Kong – which is in part founded on fear of outside influence in the city – was already severely limited. The Trump administration’s reaction to protests at home may have hurt its position even further.

As violent clashes between police and protesters erupted Sunday evening, the Kentucky city of Lexington emerged as one notable exception of how the two groups could demonstrate together in solidarity. 

During peaceful protests Sunday evening, Lexington officers clad in riot gear knelt and prayed with protestors, even embracing demonstrators too. The moments of unity were captured on video. 

Following chants from protestors urging officers to kneel with them, Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers first took a knee, according to department spokeswoman Brenna Angel. The chief then told officers they could also kneel if desired, she said. 

“It was a beautiful thing,” Devine Carama, a hip-hop artist, community youth activist and organizer, told CNN. He was on the front line of the peaceful demonstrations Sunday evening. 

“Obviously the protestors were down there to protest police violence and bringing value to black lives. But it was almost as if the police officers in Lexington were showing solidarity with protestors, as opposed to it being a battle. I don’t think that’s what the protestors expected,” he continued.

Minnesota authorities are now saying a man who drove a tanker truck toward protesters may not have done so intentionally.

What happened: On Sunday, Bogdan Vechirko drove a tanker truck toward a group of protesters on the I-35W bridge near Minneapolis. It doesn’t appear anybody was injured. He was subsequently arrested and charged with assault.

On Sunday, Public Safety Commissioner John Harrington’s department tweeted that the driver was “inciting a crowd of peaceful demonstrators.”

But Harrington walked it back today, saying, “We don’t have any information that makes this seem like this was an intentional act.”

Harrington says the state had not yet finished putting up roadblocks when Vechirko was on the freeway. “He saw the crowd, and from what it looked like, panicked,” said Harrington.

Vechirko is being interviewed by investigators, but Department of Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell says it will be up to the county attorney whether to pursue the case.

Jail records show that Vechirko was still in custody without bail Monday night.

In Minneapolis, the place George Floyd died has become an emotionally charged site of tribute, with hundreds of flowers and messages of condolences left by mourners.

Yesterday, the police said they had found incendiary materials like water bottles filled with gasoline in the area – but today, it’s quiet.

Part of the new calm may be because people are growing tired and disillusioned, or are realizing the impact of looting and destruction – but more likely, they have taken to heart the message of Terrence Floyd, George’s brother.

Terrence spoke to protesters and supporters at the scene today, his first appearance there since his brother’s death.

“I understand you all are upset … (but) if I’m not over here blowing up stuff, if I’m not over here messing up my community, what are y’all doing?” he shouted to the crowd. “That’s not going to bring my brother back at all.” 

Terrence said his family is “peaceful” and “God-fearing,” and that George would not want the protesters to be committing acts of violence or destruction.

“Do this peacefully. Please,” he said.  

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The Democratic governors of two western states issued statements Monday night criticizing President Trump’s call for states to crack down harder on violent protests. 

Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak accused the President of “inciting combativeness, stoking racial tensions, and creating division when we need unity more than ever.” 

In response to the suggestion that the National Guard has been restrained in some states, Gov. Sisolak said, “As the Commander In Chief of the Nevada National Guard I can state, categorically, that they have done their duty to protect all Nevadans, and will continue to do so.”

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee was even more direct in his criticism. In a written statement, Inslee said the President had “repeatedly proven he is incapable of governing,” and accused the President of showing “nothing but false bravado throughout the chaos that has accompanied his time in office.” 

“Our country is defined by our collective character and democratic ideals, not by reactionary calls for division and not by threatening Americans with their own military,” added Inslee.

Most of the protests in New York today were peaceful marches – but as night fell, there were also increasing instances of property destruction and looting.

The looting appeared remarkably organized at times, said CNN Correspondent Shimon Prokupecz at the scene.

“They would go to stores. They would break the windows. You know, they would use hammers. They would run off. And then, others would come. And then, repeatedly come back,” Prokupecz said.

The looting and destruction would serve as a second blow to many of the businesses already suffering from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, he added. Many of the stores vandalized had already been closed for months, and had been losing money.

“And now, (the stores are) being looted.” Prokupecz said. “Everything taken out and now they have to repair the stores, fix the glass.”

The citywide curfew: The city’s curfew, which went into effect at 11 p.m. tonight, will be extended through tomorrow evening – but tomorrow night it will be enacted earlier, at 8 p.m. instead.

“The curfew, in the end, is probably too late,” Prokupecz said. “They brought in more officers. They doubled the number of officers that were going to be dealing with this today. And that didn’t even seem to help.”

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Ben Crump, the attorney for George Floyd’s family, said the independent autopsy released today shows the other police officers involved were also directly responsible for Floyd’s death – not just former officer Derek Chauvin, who has been charged with third degree murder.

The autopsy: Independent medical examiners hired by Floyd’s family said today that the cause of death was asphyxiation due to compression of the neck.

The examiner added that “compression of the back” from other officers who knelt against Floyd’s back also interfered with Floyd’s breathing.  

“Hopefully, (Minnesota) Attorney General Keith Ellison will now consider that as he looks at the other officers,” Crump told CNN tonight. “The ambulance was the hearse for George Floyd … because he was dead at the scene.”

“The George Floyd autopsy resulted that he literally was starving for air. He needed a breath. So the Floyd family and I am asking everybody in America: let’s take a breath for justice. Let’s take a breath for peace. Let’s take a breath to heal our country. And let’s take a breath for George.”

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Police officers from Virginia’s Arlington County, who went to Washington, DC, to provide aid to officers there, were pulled out of the capital after being “put in a compromising position,” said the county.

The county said it is also reevaluating its mutual aid agreements.

The “compromising position” refers to an incident Monday evening, during which peaceful protesters just outside the White House gates were dispersed by police with tear gas, flash grenades and rubber bullets.

Shortly after, Trump delivered remarks at the Rose Garden and walked over to St. John’s Episcopal Church to take a photo with a Bible.

“At the direction of the County Board, County Manager and Police Chief, all ACPD officers left the District of Columbia at 8:30 tonight. The County is re-evaluating the agreements that allowed our officers to be put in a compromising position that endangered their health and safety, and that of the people around them, for a purpose not worthy of our mutual aid obligations,” the county said in the statement.

In Oakland, California, just east of San Francisco, peaceful protesters are being detained and arrested for being on the streets past the curfew.

Several dozen protesters are now lined up against the wall and being taken into custody, said CNN Correspondent Dan Simon on the scene.

“This follows a very peaceful protest that we saw this afternoon. We saw hundreds of youth throughout Oakland marching throughout the streets. There was a rally at a local high school, then they came downtown,” Simon said.

The curfew went into effect at 8 p.m. local time – about half an hour ago now. It will stay in place until 5 a.m. Tuesday morning.

The mayor on freedom of protest: Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf acknowledged earlier today that there is a painful history of curfews in America used as a form of government oppression – but that this was about safety and security rather than censorship.

It’s not just Oakland: Further south along California, police in Los Angeles are also arresting dozens of protesters who are out after curfew. There is a small crowd being detained in Sunset Boulevard, in the middle of Hollywood, with their hands held by zip ties.

Police officers in squad cars are also shouting out their windows that it was a curfew, and that those still out would be arrested and have their cars impounded.

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Tamika Mallory, the co-leader of the National Women’s March, told CNN tonight that there was an easy solution to get looters and protesters off the streets – arrest the officers involved in several recent cases of black Americans dying at the hands of the police.

“How I would handle looters? I would arrest the cops,” she said.

“(That would) get people off the streets and into their homes, and be able to really determine who may be looters, who may be criminals, and who are actually protestors. But right now, everyone is on the streets together because the police officers who killed George Floyd have not been arrested. The police officers who killed Breonna Taylor haven’t been arrested, and the men who killed Ahmaud Arbery, while they have been arrested, they still have not been brought to full justice,” she said.

Looting, violence, and vandalism were just “one part of the issue,” she added. “The true violence started when a man was killed on camera and yet a week later, we do not have anything that looks like justice.”

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It’s past 11 p.m. in Washington, DC, but protesters are still out in large numbers in the national capital.

At least one military helicopter is flying overhead and hovering in an attempt to disperse the crowds.

The helicopter can be seen making slow low-level passes, using its propellers to kick up strong wind and debris. The tactic, known as a show of force, is commonly used by the US military in combat zones overseas to drive targets away from a specific area.

Protesters are responding by raising their fists aloft in defiance.

The city curfew went into effect at 7 p.m. local time.

Watch the video:

The Baltimore Police Department has activated the Maryland State Police to assist with crowds in the downtown Baltimore area, said the department on Twitter. 

“Officers have observed members in the crowd setting off illegal fireworks and throwing objects near peaceful protestors and officers,” said the tweet.

Earlier tonight, the police said they were receiving assistance from the Maryland National Guard in transporting personnel and resources through the city.

The looting and destruction in New York City’s Manhattan was “anarchy on the streets,” said CNN Senior Media Correspondent Brian Stelter tonight.

In Midtown Manhattan, there was widespread looting along the eastern portion of the neighborhood – along the high-end shopping district Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue, close to Trump Tower.

“I witnessed an eyeglass shop being looted. In some cases, just windows being smashed. And other cases stores are being broken into. This has been going on for at least two hours,” he said. “Between 9 and 11 p.m., it was a real sense of anarchy on the streets in Midtown Manhattan.”

The looting also extended further south into Herald Square and the iconic Macy’s building, which was broken into, he said. There were also fires set and buildings vandalized.

“Property damage is nowhere near as important as physical loss of life … (but) I want you to know the property damage is widespread,” he said.

Aerial videos of Midtown show looters running down streets in groups, playing a “cat and mouse game” with police, Stelter said.

Across the East River, there are still up to a thousand protesters peacefully marching in Brooklyn, despite the citywide curfew now being in place.

When asked whether they will go home, protesters told CNN reporters they need to get their message across against police brutality – and that tonight, they are waiting to see how police engage before deciding how to respond.

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Atlanta police have made 350 arrests related to the George Floyd protests since Friday, the department said on Monday.

They made 77 arrests on Friday, 157 on Saturday, 64 on Sunday and 52 so far on Monday.

Skirmishes after curfew: On Monday night, police and protesters clashed after the curfew came into effect at 9 p.m. ET, with protesters hurling projectiles and police responding by firing tear gas.

After the skirmish, the National Guard and Atlanta police got into formation and swept through the city’s downtown, clearing out protesters quickly.

In Dallas, Texas, protesters who shut down a city bridge are being detained by police, hours after a curfew went into effect.

Protesters had begun demonstrating peacefully at the steps of the county courthouse earlier in the day, before marching through downtown Dallas.

The curfew, effective as of 7 p.m. local time, is only being enacted in some parts of Dallas, creating “curfew zones” – so protesters marched around the edge of those zones, said CNN Correspondent Ed Lavandera on the scene.

When they reached the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge, just west of downtown, they were met with hundreds of law enforcement officers.

A confrontation erupted, with the protesters and police facing off in the middle of the bridge. Police fired tear gas, and detained many protesters with zip ties. Protesters can now be seen sitting on the ground, as police continue processing those on the bridge.

“We don’t know the exact reason … for why they’re being detained, but I presume it’s going to be related to marching on the public streets here and essentially blocking traffic on to the Margaret Hunt-Hill bridge,” said Lavandera.

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New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio extended the city’s curfew through Tuesday evening, after instances of violence and property destruction in Manhattan tonight.

The Tuesday night curfew will begin at 8 p.m. ET, de Blasio said on Twitter. The curfew tonight is about to go into effect, at 11 p.m. ET.

“These protests have power and meaning. But as the night wears on we are seeing groups use them to incite violence and destroy property. Our first priority is keeping people safe, so I’m extending the curfew to Tuesday. It will begin at 8pm,” de Blasio said. 

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, who is taking over the prosecution in George Floyd’s death, says they are taking another look at the actions of the other police officers present during it.

He explained that while he has spent the last 24 hours reviewing evidence, he cannot ethically comment as a prosecutor.  

This comes amid calls for justice in Floyd’s killing, including the legal fate of those three other officers at the scene who were fired for not saying or doing anything to stop ex-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin as he kneeled on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes. 

“We are looking very carefully at holding everybody accountable who failed to do their duty and fell below the legal requirements of their position, or did something affirmatively that would be in violation of the law,” Ellison said.

“When we are ready, and that won’t be long from now, we plan on taking the proper and deliberate action.”

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Former Secretary of State and 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton lambasted President Donald Trump’s use of force to clear protesters in Washington, DC, before taking a photo at St. John’s Episcopal Church.

“Tonight the President of the United States used the American military to shoot peaceful protestors with rubber bullets & tear gas them. For a photo op. This is a horrifying use of presidential power against our own citizens, & has no place anywhere, let alone in America,” she tweeted, urging Americans to vote in the upcoming 2020 presidential election.

What happened today: Just a few hours ago, Trump delivered remarks in the White House Rose Garden, before walking to the church to take a photo with a Bible.

Before his remarks, police released tear gas and fired rubber bullets at protesters near the White House in an effort to disperse the crowd for the visit to the church.

In Washington D.C., curfew has already come into effect – but crowds of protesters are still on the streets, as well as law enforcement officers trying to clear them out.

Just a few hours ago, the national capital had been the site of chaos, with police firing tear gas and rubber bullets to drive protesters out of Lafayette Park, just blocks from the White House.

The bangs were clearly heard in the White House’s Rose Garden, as President Donald Trump gave a press conference proclaiming himself the president of law and order.

Now as night falls, most of the protesters appear to be peacefully marching – but tensions are still high, with one group throwing rocks and smashing store windows.

Mayor condemns federal police actions: Muriel Bowser, the mayor of Washington, DC, said on Twitter that the actions of the federal police at the White House against peaceful protesters had been “shameful” and “without provocation.”

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New York City is less than an hour away from its 11 p.m. curfew – but there are still thousands of protesters in Brooklyn, marching through the Crown Heights neighborhood.

The stakes feel higher tonight; there are double the amount of police out on the New York streets than the previous night, and authorities have made clear that nonessential people out on the streets will face arrest and be charged with a misdemeanor. But the protesters aren’t dissuaded.

“They made it very clear they’re going to keep having their message heard,” said CNN Correspondent Jason Carroll, reporting from the scene. “The people I’ve spoken to out here say, ‘Look, we are prepared to go to jail. We are prepared to do whatever we have to do to get our message out.’”

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The mayor of Washington, DC, Muriel Bowser, tweeted that the actions of the federal police at the White House earlier tonight had been “shameful.”

“I imposed a curfew at 7 p.m. A full 25 minutes before the curfew & without provocation, federal police used munitions on peaceful protestors in front of the White House, an act that will make the job of (DC Police Department) officers more difficult. Shameful!”

She also urged residents to go home and stay safe.

In New York City, protests have largely remained peaceful, though sporadic looting has broken out in parts of Manhattan.

A number of stores along the downtown Union Square area have been looted and vandalized. One smoke shop had a bike thrown through its window, with looters then reaching through the shattered glass and removing merchandise.

Some stores tried to protect themselves ahead of the protests by boarding up windows – but looters managed to get past the wooden boards and cardboard, breaking the glass and looting items inside. High-end shops as well as local corner stores and chain brands like Nordstrom have been targeted tonight.

“I was standing here and several of the looters were walking in and out, taking items out. There are no police officers here. It is 9:30. There’s a curfew in an hour and a half. It’s almost as if these looters … are striking earlier because they know that there’s a curfew coming,” said CNN Crime Correspondent Shimon Prokupecz from the scene.

There are some police officers in the broader vicinity, but the looters often have bikes and are able to escape, Prokupecz said.

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National Guard troops and Atlanta police officers swept through downtown Atlanta, Georgia, pushing out the protesters as curfew was enacted on Monday evening.

The curfew came into effect at 9 p.m. ET. Even after that time came and went, protestors hurled projectiles and police responded with tear gas, CNN correspondents reported from the scene.

Following the initial skirmish, the National Guard troops and Atlanta police got into formation and, in a coordinated fashion, swept through downtown Atlanta, quickly pushing out the protesters. The situation calmed afterward.

Dozens arrested: At least 52 people were arrested during Monday’s protests, said Atlanta police.

“We have encountered several issues during the day including instances where protestors blocked traffic on several roadways and briefly entered onto the interstate. The curfew is now in effect and officers are working to ensure compliance with the curfew and making arrests where needed,” police said in a statement

Joining CNN on Monday night, former presidential candidate and California Sen. Kamala Harris criticized President Donald Trump’s response to George Floyd’s death and the ongoing protests.

“He cannot meet this moment that he has partly created because of his inability to understand the pain and the suffering,” she said. 

“Right now, America is raw. Her wounds are exposed. And instead of having a president who understands it, who empathizes, who lifts up the spirits and acknowledges the pain, we have someone who chooses to hold up the bible like a prop for his own political gain and for a photo op,” she said, referencing Trump’s visit earlier this evening to St. John’s Episcopal Church in Washington DC.

She added that “America has never fully addressed the historical and systemic racism that has existed,” and urged concrete change like investigation into the police or legislation to establish a national standard on use of police force.

Elections are important – but they’re not enough. “There is certainly truth in saying that it is overly simplistic to say if you vote, this will be solved. Because black folks have been voting for generations when we were allowed to. So it is not that simplistic,” she said.

Instead, hope and change have to take root from “acknowledging truth and then fighting for what we know we can achieve. Understanding, for example, that the policing issue is the tip of the iceberg,” she said.

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Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti decried George Floyd’s death and urged protesters to stay peaceful on Monday night.

Floyd’s death was “fundamentally un-American, inhumane,” he said at a press conference. “And that cries out for justice.”

But he also urged protesters not to conduct violence, looting, or destructive actions, saying it would set back the community and protest movement for years to come.

“We are going to continue to do everything we can to restore peace and to keep this city safe,” he said. “We’re throwing everything we have at maintaining the peace, and we’re going to throw everything we have on promoting justice – and nobody out there needs to pick between those two.”

Destruction in LA: Stores, buildings, and shopping centers throughout the city and county of Los Angeles have been looted and vandalized during protests over the death of George Floyd.

The National Guard has been deployed to support law enforcement authorities in Los Angeles and the county imposed a curfew for a second night. 

Police in Richmond, Virginia, have deployed tear gas against protesters after warning them online to cease their actions.

Protesters had been attempting to pull down statues on Monument Avenue, which police said in a tweet was placing people “in grave jeopardy.”

“They are extremely heavy and would crush anyone standing too close. Please be aware of the danger. Stand down!” the Richmond Police Department tweeted.

After firing the tear gas, police apologized to peaceful protesters specifically, saying the gas had been necessary because some officers in the area were cut off by violent protesters and needed to get to safety.

“To our peaceful protestors: We stand with you today and will keep supporting your rights to express your opinions in safety,” the Department added.

Philadelphia will start their nightly curfew at 8:30 p.m. local time on Tuesday, later than usual, due to the primary election, according to city spokesperson Mike Dunn.

The later start will allow evening voters time to return home before the curfew begins, Dunn said.

Polls in Philadelphia will be open Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time. Masks will be “strongly encouraged and voters who don’t have a mask will be provided with one,” according to the city’s Election Day guide.

The Monday night curfew will begin earlier at 6 p.m., and be in place until 6 a.m. Tuesday morning.

NBA legend Magic Johnson weighed in on the ongoing protests and police brutality on Monday night, telling CNN’s Anderson Cooper, “We’re fed up with this.”

“It doesn’t matter if I’m Magic Johnson or not,” Johnson said. “My kids just like I am still a black man.”

He said he had talked to both his children about the dangers of being black in America, and how to best protect themselves.

“If you’re pulled over, make sure you got your hands out of the window. Make sure that you comply. Let’s look at George Floyd. He did everything he was supposed to do. And this police officer put all his body weight, all his body weight on his neck, right, for eight minutes. So if that can happen to George Floyd, it can happen to E.J. and Andre and more black men. And so we’re fed up with this. It’s got to stop,” he said.

The protesters want “to have a voice at the table,” he added. “They want their concerns heard. And then they want action to take place. And so they’re going to still protest for a long time until their voices are heard.”

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Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer would not say definitively whether she would request federal military troops in her state when asked repeatedly by CNN’s Anderson Cooper, but was clear that she did not want to have to make such a request.

This question to Whitmer came after President Trump declared earlier tonight that he would deploy the US military if cities or states “(refused) to take the actions necessary to defend the life and property of their residents.”

“You know what, if it ever came to that to that, to that moment, it would be because they’ve just thrown a lot more gas on a fire that is burning. I don’t want that to happen,” Whitmer said.

Asked if Trump could send in military troops to Michigan without her approval, Whitmer said, “apparently there are outreach efforts to ask for acknowledgement of federal officers in states, and I can tell you that states — my understanding is that they can’t do it without the approval of the governors and I can also tell you that it’s probably not going to happen in a lot of our states.”

When pressed again about whether she would ask for federal troops at this point, Whitmer responded, “You know what would help take the heat down from everything? Some real showing, a genuine showing of concern about the underlying problem here of police brutality. A genuine concern about how we ramp up our testing across the country to combat Covid-19, which has had a disproportionate impact on communities of color. That’s how we get through this moment, not by looking at one another’s enemies and declaring civil war on one another.”

Whitmer said she watched the scene of peaceful protesters being broken up with tear gas and rubber bullets so Trump could walk to St. John’s Episcopal Church on CNN with her daughter.

“It’s shocking” Whitmer said. “The split screen was he was saying he stands with peaceful protesters and on the other side, his police troops were shooting at peace peaceful protesters. You know, in this country right now we need a leader who can bring calm, who can bring unity, who can show the compassion and competence that we need … what happened in the Rose Garden tonight is only I am fearful going to further fuel that animosity and angst and anxiety in this country. And I think it is more destructive than that, what I was hoping he would say.”

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti urged all residents to stay indoors and to stay home while the city’s curfew start at 6 p.m. local time. 

Police arrested almost 700 people Sunday night, according to Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michel Moore. Among the arrests, 70 people were arrested for burglarizing or vandalizing businesses.

“We didn’t have protests last night, we had criminal acts to get people,” Moore said.

Firefighters responded to hundreds of fire and medical calls in protest areas in Los Angeles in the past four days, Chief Ralph M. Terrazas of the Los Angeles City Fire Department (LAFD) said in a news conference on Monday. 

Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington told CNN’s Anderson Cooper that her community did not approve of President Trump’s visit to St. Johns — one of the churches in her diocese — and distanced herself from his actions Monday afternoon.

“Let me be clear. The President just used a bible, the most sacred text of the Judeo-Christian tradition, and one of the churches of my diocese without permission as a backdrop for a message antithetical to the teachings of Jesus and everything that our churches stand for. And to do so, as you just said, he sanctioned the use of tear gas by police officers in riot gear to clear the church yard. I am outraged. The President did not pray when he came to St. John’s,” she told CNN’s Anderson Cooper. “Nor, as you just articulated, did he acknowledge the agony of our country right now. And in particular, that of the people of color in our nation, who wonder if anyone ever — anyone in public power will ever acknowledge their sacred worth, and who are rightfully demanding an end to 400 years of systemic racism and white supremacy in our country.”

She added: “And I just want the world to know that we in the Diocese of Washington, following Jesus and his way of love, do not — we distance ourselves from the incendiary language of this President.”

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Rev. Robert Fisher of St. John’s Church in downtown Washington, DC, said he was unaware that President Trump would be stopping by the church on Monday evening. 

“I had no idea what was going to be going on at 7 p.m. tonight. I actually haven’t seen any of it. I’ve been listening to it all, of course, and honestly, it feels like so many ways a surreal moment for me. So yeah, I feel like I’m in some alternative universe in some way,” Fisher said in an interview on Fox News. 

Fisher said the fire that broke out in his church on Sunday evening damaged one room in the basement of the church, and affected neither of the two historic buildings on the church’s property. 

“I went by it later in the night, actually in the wee hours of the morning and actually had a chance to inspect and look around myself, my wife and I. That was actually very positive moment because just personally. I was thrilled to see that the fire only burnt the nursery and the fire didn’t expand out,” Fisher said. 

Fisher praised the peaceful protesters, saying they need to “stay on this message of fighting racism.”

“That is the only way that we are going to have healing and we’re going to really progress,” he added.

He also made what some might consider a veiled criticism of Trump, who lives just across Lafayette park at the White House. 

“We hope that St. John’s, it’s not just a historic church, it truly is, it is a remarkably historic church, but we seek to be a space for grace in the city,” Fisher said. “I find that the particular neighborhood that we are in is not always a place where you find grace.”

President Trump was angered by coverage depicting him holed up in his bunker during protests near the White House and told aides on Monday he wanted to be seen outside the White House gates, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Trump’s desire to be seen where the protests had occurred partly drove the decision to stage a photo-op at St. John’s Church, which was preceded by police using tear gas and flash grenades to clear the area of peaceful protesters.

Trump and his family were rushed to the underground bunker as protests raged outside the White House on Friday evening. Trump wasn’t seen on Sunday and spent most of Monday behind closed doors — leading to concern even from his allies that he was absent at a moment of national crisis.

Trump expressed frustration that he was being depicted as alarmed by the protests outside his home and hunkered underground, believing he appeared weak.

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More than 350 Customs and Border Protection officers and agents from the National Capital Region have been deployed in DC in order to support federal, state, and local partners to protect life, safety, and property, a CBP official tells CNN.

One of the first places they’ll be is the Washington monument, the official said. They are expected to protect the monument. 

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said “no thank you” to President Trump’s threat to mobilize US troops to deal with the widespread unrest followed by the death of George Floyd, the unarmed black man who died after a white police officer knelt on his neck as he was being arrested.

“The President wants to re-create reality here,” Cuomo told CNN’s Erin Burnett. “Even the pictures from Washington, DC, you had a number of protesters. They were peaceful protesters. They were young people, largely a white crowd in Washington, DC, who are offended at what they saw with the Floyd murder, which they should be.”

Trump said from the Rose Garden Monday that he was committed to upholding laws and mobilizing military resources to end nationwide looting.

Cuomo insisted that they are individuals who are “destructive,” but are a “small minority” of the demonstrators.

“The looting, the criminal activity is intolerable, and from a law enforcement point of view you need to weed them out, but they are intermingled with protesters,” Cuomo said. “But what the President today did was he called out the American military against American citizens.”

Watch:

In response to President Trump threatening to invoke the 1807 law to mobilize the military around the country, Illinois Gov. J. B. Pritzker said Monday that he rejects “that the federal government can send troops into the state of Illinois.”

“The fact is that the President has created an incendiary moment here,” Pritzker told CNN’s Erin Burnett. “He wants to change the subject from his failure over coronavirus, a miserable failure and now seeing a moment when there’s unrest because of the injustice that was done to George Floyd that he now wants to create another topic and something where he can be the law and order president.”

Trump declared himself “your president of law and order” during remarks as peaceful protesters just outside the White House gates were dispersed with tear gas and flash bangs.

The Illinois governor added that Trump’s approach to dealing with protesters outside the White House was wrong.

“Peaceful protesters have a right to be there,” Pritzker said. “I saw what happened. I was watching CNN when all of a sudden the troops move forward, and then they started pushing the protesters, throwing tear gas canisters. This is not the way we behave in the United States. Our law enforcement are out there on streets trying to protect people. They’re not at least here in Chicago, we’re not in the business of trying to put down peaceful protests.” 

The 12-hour overnight curfew in Los Angeles is the harshest the city has seen since the riots of 1992, following the acquittal of officers accused of using excessive force in the beating of Rodney King, according to Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore.

While Moore welcomed the protests, he made clear: “No violence will be supported. There is no place for those who wish to do harm.”

To the owners of 88 businesses along Melrose Avenue whose stores were destroyed, Moore said, “We’re sorry.”

“Our efforts were to balance expression of public discord in a lawful, peaceful manner,” Moore explained. “Unfortunately, the powers and forces of those who wished to exact violence in the community overwhelmed us.”

The California National Guard has deployed 1,000 members to Southern California to assist with law enforcement. Moore said he expects 2,000 members in the city by tomorrow morning and they will be posted at businesses that have been destroyed and at other vulnerable businesses.

L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said law enforcement will be prevalent throughout the county. “We will be out there, not to intimidate, not to use any excessive force,” he said, “but to establish that the rule of law is present throughout Los Angeles County.”

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown said she has resisted calls from Portland’s mayor to activate the National Guard in response to the protests in the city over the last several days.

“Mayor (Ted) Wheeler asked me over the weekend to mobilize the National Guard and put them in direct confrontation with protesters,” Brown said at a news conference. “This wasn’t the first time that the mayor asked to mobilize the National Guard, and not the first time I have declined.”

Instead, Brown said she directed the Oregon State Police to deploy additional officers to support Portland’s police.

Brown said she is sending 100 state police officers to the city today. She is also calling in 50 Oregon National Guard members “to provide a support function only.”

Brown reiterated several times that those troops will not be armed.

“Having soldiers on the streets across America is exactly what President Trump wants,” Brown said. “He’s made that very clear on a call this very morning with governors across the entire United States.”

“I want to ensure that the public can safely raise their voices in this much needed call for reform,” Brown said.

President Trump posed with a bible outside St. John’s Church and held it up for several moments.

“We’re the greatest country in the world,” he said.

Trump walked over to Lafayette park after delivering a speech at the White House.

President Trump is reportedly headed to St. John’s Episcopal Church across Lafayette park from the White House, a source tell CNN. 

Trump delivered remarks moment ago from the Rose Garden.

“Now I am going to pay my respects to a very, very special place,” Trump said in the Rose Garden after declaring himself a law and order president.

He announced that he was taking new measures to quell riots across the United States.

Before Trump’s remarks, police released tear gas and fired rubber bullets at protesters in an effort to disperse the crowd for Trump’s visit to the church.

President Trump threatened to invoking an 1807 law to mobilize the military around the country and “quickly solve the problem.”

“I will deploy the United States military and quickly solve the problem for them. I am also taking swift and decisive action to protect our great capitol, Washington, DC. What happened in this city last night was a total disgrace,” he said.

He continued: “Those who threaten innocent life and property will be arrested, detained and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. I want the organizers of this terror to be on notice that you will face severe criminal penalties and lengthy sentences in jail.”

Watch:

President Trump announced today in a Rose Garden statement that he is taking immediate presidential action to “stop the violence and restore security and safety in America” and is mobilizing federal resources to stop rioting and looting.

Trump said his measures would be effective “immediately” and said he has “strongly recommended” to every governor to deploy the National Guard in “sufficient numbers that we dominate the streets.”

Trump said mayors and governors must establish an “overwhelming law enforcement presence until the violence has been quelled.” If the city or state refuses to take the actions, Trump said he would deploy the US military.

The President said he is also taking “swift and decisive action” to protect the nation’s capital including dispatching “thousands and thousands of heavily armed soldiers, military personnel, and law enforcement officers to stop the rioting, looting, vandalism, assaults, and the wanton destruction of property.”

He also said the 7 p.m. ET curfew in the city will be “strictly enforced.”

Watch:

President Trump told reporters in the White House his administration is “fully committed” to serving justice for George Floyd, but said he believed the looters and violent protests are distracting from that goal.

“All Americans were rightly sickened and revolted by the brutal death of George Floyd,” he said. “My administration is fully committed that for judge and his family, justice will be served. He will not have died in vain. But we cannot allow the righteous cries of peaceful protesters to be drowned out by an angry mob. The biggest victims of the rioting is peace loving citizens in our poorest communities. And as their President, I will fight to keep them safe. I will fight to protect you. 

He continued: “I am your president of law and order and an ally of all peaceful protesters. but in recent days, our nation has been gripped by professional anarchists, violent mobs, arsonists, looters, criminals, rioters, Antifa and others.”

CNN’s Jim Acosta reported that loud bangs from the protests could be heard in the Rose Garden. 

Watch:

Police appeared to throw tear gas into the crowds to disperse protesters near the White House.

Protesters can be seen raising their hands at police and chanting “don’t shoot!”

President Trump is due to deliver a speech from the Rose Garden.

An additional 600-800 National Guard members from five states have been requested to supplement the DC National Guard responding to civil unrest.

“This evening the Department has been working with the Department of Justice and other officials and the city of Washington, DC, to provide sufficient forces for protecting the city and maintaining peace this evening,” a defense official said.

“The stated goal is to help the city with their needs,” the official added.

The entire DC National Guard, a little more than 1,200 personnel, have been activated. 

The requests for additional National Guard forces were made to made to Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Utah. 

A senior defense official said that not all of the forces will be carrying lethal weapons but that some would “should the President decide to arm them.” 

The official said the forces will be tasked with safeguarding “monuments, White House, property and generally helping the DC police and DC law enforcement respond to any threats on life.” 

President Trump has “fanned the flames instead of bringing peace and calm” in the wake of protests surrounding the death of George Floyd, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker – a Democrat and vocal critic of the President – said in a news conference Monday.

In response to a reporter’s question on his comments today, when Pritzker called out Trump’s rhetoric in a call with other governors, Pritzker said that he heard what he found to be “inflammatory rhetoric” from the President during the course of the call and that other governors didn’t call it out so he “spoke out and felt that was my obligation.”

“If he can’t say something that is going to help us across the nation to bring the temperature down, then he shouldn’t say anything at all,” he added.

Washington, DC, Mayor Muriel Bowser told reporters that more federal assets coming to the city “could be helpful.”

In a news conference on Monday, Bowser confirmed her office had been working with federal authorities to coordinate a response to evening protests that have spread violence and destruction in Washington.

“We do expect that there will be more federal assets, as they say, deployed in or around the District of Columbia,” she said

CNN reported earlier Monday an active duty military police battalion consisting of some 200 to 250 military personnel is now in the process of deploying to Washington, DC, and could be in the nation’s capital as soon as tonight. 

US Customs and Border Protection personnel have also been deployed to the National Capital Region to assist law enforcement partners responding to protests.

Attorney General William Barr is in Lafayette park with several other officials observing the protesters.

He is about 100 yards from protesters and behind a police line. Moments before he came outside, additional police were added to Lafayette park, including military police.

It appears he has an additional security detail with him.

Watch:

US Customs and Border Protection personnel have been deployed to the National Capital Region to assist law enforcement partners, Acting Commissioner Mark Morgan tweeted Monday afternoon, with an accompanying photo.

CNN reported Sunday that CBP is deploying officers, agents and aviation assets nationwide at the request of federal, state, and local partners “confronting the lawless actions of rioters,” according to a statement from the agency.

“These ‘protests’ have devolved into chaos & acts of domestic terrorism by groups of radicals & agitators. @CBP is answering the call and will work to keep DC safe,” Morgan tweeted Monday.

CBP is charged with enforcing the nation’s borders, but regularly assists law enforcement, like after Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita, according to a CBP official. CBP’s legacy agencies also assisted local partners during the 1992 Rodney King protests, the official added. 

The mission, in this case, is not enforcing immigration law but helping for law enforcement purposes. 

Read the tweet:

President Trump will be delivering remarks at 6:15 p.m. ET from the Rose Garden, according to an updated White House schedule. 

White House aides were instructed Monday to begin preparing for a possible statement by Trump from the Rose Garden, two officials told CNN, providing a venue for the President to address growing racial unrest gripping the country.

These are the cities and states with curfews Monday night due to the protests across the country in response to George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Louisville Metro Police Chief Steve Conrad was relieved of his duties Monday after it was discovered the body cameras of officers potentially involved in a fatal shooting during Sunday night’s protests were not activated, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said at a news conference.

“As I learned about some of the details of what happened last night, I learned that the body cameras of the officers were not activated,” Fischer said. “This type of institutional failure will not be tolerated. Accordingly, I have relieved Steve Conrad of his duties as chief of Louisville Metro Police Department.”

According to a statement from Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, the Louisville Metro Police Department and Kentucky National Guard troops were dispatched to the corner of 26th Street and Broadway in Louisville, and were fired upon by protesters as they worked to disperse the crowd. Officers and guardsman returned fire and fatally struck one person, Beshear said in a statement.

Fischer identified the victim as local business owner David McAtee.

“We lost a wonderful citizen named David McAtee, David was a friend to many, a well-known Barbecue man,” Fischer said. “They’ve nurtured so many people in their bellies and in their hearts before, and for him to be caught up in this, not to be with us today is a tragedy.”

Deputy Chief Rob Schroeder is now the active police chief, according to Fischer.

Conrad was already slated to retire at the end of the month, with the city announcing May 21 that his retirement would become effective June 30. Beshear has also authorized an independent investigation into the shooting from the Kentucky State Police.

“Our heart and prayers go out to David and his family during this very, very difficult time and again I’m extraordinarily, extraordinarily sorry,” Fischer said.

The medical examiner’s office in Hennepin County, Minnesota, released a report that said George Floyd’s death was a homicide resulting from being restrained. 

The statement said the cause of death is “cardiopulmonary arrest complicating law enforcement subdual, restrain, and neck compression.”

It further added that Floyd died from experiencing a “cardiopulmonary arrest while being restrained by law enforcement officer(s).” 

The American Heart Association described cardiopulmonary arrest as the abrupt loss of heart function.

The medical examiner’s office statement said Floyd had indications of heart disease including “arteriosclerotic and hypertensive heart disease,” as well as fentanyl intoxication and recent methamphetamine use. 

Hear more:

Amid nationwide protests in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death, journalist Jemele Hill urged America to keep the focus on the substance of the message.

While many cities have been overcome with violence in recent days, Hill noted that such “moments only take away from [the movement] if you allow those moments to have more power than they’re worth.”

Hill, who writes for “The Atlantic,” insisted that those engaging in looting and destruction are in fact not the groups seeking change.

“A lot of those more violent moments are not coming from the people who went there with the intent of being heard, of making people understand the gravity of this problem in America,” she told CNN’s Jake Tapper.

The protesters truly speaking out against police brutality and racial injustice aren’t “coming there looking for violence. They’re coming there because they feel ignored. They’re frustrated and they’re angry,” Hill said.

Speaking live with Tapper during “The Lead,” Hill was clear in her insistence that shining too bright a light on those who arrive at protests with a goal of “not disrupting in a constructive way” opens the door for anyone hoping to ignore the actual issues at hand.

“As we’ve seen similar unrest and rebellions that have occurred after major national tragedies, you have seen that the method becomes what people want to talk about versus the message,” she said.

Quoting Martin Luther King Jr., who famously labeled rioting as “the language of the unheard,” Hill told Tapper, “I implore to people right now, if you’re caught up on looting… you just don’t want to hear the message.”

Federal authorities have charged a man for civil disorder, carrying on a riot, and possession of unregistered destructive devices associated with recent clashes between violent protesters and police in Minneapolis, according to a federal criminal complaint obtained by CNN. 

In videos allegedly posted to his Facebook account on May 29, Matthew Lee Rupert, 28, was seen passing out explosive devices to other rioters and encouraged them to throw the devices at law enforcement officers, according to the complaint. 

After handing an explosive device to another rioter and telling the person to throw it at police SWAT officers, the complaint states that Rupert is heard on video saying “he’s throwing my bombs,” adding, “he’s going to bomb the police with them.” 

After an audible explosion is heard, Rupert is heard saying, “good shot my boy,” according to the complaint, as well as, “F*** 12,” a derogatory phrase often directed at law enforcement. 

In one video, the complaint alleges Rupert asked for lighter fluid, entered a Sprint cell phone store, and is later heard on video saying, “I lit it on fire.” 

On May 31, the criminal complaint said Rupert posted Facebook videos depicting himself in Chicago. In one video, Rupert is heard saying, “let’s start a riot,” and “I’m going to start doing some damage,” according to the complaint. He is then seen on video entering a convenience store and placing items in his backpack, according to the complaint. 

Rupert was arrested early Sunday morning by Chicago police officers after allegedly violating the city’s emergency curfew order, the complaint states. After searching his vehicle, authorities found several destructive devices, according to the complaint. He was subsequently transferred into federal custody, according to a Justice Department statement. 

As protests continue in the nation’s capital, military vehicles were spotted moving to Pennsylvania Avenue, near the White House.

Washington, DC, Mayor Muriel Bowser moved the city’s curfew to 7 p.m. ET.

Watch:

An active duty military police battalion consisting of 200 to 250 military personnel is now in the process of deploying to Washington, DC, and could be in the nation’s capital as soon as tonight, three US defense officials tell CNN.

The troops are expected to provide security in the nation’s capital but not perform law enforcement duties such as arrest and detention of protesters or rioters.

Two defense officials said the troops will be coming from a unit at Fort Bragg in North Carolina.

Because of Washington, DC’s unique status, the deployment does not require local authorization.

There is no indication that President Trump is invoking the Insurrection Act, which is not required due to the fact that the forces will not be performing law enforcement actions.

The Pentagon did not immediately respond for request for comment.

Senate Majority Whip John Thune told CNN he believed President Trump should have a different “tone” when addressing the country during this unrest following the death of George Floyd in Minnesota.

“I think the country is definitely looking for healing and for calm,” he said. “And I think that’s the tone the President needs to project when talking about what’s happening around the country. I think leaders right need to have empathy and humility and respect.”

“I think he needs to strike a tone that fits the level of frustration country’s experiencing right now, and I hope in the future, he’ll do that,” Thune said, adding that some of Trump’s tweets are “not helpful.”

Sen. John Cornyn, a member of Senate GOP leadership, said he believed Trump should address the nation “sooner rather than later.”

He said he believed “it’s important” for Trump to offer more of a unifying message in the midst of the deep unrest across the county.

Cornyn sidestepped a question about Trump’s tweet when he said “when the looting starts, the shooting starts,” noting the country is divided between pro-Trump and anti-Trump factions.

Asked if he thought the tweet was helpful, Cornyn said, “I didn’t see the tweet.”

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said President Trump “repeatedly and viciously attacked governors” during a call with them today.

“He repeatedly and viciously attacked governors who are doing everything we can to keep the peace while we’re working to save lives in a once in a generation pandemic,” she said at a news conference.

She continued: “It was galling because we are at a point in time where people need hope and unity and a strategy to pull people together and to save lives.”

She said Trump’s comments feed “into that anxiety, that understandable exhaustion, that my African American friends talk about.”

“To assert that we should be dominating and if we don’t, they’re going to come in and do it is the antithesis of what we need right now is a country which is a leader who can bring us together, can focus us and say we’re going to get through this and give us the kind of pep talk the nation need,” she said. “It just sow more seeds of division and it makes it more dangerous.”

Miami has lifted a curfew that was issued Saturday due to protests, according to a statement from the city. 

The curfew in unincorporated Miami-Dade County remains in effect from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. local time until further notice. 

White House aides have been instructed to prepare for a possible statement from President Trump from the Rose Garden, an official told CNN, where he could address racial unrest gripping the nation for the first time since protests broke out across the country

The official said the statement could come at 6 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. ET, but said plans could still change.

Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine said his office will not be charging a bar owner who fatally shot a black protester Saturday night during protests in downtown Omaha, Nebraska.

Kleine, speaking at a news conference today, said that the decision to not charge the owner in the death of 22-year-old James Scurlock came after a review of several videos of the incident.

“When we viewed the evidence — myself, my chief deputy — we viewed it with all the homicide detectives that that were involved in this case and the command staff of the Omaha Police Department,” Kleine said.

“There wasn’t any big disagreement with regard to about what happened here as far as this being something that led to self-defense and the use of deadly force,” Kleine added.

The incident, which occurred outside a bar called The Gatsby at around 11 p.m., began when protesters pushed the bar owner’s father to the ground, Kleine explained.

The owner, who was armed with a handgun, proceeded to intervene. A scuffle with a group of protesters ensued and the owner ended up firing several shots, one of which struck Scurlock in the clavicle, killing him, Kleine said.

“I certainly wish that none of this would have happened,” Kleine said. “It’s a senseless death.”

The incident gained attention on social media with major figures like actress Gabrielle Union and gun control activist Shannon Watts tweeting about it.

Nebraska State Sen. Justin Wayne demanded that Kleine “charge [the owner] with the senseless murder of James Spurlock” in a tweet last night.

However, today, Kleine noted his frustration with these comments and pointed to the video evidence as being key to his decision.

“Statements that are made without foundation or knowledge about the case are irresponsible — they’re reckless,” he said.

“We have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that it’s not self-defense,” Kleine explained.

“The officers that were involved in the investigation said we don’t think there’s any way we can move forward at this point,” he added.

Kleine also pointed out that “there isn’t any audio that we have that shows any racial slurs” and, after reviewing the evidence, he doesn’t feel that the owner was “somebody who walked out and was trying to hunt down somebody.”

Philadelphia Police’s most recent update reports 146 arrests for looting/burglary, seven arrests for assault on police, three for firearm violations, four for theft, one for rioting, and one for “other/propulsion of missiles” since Saturday. 

Police said 267 people received citations, which also include failure to disburse and curfew violations.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer sharply criticized President Trump’s response to the police killing of George Floyd, saying on Monday that the President has exacerbated the racial divisions within the country through his words and actions.  

Schumer said the moment “cries out for leadership, for compassion, for sympathy, for understanding, and for action” but Trump “struggles to summon even an ounce of humanity in this time of turmoil.”

He continued: “The President has reacted to the pain and anger in the country by playing politics and encouraging police to be tougher on protesters, by bragging about his reelection prospects and his personal safety inside the White House,” Schumer said. “The President seems unable even to address the underlying issues that the protests are about, unwilling even to speak to the nation about racial justice.”

Schumer called for passing legislation to reduce the likelihood of further police killings, to incentivize officers who do their job well and to bring “accountability to police departments so that bad actors are not shielded from culpability.”

He called for addressing “the broader disparities in our society, the systemic racism and injustice that follows America around like a shackle, in our laws, in our customs and in too many of our hearts.” And he said he understood the “anger and frustration” of the protesters.

San Francisco will be under a curfew again tonight starting at 8 p.m. and ending Tuesday at 5 a.m. local time.

San Francisco Police Department Police Chief Bill Scott reminded residents that they are still enduring a pandemic and encouraged people to stay home.

Scott said Sunday’s protests started peacefully but the violence escalated and two officers were assaulted. 

“With all the anger aimed at my life profession policing, I understand and I accept it. But I will ask … if you know a police officer, you have one in your family, you have one that you’re friends with, or even if you don’t know, we need your support. We really need your support. If you know somebody in this profession, let them know that you support them,” he said. 

George Floyd’s family attorney Ben Crump called on America to end recent violence and destruction following widespread protests.

 “We understand the righteous anger…But the violence is absolutely unacceptable. Unacceptable to George and unacceptable to us,” Crump said.

Crump spoke directly to protesters: “Take a breath for George. Take a breath for peace. Take a breath for justice. Take a breath to heal our country.”  

New York Attorney General Letitia James tweeted Monday she promises a “swift investigation with all of the facts” into the NYPD’s conduct during protests in New York City over the past week.

James encouraged the public to share any information or visuals with her office.

More context: Her office is investigating several incidents captured on camera of the NYPD using force against protesters, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said.

Read the tweet:

Senate Majority Mitch McConnell delivered a strong speech on the Senate floor Monday saying Americans are in “an hour of great pain and unrest in the country” over the recent killings of three African American citizens. 

He said no investigation is needed for anyone to understand George Floyd should not have had officers kneel on his neck for nine minutes over a minor infraction.

He said these are part of America’s “national struggle to make equal justice and equal protection of the law into facts of life for all.” 

McConnell was also very critical of the protests that have turned violent in recent days saying they make it impossible to begin the national healing that is needed. 

He said state and local authorities should step in to stop “outside agitators and domestic terrorists” and if they can’t, the federal government should “stand in the breach.”

A citywide curfew will go into effect in New York City tonight beginning at 11 p.m. until 5 a.m. ET Tuesday, according to a release from Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office.

This is the first time the city has instituted a curfew during the unrest following George Floyd’s death.

The governor and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio also announced that the New York City Police Department will double its police presence to help prevent violence and property damage.

The additional officers will be deployed to areas where violence and property damage occurred during last night’s protests, specifically in lower Manhattan and downtown Brooklyn.

Floyd family attorney Antonio Romanucci said the three other officers not yet charged “need to be charged criminally” since “they knew what they were doing could cause death.” 

Romanucci said in order to be culpable of murder of homicide, the person only need to know that what they were doing could cause death.  

“They knew they were employing restraints that could or might cause death,” he said.  

Some context: So far only one of the four officers involved in the incident has been charged. Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who was captured on video kneeling on George Floyd’s neck, has been charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. All four officers were fired from the Minneapolis police department.

Family attorney Ben Crump provided details on services for George Floyd over the next week during a news conference this afternoon.

Floyd’s funeral will be held June 9 at 11 a.m. in Houston, Texas, according to Crump. He said that a public viewing of the body would be held the day before.

He added that a memorial will be held in Minneapolis on Thursday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. local time.

A curfew will be in effect for all of Los Angeles County once again, starting at 6 p.m. tonight through 6 a.m. Tuesday.

Los Angeles County is the nation’s most populous with approximately 10 million residents.

“The focus needs to stay on taking down systemic racism and ending senseless violence against Black men and women — and we can’t let a small number of people hijack that movement by putting lives in danger and destroying property,” Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said in a statement about the extended curfew. “We are keeping the curfew in place tonight to protect everyone’s safety and help our first responders keep the peace.”

An autopsy ordered by the family of George Floyd showed that Floyd died of “asphyxia” due to compression to the neck and back, two medical examiners said.

Dr. Allecia Wilson said, “the evidence is consistent with mechanical asphyxia as the cause of death.” She called Floyd’s death a “homicide.”

Dr. Michael Baden also said that Floyd died of “asphyxia” due to compression to the neck and back.

Baden said that the “autopsy shows that no underlying medical problem that caused or contributed to his death.”

“He was in good health,” Baden said.

Hear more:

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney has extended a mandatory citywide curfew for the third straight night starting at 6 p.m. ET on Monday until 6 a.m. ET on Tuesday, according to a notice on the city’s website.

According to the notice, only people with essential duties will be allowed outdoors during the curfew time.

A curfew in Atlanta has been extended for a third night.

It will go into effect at 9 p.m. ET and will end at sunrise on Tuesday, the city said.

Disputing an initial police finding, a private autopsy report commissioned by George Floyd’s family found that Floyd died from asphyxiation caused by sustained neck and back compression that led to a lack of blood flow to the brain, according to a statement from Floyd family attorney Ben Crump.

Dr. Allecia Wilson, who conducted the autopsy, described the manner of death as homicide at a news conference today.

Crump’s statement further calls for the arrest of all the officers who played a part in Floyd’s death and calls for a first-degree murder charge to be brought against Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis Police Department seen kneeling on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes in a video caught on social media.  

Some background: A preliminary report from George Floyd’s autopsy conducted by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner found “no physical findings that support a diagnosis of traumatic asphyxia or strangulation,” the criminal complaint released by the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office in the arrest of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin.

Floyd’s cause and manner of death remains pending and is being investigated by local, state and federal law enforcement, the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office said in a statement.

Attorney Ben Crump said George Floyd was “dead on the scene” in Minneapolis. 

“The ambulance was his hearse,” Crump said during a news conference where the Floyd family unveiled an independent autopsy.  

“Police officers were the reason for (George Floyd’s) death,” Floyd family attorney Antonio Romanucci said. 

There are “extreme and systemic failures in the Minneapolis police department,” he added.  

The city of Orlando says the curfew imposed over the weekend due to protests will remain in effect from 10 p.m. today to 5 a.m. Tuesday morning, according to a tweet from the city. 

Thirty protesters were arrested late Sunday, Orlando Police Chief Orlando Rolon said during a news conference on Monday.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer says he has directed all police department officials to release body camera footage where tear gas was deployed over last few days. 

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany defended Trump’s handling of widespread unrest across the country during a Monday press briefing. 

Asked if the President was “hiding out” on the issue of the protests, she responded:

“I was on the phone with the President at least half a dozen times yesterday and every time I talk to him, he was telling me about a different action he has taken whether it was talking to a governor about this or a foreign leader about ventilators. This President has been leading.”

“He met with generals yesterday, each and every moment taking another action to try to solve and resolve what we have seen in the streets where the governors have failed, he has stepped in,” McEnany continued, taking a shot at the response to protests by state leaders.

“He is asking. He is hard at work. You heard from him on this issue any number of times, and he is working because that is the job the President to keep this country safe,” she added.

President Trump has made limited on-camera comments about the protests in recent days. On Friday, the New York Times first reported that the President was taken to a secure underground bunker beneath the White House as protests raged in Lafayette Park. 

The city of Long Beach, California, will implement a 1 p.m. PDT curfew for business districts and 4 p.m. PDT curfew for the entire city, said Mayor Robert Garcia today. 

Mayor Garcia said the majority of the protest group Sunday was peaceful but a small group created chaos. “I gotta tell you, that was offensive,” he said.

Mayor Garcia apologized to a local reporter, Adolfo Guzman-Lopez, who was hit by a rubber bullet in the throat during the chaos on Sunday. 

Long Beach Police Chief Robert Luna says an average call load is about 1,726/day but Sunday they received 4,686 calls for service. Police made about 75 arrests Sunday. 

The city of Riverside will observe a curfew from 7 p.m. Monday until 6 a.m. PDT Tuesday.

More context: Other California cities including Santa Monica and Beverly Hills are under curfew today.

Additional “federal assets” will be deployed nationwide to help law enforcement with violent protests, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany told reporters during a briefing Monday afternoon.

“I’m not going to get ahead of any actions that will be announced but what I will say to you is that that he has had two briefings today, Secretary (Mark) Esper, AG (William) Barr, General (Mark) Milley was there,” McEnany said.

“There will be additional federal assets deployed, and a central command center in commission with the state and local governments that will include General Milley, and AG Barr,” she added, before declining to give any further details. 

Asked if the President was planning on deploying resources beyond the National Guard, McEnany said he was.

“We’re looking at every tool in the federal tool kit for us, ideally this would have been resolved at the state level. The states, after all, have police power embedded in the 10th amendment, it is their responsibility to patrol their streets,” she said. 

“There are many federal authorities including the one you cited that are available to us,” McEnany added.

The US Secret Service said in a statement to CNN that no one has breached the White House fence line during demonstrations in Washington.

A USSS spokesperson sent the following statement in response to CNN’s inquiries regarding last night’s protests at the White House: 

“The U.S. Secret Service continues to work closely with all relevant partners, to include the U.S. Park Police, Metropolitan Police, National Guard, DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services, and Arlington County Police during ongoing demonstrations. The Secret Service respects the right to assemble, and continues to appreciate those individuals who exercise that right safely as we and our partners continue to serve and protect.Throughout these demonstrations, no individuals have crossed the White House fence line, and no Secret Service protectees have been in danger.”

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany was just asked why President Trump hasn’t made an address to the nation regarding protests across the country. She pointed to past statements the President has made and said that statements “don’t stop anarchy.” 

“What I would note is continual statements as he’s made day and day again — they don’t stop anarchy. What stops anarchy is action. And that’s what the President is working on right now for the anarchists,” McEnany told reporters.  

“Continual statements — they don’t stop anarchy. What stops anarchy is action,” McEnany told reporters Monday.  

Asked why he hadn’t addressed the nation, McEnany told reporters that Trump has “delivered multiple statements on this,” pointing to comments he made on the death of George Floyd while speaking at the SpaceX launch on Saturday. 

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice addressed the national outcry over George Floyd’s death at the top of his news conference Monday saying, “I don’t see how in the world a thing like that could happen, especially when an individual is crying out, you know, and saying they can’t breathe.”  

The governor applauded residents of his state for their peaceful protesting.  

“How have you done it? You’ve done it in a peaceful manner,” Justice said. “We will be the guiding light again, as we have been in this pandemic.”  

Justice also addressed groups or individuals possibly coming into the state “that really want evil” and said “they will absolutely not be welcome in the most stringent ways.” 

Boston Police Commissioner William Gross said that of the 53 arrests that happened Sunday night into Monday morning, 27 were Bostonians, 24 were from outside the city, and two were from out of state.  

“I want to break the negative stereotypical view and perception that, even though others protested peacefully, that those hell bent on destruction just came from the inner city of Boston,” Gross said during a news conference with Boston Mayor Marty Walsh Monday. “That is just not the case.”

The head of Minnesota’s National Guard Major General Jon Jensen said in a news conference Monday that the governor has called for the partial demobilization of the National Guard in the state.

“This morning we received guidance from the governor as it relates to demobilization of the Minnesota National Guard and the return of part of the Minnesota National Guard back to their hometowns,” Jensen said.

He added that this is “not an order to return the entire organization back home.”

This partial demobilization of troops comes ahead of what Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz called “a significant event” with the funeral of George Floyd scheduled for Thursday.

There are currently 7,000 Minnesota National Guardsmen mobilized, Jensen said.

Walz said even though they’re planning on relieving active duties from some National Guardsmen, the state will continue to keep in place the multiagency command center they’ve used to communicate throughout the week.

“I think some of you now have witnessed the complexity of something like this it doesn’t look like the movies. You have to get everybody on the same frequencies, you have to have communications to move people and when you see an operation move in unison,” Gov. Walz added.

Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown called actions of the Minneapolis police that led to the death of George Floyd embarrassing and described the act itself as “murder” today at a news conference.

Brown, who recounted an encounter with a young protester who was chanting “say his name,” explained that the situation left him “embarrassed.”  

“I was holding the line supporting the officers. I whispered his name when she chanted to say his name,” Brown said.

“Today, publicly, I want to say his name. As a police leader of the second largest police department in the country — Mr. George Floyd,” he said.

“We are embarrassed by the cops in Minneapolis use of force, asphyxiating you on the streets of Minneapolis,” Brown said.

However, Brown also had strong criticism for people causing destruction in Chicago.

“We stand with Mr. Floyd’s family, but to the rioters and looters: you disgraced the name of Mr. Floyd by your actions,” Brown said.

“Hate can never drive out hate. Evil can never drive out evil,” he added.

More than 80% of the people booked into jail in Minneapolis on riot and other potentially riot-related charges from Thursday to Monday are from Minnesota, according to a CNN analysis of data from the Hennepin County Sheriff’s office. 

Of the 50 people who were booked into jail in the county between noon Saturday and noon Sunday on riot, burglary, unlawful assembly, damage to property, curfew or penalty for not complying charges, 41 had an address listed in Minnesota. There were four from Wisconsin, two from Iowa, and one each from Australia, Nebraska, and North Dakota. 

Between noon Sunday and 7 a.m. Monday, there were 22 people booked into jail on those charges in the county. Of those, 17 had an address listed in Minnesota, or 77%. There were three from New York, one from Illinois, and one with no address listed. The booking numbers for Sunday night could rise as more data is added into the sheriff’s system later Monday.

That brings the total from noon Thursday through Monday morning to 125 jail bookings on various riot and potentially riot-related charges, with 102 listing an address in Minnesota.

Twitter user FrostyTheSkid took a video of protesters dancing the Cupid Shuffle during a rally Saturday in Newark, New Jersey.

“The overall mood of the protest was great, everyone was in unity, people of all ages and races,” he told CNN.

He said that people were dancing throughout the protest. He was there from 1 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. ET.

Watch:

Federal authorities in Minneapolis continue to investigate reports of extremists across the political spectrum inciting and taking part in violent protests in Minneapolis, a federal law enforcement official tells CNN.

The official said the FBI and other federal agencies have received tips from the public and informants indicating protests have included elements of anarchists, Antifa, and right-wing extremists.

At this point it is impossible to quantify exactly how many members from each group are taking part in the violent protests, the official said. 

Investigators have observed specific calls for attacks by extremists online in forums frequented by extremist groups — such as burning down churches, the targeting of specific retail stores, and the targeting of wealthy Minneapolis neighborhoods. However, the official said these specific attacks have not yet occurred. 

One area of particular interest for federal investigators is how apparently well-organized some of the violent protests have been, which could suggest “professional agitators” are behind some of the coordination, according to the official. The apparent professionalism in the organizing of certain violent protests is unlike anything officials have ever seen in the state, the official said. 

The official said Minnesota state officials have asked federal law enforcement agencies for specific expertise in gathering critical intelligence on the violent protesters, and as a result, federal agencies have been working around the clock locally to obtain information from sources. 

Minnesota authorities say they are investigating reports of agitators across the political spectrum.

The Congressional Black Caucus is holding conference calls this afternoon to discuss a new legislative package under development dealing with policing matters in the United States. The details are still being hashed out, but an aide says the goal is to propose something this week.

The full House Democratic Caucus is having its weekly 4 p.m. conference call this afternoon.

House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler and Rep. Karen Bass, who sits on the committee and chairs the CBC, plan to discuss what they view the next steps should be to deal with the events of the past week, according to another aide familiar with the matter.

George Floyd’s brother, Terrence Floyd, called for peace while speaking today from the site where his brother was killed in Minneapolis.

To violent agitators who Floyd said are “wildlin’ out” and “blowing up stuff” he asked “what are y’all doing?” He added, “that’s not going to bring my brother back at all.”

He said his family is “peaceful” and “god-fearing.” He called on protesters to “do this another way” and vote.

“Educate yourself, and know who you’re voting for. That’s how we’re going to hit them…Let’s switch it up.”

WATCH:

Rev. Kevin McCall, who traveled with George Floyd’s brother to Minneapolis from Brooklyn, said the Floyd family is urging demonstrators to keep protesting — but do it peacefully.

“The family has called for peace. The family has called for peace. The family has called for peace,” McCall chanted at the memorial site.

“We’re sending a message to people all over this country to stop looting. Lift up the peace sign,” he added. “The power is in the numbers. Don’t stop protesting, but throw up the peace sign.”

The brother of George Floyd arrived earlier this afternoon at the Minneapolis memorial site and nearly collapsed, CNN’s Sara Sidner reports.

Sidner said that Floyd’s brother “collapsed in his friend’s arms as he tried to make his way to the spot where George Floyd lost his life.” 

She continued: “He was barely able to walk. He had to have two people on either side of him holding him up as he tried to make his way to the spot.”

Floyd’s brother was surrounded by a large crowd that was “peaceful and respectful,” Sidner said.

WATCH:

About 66,700 National Guard soldiers and airmen have been activated across the entire country to assist in the civil unrest and coronavirus response.  

That number is as of this morning.

More than 17,000 National Guard members are supporting civil unrest response, which represents approximately the same number of active duty troops deployed in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan. 

Additionally, about 45,000 National Guard members are supporting Covid-19 response across all 50 states, three territories, and the District of Columbia.

A small crowd of peaceful protesters — representing several French anti-racism organizations — gathered near the US embassy in Paris on Monday in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter protests in the US.

Protesters wearing black clothing and face masks took a knee and held up signs with the words “I can’t breathe,” “we are all George Floyd” and “racism chokes us.”

Describing the video of George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis as “surreal and unbearable,” the protest organizers called on anti-racist groups “and all individuals with a sense of justice — to strongly denounce this racist crime perpetrated by the police, which is unfortunately an ordinary crime in the United States.” 

The joint statement – which included endorsements from the historic anti-racism organization “SOS Racisme,” journalist Claudy Siar and the Jewish Student Union — said “we fully relate to the struggle of the American people, especially the young, for the advent of a society finally free of racism.”

Referencing similar problems in France, the statement called “for the utmost firmness in France, including at the State level, where acts of racism within the police force have recently been reported.”

While the gathering of more than ten people remains technically illegal in France due to coronavirus restrictions, police told the organizers they would not intervene to stop the protest.

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms described the video of George Floyd’s death as a “murder,” and said that watching it “broke” her in an interview with CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

“All the feelings that everybody has, it just — it broke me — and for a moment, it was just watching in disbelief. Like, I know I’m not seeing what I see,” Bottoms said. “And I think for as horrific as it was watching the officer with his knee on his neck, what was more disturbing was watching the other officer not do anything about it.” 

The Atlanta mayor said she watched in disbelief as one officer did nothing to help while trying to keep bystanders away.

“I kept looking at the other officer’s face, looking to see something, looking to see something in his face that showed he wanted to help or that he had some concerns. But, I just saw emptiness,” Bottoms said. “The only thing he was concerned about was making sure that the bystanders who were pleading for Mr. Floyd’s life didn’t get any closer to interfere with his murder.”

Bottoms, a former judge and city council member, was sworn in as mayor in 2018 and has quickly emerged as one of the Democratic Party’s rising stars. On Friday night, amid a swirl of increasingly tense and occasionally violent scenes, she faced the cameras, her constituents and the country.

During an interview for tomorrow’s episode of Gupta’s podcast, “Coronavirus: Fact vs. Fiction,” Bottoms said that she didn’t know what she was going to say when she faced cameras, and that she had to re-watch it at home to see what she said. Bottoms said she is trying to strike the right balance of recognizing the movement that is happening while also trying to keep law and order in her city as it experienced riots.

“This has been a really tough balance because I feel helpless. I feel angry. I feel frustrated,” Bottoms said. “But the balance to that, I know that there are men and women who put on a uniform every day who love and care about our community. And they do it for all the right reasons. And that’s the vast majority of our police officers in our city at least think they do it with a good heart and with good intentions.”

Bottoms talked about why she feels so passionate and emotional about the struggles of black America, based on her own life experiences. 

“My family is full of people who look like George Floyd, and my dad went to prison and everything about my life changed in that moment. And everything that I thought was solid and true disappeared in the blink of an eye,” she said. “And I think that’s why I have I have so many sensitivities related to our struggle as an African-American community, because I know many of the things that you see play out that some people try and paint as being for lack of trying or whatever — the negative stereotypes you put on us — in each and every day. Our community is full of people who get up and want to do better, and they want to get it right and they don’t ever stop trying.”

Bottoms also reinforced that the city needs to remember they are in the middle of a pandemic — one that is impacting the black community in so many ways.

“Our communities are sick and they’re tired and they’re dying. They’re dying from Covid-19, they’re dying from poverty, they’re dying from police brutality,” she said. “I think in the midst of all that going on, we focused on what we can see. But we’ve got to keep top of mind the things that we can’t see that are killing us too.”

Several thousand people gathered in Amsterdam’s Dam Square Monday to protest against police violence and in solidarity with demonstrations across the US. 

“Institutionally racist violence against black people is a problem that also occurs in The Netherlands and the rest of Europe,” the organizers said in a statement, according to CNN affiliate and national broadcaster NOS.

According to NOS, the protests were organized by Kick Out Black Pete, a reference to the Dutch Christmas tradition of dressing up in blackface, and Black Queer & Trans Resistance Netherlands.

There were around 3,000 participants, according to another CNN affiliate, RTL News. An RTL correspondent on the scene reported seeing signs including “black lives matter” and “the future is colored.”

RTL said that the crowd held two minutes of silence, and reported a relatively small police presence.

Police in Santa Monica, California arrested more than 400 people last night, the department tweeted today.

Police Chief Cynthia Renaud said 95% of those arrested reside outside the city, according to a tweet.

Santa Monica has implemented a 1 p.m. curfew for the business district and 4 p.m. curfew for the rest of the city.

Read the tweets:

There were 88 arrests made in connection to protests throughout the District of Columbia last night, Washington, DC, Police Chief Peter Newsham announced at a news conference Monday morning. 

Of those 88 arrests, 44 people were charged with felony rioting, “a number” were charged with burglary and two-thirds of the arrests were instances of felonies. Many were arrested for violating the curfew, officials said.

Newsham said that the Metropolitan Police Department is not done making arrests and is offering rewards of up to $1,000 for people who can help identify individuals in images released by the police department.

Seven MPD officers have been injured during the protests but none had injuries severe enough to require hospitalization, the chief said. Nine MPD vehicles have been damaged.

Washington, DC, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced a two-day curfew beginning at 7 p.m. Monday.  

Newsham warned that if people are caught breaking that curfew they will be taken into custody by local or federal police.

He said that most of the “skirmishes” have been small and manageable, adding that the antagonists “appear to be organized in nature.” 

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Police Superintendent David Brown described yesterday as a violent and destructive day for the city.

“Updates that I received all day and night from our Aldermen, from local community leaders about the attacks on local storefronts, and in particularly our small black owned businesses, was nothing short of devastating,” she added.

Here are the latest updates from Chicago:

A funeral memorial for George Floyd is scheduled for Thursday, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said at a news conference Monday.

“It will be an important event both for the city of Minneapolis and Minnesota and for the nation to watch that process of celebrating a life that was taken in front of us, an opportunity for leadership,” he said.

Floyd’s death sparked protests across the country after video emerged that shows the 46-year-old black man handcuffed and on the ground saying, “I can’t breathe,” as a police officer holds him down with a knee on his neck.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced today that he has signed an executive order in consultation with local leadership and mayors in Minneapolis and St. Paul to extend the curfew for two more days.

The curfew will run from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. local time.

“The only way these things work be is what we have seen the last two nights. The vast majority of people abide by this,” Walz said.

WATCH:

Immigration and Customs Enforcement is deploying personnel and Special Response Teams nationwide to respond to unrest stemming from protests largely fueled by the death of George Floyd in Minnesota.

“In light of civil unrest taking place across the country, ICE personnel and Special Response Teams have been deployed to protect agency facilities and assets in support of the Federal Protective Service and assist local, state and federal law enforcement partners, as needed,” the agency said in a statement to CNN.

ICE did not say where personnel would be deployed. An agency spokesperson underscored, however, that ICE will not be conducting immigration enforcement. Protests and public demonstrations are part of ICE’s sensitive locations policy, meaning enforcement actions should generally be avoided, the spokesperson added.

 “It’s all going to be assisting jurisdictions with what they’re trying to do which is generally keep the peace, protect citizens, protect property. There’s not going to be any immigration enforcement element whatsoever,” the spokesperson said. 

Some context: It’s not unusual for ICE to assist state, local and federal partners. ICE usually works closely with them, including in cases when additional manpower is needed, for example during hurricane response or at high-security events, like the United Nations General Assembly, according to former acting ICE Director John Sandweg.

“Any time there’s a major event, public safety event or otherwise, it’s very common for ICE to volunteer support, especially when federal agencies need assistance,” he said.

ICE said in its statement that it “fully respects the rights of all people to peacefully express their opinions.” On Sunday, US Customs and Border Protection—another of the Department of Homeland Security’s immigration agencies — said it was deploying agents and officers to assist law enforcement.

All FBI field offices across the country have set up command posts to deal with protests, a senior official with the Department of Justice said. 

Attorney General Bill Barr ordered late Sunday the FBI’s hostage rescue team to assist local police at the protest in DC, the official said.

Barr has also sent riot teams from the Bureau of Prisons to DC and Miami, the official said.

President Trump appeared agitated as he vented to governors, lecturing them on how to best protect their states and handle the protests, according to a source on the call with the nation’s governors. 

The President told governors they have to “dominate” and encouraged them all to activate the national guard. 

The message was clear “you’re not doing enough” and you need to get control. 

Trump told governors that he agrees with how Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has handled the violence in his state over the past 48 hours, a person listening into the call tells CNN. In particular, Walz’s decisions to bring in a heavy law enforcement presence against the protestors.

“You have to dominate or you’ll look like a bunch of jerks, you have to arrest and try people,” the President told governors, according to this person.

Trump said the “whole world was laughing at Minneapolis over the police station getting burned.” Trump claimed he was the one who suggested that Walz to use the National Guard to calm the protests.

He also called out New York City, saying that “New York is going to have to toughen up.”

HEAR TRUMP’S CALL WITH GOVERNORS:

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said that he will speak to New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio today about possibly instituting a curfew in the city.

“I’m going to be speaking to the mayor today about a curfew,” Cuomo said during his daily coronavirus briefing, where he also took questions about the protests.

Earlier in the press conference, Cuomo said of the mass gatherings, “I think this has been counterproductive for New York City in many ways.”

Cuomo said that the state has the National Guard on stand-by to deploy to cities to assist with protest policing if necessary. On New York City, Cuomo said the city “should have enough personnel with the NYPD.”

Cuomo said that he thinks some of the actions of the NYPD during the protests over the weekend “have exacerbated the anger,” referring to a number of videos of police using force against individuals which he called “very disturbing.” Cuomo added that he plans to speak to Mayor de Blasio about these incidents and ask what response the city is taking.

In response to one video which showed an NYPD vehicle driving into a group of protesters, Cuomo said his personal opinion is, “that guy should be fired.”

A state of emergency has been declared in the Birmingham following weekend protest, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin announced Monday morning. 

The state of emergency comes just one day after protesters gathered and defaced a 54-foot tall Confederate monument in downtown Birmingham.  

In a statement, Gov. Kay Ivey said she will “always support the right of the people of Alabama to peacefully lift your voices in anger and frustration. We will show respect to ourselves and to each other through this process.”

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety (MDPS) reported that 481 arrests were made since a Multi-Agency Command Center (MACC) was established on Friday.

MDPS also reported that there were 276 arrests made on Sunday into early Monday morning, this number includes 150 people who were arrested in the area of Washington Avenue and Interstate 35W where a semi truck drove into a crowd of protesters Sunday.

Protests over the death of George Floyd raged across the city over the weekend, where fires burned and and tear gas canisters flew in Minneapolis as people threw objects at officers.

Washington, DC, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced a two-day curfew beginning at 7 p.m. ET Monday evening.

Skirmishes between groups of protesters and law enforcement flared across the city over the weekend as tensions played out over the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man in Minneapolis who was pinned down by police.

Bowser stressed Sunday that protesters have the right to exercise the First Amendment but should not “destroy our city” in the process.

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb announced Monday that he is deploying the Indiana National Guard Reactionary Force to protect state property.  

“At my order, the Indiana National Guard stands ready to assist local communities in need to protect the public and property, and I am deploying Guard members to protect state property beginning today,” Holcomb said in a statement Monday.

“Organized protests have taken place across the state without incident but the events that have followed, particularly in Indianapolis, have devastated businesses, defaced public monuments that are centuries old, and resulted in loss of life,” Holcomb added.

Holcomb activated the National Guard on Saturday but had not deployed them until today.  

The governor also announced he had signed an executive order lifting restrictions on local declarations of emergency, effective Monday at 11 a.m. 

The order “allows local governments to place more stringent travel restrictions than the state has in place,” the governor said.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said he admires his 25-year-old daughter Chiara following her arrest at a protest.

“I love my daughter deeply. I honor her. She is such a good human being. She only wants to do good in the world. She wants to see a better and more peaceful world,” de Blasio said. “I am proud of her that she cares so much that she was willing to go out there and do something about it.” 

When he and his wife found out about the arrest, they asked Chiara to account for the whole story.

“She recounted the story in detail to me, she was acting peacefully,” he said, adding that she believes everything she did was in the spirit of peaceful respectful protest.

WATCH:

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said he and the city’s police commissioner, as well as Gov. Andrew Cuomo will discuss curfew as an option over the next few hours, though it has been viewed as not the right strategy over the past few nights.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said several incidents caught on video with police including an officer who drew his gun during protests, a NYPD vehicle moving into a crowd, an officer pushing a woman and more are under investigation.

With regards to the police officer with the gun, he describes the officer in the “middle of a situation that admittedly looked chaotic” but as protesters were in front of the police officer, he drew his gun yesterday. Seeing that video “was absolutely unacceptable.” There will be an “immediate” full investigation of that incident. He noted a superior officer immediately stepped in and moved that officer away from the crowd. “That officer should have his gun and badge taken away from him today. There will be an investigation immediately to determine larger consequences.” 

The video of the vehicle moving through a crowd is under investigation internally within the NYPD, and by the independent review the NYC Mayor set up with the corporation council and department of investigation commissioner. “That was so troubling to the people of this city,” de Blasio said about this incident.

He added: “There is no situations where a police vehicle should drive into a crowd of protesters or new Yorkers of any kind. It is dangerous it is unacceptable.”

De Blasio said that videos of an officer pushing a woman to the ground and officers opening a police car door and hitting a protesters are “under review right now.”

“Discipline must be meted out in any situation it is merited,” the mayor said.

De Blasio added, “there are some” police officers “who do not belong in this job, and there are some that use violence when they shouldn’t, there are some that are disrespectful to people they serve, there are some that harbor racism in their hearts, these people should not be in the police force and its our job to get them out.”

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said that while most of the protesting in the city has been from peaceful demonstrators, there were late evening protesting that was “not peaceful, not acceptable.”

As of last night, there is one incident being looked at, but generally speaking, there have been no serious injuries to protesters or police, he said.

In many instances, police engaged protesters and communities, showing “empathy” and “connection.” “This is what neighborhood policing is about,” he added.

He again referenced video of officers taking a knee with community members and protesters.

These acts are “how we are going to overcome this moment, and move forward.”

Late night in lower Manhattan, the mayor said there was looting. “That is unacceptable in NYC,” he said, adding “were going to address that very very aggressively.”

“That is being fomented by a very small number of violent protesters, that is not what everyday community people are doing, I want to be very clear about that,” de Blasio said.

The Sioux City Police arrested 15 people Sunday night when a peaceful protest over George Floyd’s death in front of a police building in downtown turned “aggressive” after midnight, according to a statement released by Sioux City Police.

Five officers sustained minor injuries during the arrests and numerous patrol cars were damaged by the crowd, police said.

Police said as the crowd grew more aggressive, “people began throwing rocks and other objects at officers and patrol cars,” which caused some damage to a window. Police deemed the assembly unlawful because they say “the crowd was becoming more violent.” At around 3:00 a.m. local time on Monday, police said they ordered that protesters disperse.

After several people refused to obey the order, police used gas and sprays to disperse them.  

This morning President Obama tweeted out an article he wrote for Medium.com on the current racial crisis going on in the United States. It’s titled “How to Make this Moment the Turning Point for Real Change”

Obama condemned violence amid protests over the death of George Floyd and police brutality and called for political solutions to address protesters’ grievances about criminal justice.

“[L]et’s not excuse violence, or rationalize it, or participate in it,” Obama wrote, “If we want our criminal justice system, and American society at large, to operate on a higher ethical code, then we have to model that code ourselves.”

He suggests if “we can channel our justifiable anger into peaceful, sustained, and effective action, then this moment can be a real turning point in our nation’s long journey to live up to our highest ideals.”

He added, “The bottom line is this: if we want to bring about real change, then the choice isn’t between protest and politics. We have to do both. We have to mobilize to raise awareness, and we have to organize and cast our ballots to make sure that we elect candidates who will act on reform.”

The message from Obama, who previously decried Floyd’s death last week when he said the killings of black men at the hands of police “shouldn’t be ‘normal’ in 2020 America,” follows a weekend that saw an escalation in protests nationwide.

Read his tweet:

Sen. Tom Cotton, a Republican from Arkansas, said today that President Trump should apply the Insurrection Act to deploy active-duty military to US cities in the wake of nation-wide protests following the death of George Floyd. 

“The president should use the Insurrection Act to deploy active-duty military forces to these cities to support local law enforcement and ensure this violence ends tonight,” Cotton wrote on Twitter. 

What this is about: The Insurrection Act is the federal law which gives the President the power to deploy military personnel on US soil. 

On Friday, the US military ordered several police units to be ready for potential deployment to Minnesota. Military police units at three US bases — Fort Riley in Kansas, Fort Bragg in North Carolina and Fort Drum in New York — have received “prepare to deploy” orders should the governor request federal assistance.

The New York Police department made more than 250 arrests during protests Sunday night into Monday morning, the department’s press office told CNN early this morning, adding that most of the arrests were made in Manhattan and Brooklyn.

At least seven officers were injured and about a dozen vehicles were damaged during the protests, the NYPD said.

Thousands of people took to the streets across the country during the weekend in both peaceful protests and violent demonstrations against law enforcement over the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who was killed by police in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The Portland Police Department said several thousand demonstrators marched peacefully until about 11:30 p.m. local time when some protesters began to throw projectiles at officers. 

“After the crowd fractured into smaller groups, for about two hours, demonstrators set fires, smashed store front windows, vandalized buildings, and parked vehicles. Officers made arrests and continued to disperse the small groups,” police said in a news release. 

At least 12 adults were arrested and two juveniles were detained, police said.

“It has been a long, difficult and emotional several days in Portland and across the country and we understand why,” Police Chief Jami Resch said in the news release. “Yesterday’s events started peacefully and there was a very organic moment when some of our Sergeants and demonstrators took a knee together next to the Justice Center. I am proud of this moment, as it reflects community and understanding.” 

Resch said while she was meeting with several demonstration leaders, some protesters began to act violently. 

“Officers deployed riot control agents to disperse the crowd for the safety of all,” police said in the news release.

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms stepped into the national spotlight on Friday night, denouncing vandalism in her city following demonstrations over the death of George Floyd. 

Speaking to CNN on Monday morning, the mayor urged President Trump to refrain from giving his “input” on the protests and instead give the states “support.” 

“He’s not helping. Leaders lead and he is not leading. He is causing further disruption to our cities. Just give us the support that we ask for. If we don’t ask for it, we don’t need your input and your advice and your rhetoric because it’s not helping us manage this crisis in our cities that we’re experiencing across America,” the mayor told CNN’s Alisyn Camerota.

The mayor said she would support the President making some sort of national statement and call for unity if it could “help heal” the country and was a message of reconciliation. 

“If there is something that he has to say that can help heal this country, then he’s the president of the United States and he certainly has the right to speak it,” the mayor said. 

She added that if the President were to speak “further hatred and division over our cities” he should not say “anything at all.”

WATCH:

The National Basketball Coaches Association (NBCA) released a statement Monday on the death of George Floyd.

“As NBA coaches – both head and assistant coaches – we lead groups of men, most of whom are African American, and we see, hear and share their feelings of disgust, frustration, helplessness and anger,” the statement reads. “The events of the past few weeks – police brutality, racial profiling and the weaponization of racism – are shameful, inhumane and intolerable.”

The statement continued:

“As a diverse group of leaders, we have a responsibility to stand up and speak out for those who don’t have a voice – and to stand up and speak out for those who don’t feel it is safe to do so.
“Witnessing the murder of George Floyd in cold blood and in broad daylight has traumatized our nation, but the reality is that African Americans are targeted and victimized on a daily basis. As NBA coaches, we cannot treat this as an isolated incident of outrage.
“We are committed to working in our NBA cities with local leaders, officials and law enforcement agencies to create positive change in our communities. We have the power and platform to affect change, and we will use it.”

Over 50% of states across the country have activated their National Guard to respond to civil disturbances that have gripped much of the nation.  

According to a National Guard official, over 17,000 National Guard members are responding to civil disturbances in support of local authorities.

As of Monday morning, 26 states and the District of Columbia had activated their National Guard:

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has authorized the state’s police to independently investigate the death of an individual following an exchange of fire between law enforcement authorities and others at the scene of a protest overnight in Louisville.

“Last night around 12 a.m., it is our understanding that the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) and the Kentucky National Guard were dispatched to 26th and Broadway. While working to disperse a crowd, LMPD and the Kentucky National Guard returned fire resulting in a death,” a statement, released by the governor’s office Monday morning, said.

“Given the seriousness of the situation, I have authorized the Kentucky State Police to independently investigate the event,” Beshear said in the statement.

The Minneapolis police officer who knelt on George Floyd’s neck had 18 previous complaints against him, according to the police department.

One of those complaints was filed by Kristofer Bergh in 2013 when he was 17 years old. Bergh said ex-police officer Derek Chauvin aimed a gun at him for playing with Nerf guns on his way back from school.

Bergh says he was on his way back home in a car with some friends when one of them shot a Nerf dart out the window. When they pulled over at Bergh’s house, Chauvin confronted him with a gun aimed at him.

“They were telling me to get back in the car. Put my hands up. And so I complied with those orders. I dropped my bags on the ground, put my hands up, slowly got back in the car, trying to not make any sudden movements. They then approached the car. Still with guns drawn and asked which one of us had shot the Nerf dart,” he said.

“At that point, they admitted essentially that they knew it was only a Nerf dart and not something more serious. Still, they made the choice to pull real guns on us,” he said.

The police told Bergh’s mother that he and his friends were trying to elude the police but he denies that saying it is “preposterous” because there was no indication that the police were following them. “They didn’t use sirens or anything.”

“I think if we were not white, they would have spun that into the narrative. When I got out of the car, after supposedly eluding them, you know, they would have seen that as a threat. And the whole narrative could have been crafted in a different way that many people would probably be saying it was justified.”

Bergh said he was horrified to hear about Chauvin’s involvement in George Floyd’s death.

“The only thing I could think what would have happened differently if my friends and I weren’t all white, how would Chauvin and his partner have escalated that situation even further, potentially lethally?”

Watch the interview:

Curfews in Beverly Hills and Santa Monica will start at 1 p.m. PDT Monday for business districts and 4 p.m. PDT citywide following a weekend of protests and looting.

“This has been a difficult weekend in our City. Thousands of protesters marched through our streets to call attention to the devastating circumstances surrounding the death of Minneapolis resident George Floyd. Sadly, there were multiple incidents of vandalism. Several stores, buildings and public art pieces were damaged. This will not be tolerated in our City. It’s unfortunate that the message of the peaceful protesters has been diminished by criminal behavior,” Beverly Hills Mayor Les Friedman said in a statement.

Santa Monica Mayor Kevin McKeown also expressed his disappointment in a news release, saying “On Sunday, Santa Monica honored and respected, and ultimately protected, a peaceful protest against institutional racism. Yet our solidarity with those honoring George Floyd was betrayed, as was his memory, by opportunistic and organized criminals.”

“Taking advantage of the protest as a diversion, they stole not only goods, but jobs, and challenged the resilience of our business community, which is poised for recovery from the ongoing pandemic. Sunday was one of the most distressing days in Santa Monica history,” he continued.

As President Trump and his advisers continue to weigh how best to respond to ongoing nationwide unrest, White House officials have begun reaching out to some black leaders ahead of a possible “listening session” later this week, people familiar with the matter told CNN.  

Trump’s schedule today lists him hosting a conference call with governors, law enforcement and national security leaders — an indication he is focused for now on law-and-order issues during nationwide violence, not necessarily the underlying issues of racism and police brutality that initially sparked protests. His tweets and retweets have also centered on going after Antifa and quelling violence, sometimes using a militaristic tone. 

But some inside the White House also believe Trump should hear from members of the black community to better understand the issues and to help generate ideas for how to move forward.

Remember: It’s not clear when or if such a listening session will materialize but some aides believe it will be necessary — along with his other efforts to hear from law enforcement and governors — before delivering any kind of national address. 

Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser said protesters in the city brought “tools and supplies” with them last night.

“Well, we know that we have people that came here with tools and supplies, and they re-upped their supplies. They went to different parts of the city, so we think there was a mix of people here but certainly people here who do this type of protest demonstration,” Bowser said will speaking on NBC this morning.

NBC’s Craig Melvin asked her if they were “professional protesters and demonstrators.”

“Well, we’ve seen some of these tactics before, so we know that they were among the groups here,” she said, describing the tactics as “the types of tools they used, restocking, setting fires here and there to draw in the police to various locations.”

The US is waking up after another long and violent night of protests over the death of George Floyd, despite curfews being enacted in cities around the country.

If you’re just joining us, here are the biggest updates from overnight:

See CNN’s photo gallery of the nationwide protests:

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JUNE 25: People march in the street during a demonstration on June 25, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. People gathered in protest, calling for Minneapolis Police Union Lt. Bob Kroll to be fired. The city of Minneapolis continues protests and gatherings to honor the death of George Floyd and other Black and indigenous men and women who have been killed by officers of the Minnesota Police Department. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

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Related gallery In pictures: Protesting the death of George Floyd

Two people are dead and a police officer is injured after a series of shootings overnight in Davenport, Iowa.

Police officers in Davenport, Iowa were ambushed by rioters overnight, authorities said in an early morning news conference. 

Davenport Police Chief Paul Sikorski said three officers were patrolling the city when they were ambushed and several rounds were shot at them. Sikorski said the officer’s vehicles were hit, and one officer was injured. Sikorski did not know the officer’s condition but said he was in “good spirits” this morning. Police have arrested several people in a car that fled that scene, he said.

Sikorski said police responded to dozens of incidents in the city involving rioters where shots were fired. He said that a total of four people were shot and two people had died.

Davenport Mayor Mike Mateson said he will be enacting a curfew in the city tonight and will be asking Governor Kim Reynolds to activate the National Guard.

America is still waiting for an address from President Donald Trump about the protests tearing through its streets following the death of George Floyd.

After being briefly moved to an underground bunker during Friday night’s protests outside the White House, Trump spent Sunday night again sheltered as violence raged nearby amid protests from Minneapolis to Miami and Portland to Philadelphia. 

In normal circumstances, a president could be expected to call for calm and perhaps deliver an Oval Office address. 

But Trump’s instinct has been to exacerbate the sense of crisis and division – blasting the demonstrators as “THUGS” and calling for crackdowns, CNN’s Stephen Collinson writes.

Trump on Thursday fueled the incendiary tone around Floyd’s death when he invoked racist language from the 1960s by tweeting “when the looting starts, the shooting starts.”

He spent Friday attempting to strike a more measured tone and denying he was evoking a phrase with ties to brutal civil rights-era police tactics. At a roundtable with retail and restaurant executives, Trump disclosed that he’d spoken with the family of Floyd and said he wanted “to express our nation’s deepest condolences and most heartfelt sympathies.”

But on Saturday, hours after the protests outside the White House had ended, Trump commended the US Secret Service for protecting him inside his fortified mansion, saying he couldn’t have felt “more safe” as protesters gathered outside over Floyd’s death. The President tweeted that if protesters breached the White House’s fence, they would “have been greeted with the most vicious dogs, and most ominous weapons, I have ever seen.”

On Sunday, he lashed out at Democrats and their party’s presumptive nominee Joe Biden as he sought to revive his 2016 claim to be the “law and order” candidate – a characterization that could help him distract from his mishandling of the pandemic.

“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 that what America wants? NO!!!”

Now, a serious divide has emerged among the President’s top allies and advisers over how he should address several nights of protests and riots.

Trump is being urged by some advisers to formally address the nation and call for calm, while others have said he should condemn the rioting and looting more forcefully or risk losing middle-of-the-road voters in November, according to several sources familiar with the deliberations.

Read more:

U.S. President Doanld Trump speaks after the successful launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the manned Crew Dragon spacecraft at the Kennedy Space Center on May 30, 2020 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Earlier in the day NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley lifted off on the inaugural flight and will be the first people since the end of the Space Shuttle program in 2011 to be launched into space from the United States.

Related article While Trump shelters in the White House, America cries out for leadership

Two Atlanta Police Department officers were fired Sunday after video showed them using “excessive force” against two college students during Saturday night’s protests, Atlanta’s mayor announced.

Officers were filmed in downtown Atlanta breaking the windows of the vehicle the two people were in, yanking a woman out of the car and tasing the man. Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields said she recognized the two as Spelman College and Morehouse College students. Both schools are historically black colleges in Atlanta.

“It was the worst experience of my life,” said the woman, identified as Taniyah Pilgrim, 20. She said she and her friend Messiah Young, the man in the video, were riding home from protests when the incident took place.

Watch video of the incident here:

Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said she was disturbed when she saw the video and ordered charges to be dropped against the man. The woman was not charged.

“As we watch the video today, it became abundantly clear immediately with the young woman that this force was excessive,” Bottoms said. “It also became abundantly clear that the officer who tased the young man needed to be terminated as well.”

One of the officers wrote in a police report that he used his taser because he was unsure whether Pilgrim or Young were armed.

Read more:

Police stand guard around the CNN Center and Centennial Olympic park as protests continue over the death of George Floyd, Saturday, May 30, 2020, in Atlanta. Protests were held in U.S. cities over the death of Floyd, a black man who died after being restrained by Minneapolis police officers on May 25.

Related article 2 Atlanta officers fired after video shows them tasing man and using 'excessive force' on woman, mayor says

Hundreds of people have been arrested overnight after taking part in protests across America.

The New York Police department arrested more than 200 during protests overnight, the department’s press office told CNN early Monday morning, adding most of the arrests were made in Manhattan and Brooklyn.

At least seven officers were injured and about a dozen vehicles were damaged during the protests, the NYPD said.

Hundreds of people were also arrested in the Los Angeles area on Sunday, according to officials there.

There were at least nine fires in the city of Santa Monica, and the police and fire department responded to over 1,000 9-1-1 calls since 12 p.m (local), according to a news release from the City of Santa Monica.

The city said in a tweet, “On the average day, the City responds to 200 emergency calls.”

The San Diego Police Department tweeted that “over 100 people were arrested & booked in to jail for charges ranging from failure to disperse, burglary, assaulting officers & vandalism” from May 31 to June 1. 

San Diego Police Sgt. Clinton Leisz said protests had “calmed down quite a bit,” but told CNN Leisz that several businesses had been vandalized or looted.

Protests in Charlotte, North Carolina, overnight led to the arrests of 15 people, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police tweeted. 

One of the protesters was arrested for hitting an officer in the face with a rock, the police department said. Three others were arrested on illegal weapon charges. 

WATCH:

Protesters running amok. Innocent citizens under siege. Outside actors engaging in terrorist acts. Police struggling to maintain control and in desperate need of reinforcements.

That was how Chinese state media portrayed anti-government protests in Hong Kong last year, dismissing calls for greater democracy and an investigation into police brutality by focusing on individual acts of violence and property damage. The widespread unrest, and the prospect of more this year, has been used to justify a new national security bill that will be imposed upon the city by Beijing in coming months.

Washington has fiercely criticized that bill, moving to strip Hong Kong of its special trading status with the United States and threatening sanctions against officials involved in implementing the legislation. Throughout the protests in Hong Kong last year, the US was consistent in its support of people’s right to take to the streets and have their voice heard, and that sporadic violence or illegality did not undermine the core demands or legitimacy of the movement. 

Back in the US: Facing widespread unrest and public anger at home in the wake of the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis, the reaction from US President Donald Trump appeared markedly different.

In a barrage of tweets over the weekend, Trump called protesters “thugs,” accused “organized groups” of being behind the violence, blamed the media for fomenting unrest, called for the military to be deployed, and retweeted claims that those behind the unrest were “domestic terrorists.”

It was a response that might not have appeared out of place on the pages of China’s own government-controlled newspapers, and did not go unnoticed by state media pundits and officials in Beijing, some of whom have publicly delighted in watching the unrest unfold in the US, sarcastically calling for solidarity with protesters and pointing out the alleged hypocrisy of their American counterparts. 

Read more:

Protesters hold a banner and wave US national flags as they march from Chater Garden to the US consulate in Hong Kong on September 8, 2019, to call on the US to pressure Beijing to meet their demands and for Congress to pass a recently proposed bill that expresses support for the protest movement. - Pro-democracy activists planned to rally outside the US consulate in Hong Kong on September 8 as the they try to keep international pressure on Beijing following three months of huge, sometimes violent, protests. (Photo by Vivek Prakash / AFP) (Photo credit should read VIVEK PRAKASH/AFP/Getty Images)

Related article Trump's protest response gives China a propaganda win on Hong Kong

Protests in Louisville, Kentucky turned fatal early this morning after at least one person was killed, police said.

At around 12:15 a.m ET, the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) and National Guard units were dispatched to Dino’s Food Market to clear a large crowd in the parking lot, the police chief said during an early morning presser.  

“Officers and soldiers begin to clear the lot and at some point were shot at. Both LMPD and National Guards members returned fire, we have one man dead at the scene,” Louisville Police Chief Steve Conrad said during a new conference.  

The chief said they have several persons of interest who they are interviewing.  

Authorities are also collecting video from the incident. More information is expected to be released tomorrow, the chief said. 

Protests turning deadly: It is not the first fatality during the protests. At approximately 11:30 p.m. CT Friday night, a 19-year-old male was struck and killed after shots were fired into a crowd protesting, according to the Detroit police department. The victim succumbed to his injuries after being transported to a local hospital.

Target says it will provide the Minneapolis-St. Paul area with first aid equipment and essentials to help the community.

Target chairman and CEO Brian Cornell said the retailer would be donating “truckloads of first aid equipment and medicine, bottled water, baby formula, diapers and other essentials to help ensure that no one within the areas of heaviest damage and demonstration is cut off from needed supplies,” in a letter to team members, guests and the community. 

Target is working towards reopening affected stores and staff who have been impacted by store closures will be able to work at other locations and will be paid for their scheduled hours up to 14 days.

Target has also vowed to have conversations with community members and officials to learn how to support a community while it heals. 

“We are a community in pain. That pain is not unique to the Twin Cities — it extends across America. The murder of George Floyd has unleashed the pent-up pain of years, as have the killings of Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor,” said Cornell.

“We say their names and hold a too-long list of others in our hearts. As a Target team, we’ve huddled, we’ve consoled, we’ve witnessed horrific scenes similar to what’s playing out now and wept that not enough is changing. And as a team we’ve vowed to face pain with purpose.”

US officials have expressed their concern that coronavirus could rapidly spread during protests over the death of George Floyd.

People across America have taken to the streets to vent their frustrations over the seeming lack of value for the lives of black people in the same week the nation crossed the 100,000 death count from coronavirus.

Sunday alone saw an increase of almost 20,000 cases, according to the CNN count compiled with data from Johns Hopkins University.

As of Monday morning at least 1,790,191 Americans have contracted the virus and 104,383 have died. But some expect a jump in cases following days of demonstrations.

With large groups of people protesting, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said he expects a sharp increase in cases of Covid-19 in his state.

Officials in New York shared the governor’s worry about a potential for rise in coronavirus among protesters.

“I would still wish that everyone would realize that when people gather it’s inherently dangerous in the context of this pandemic, and I’m going to keep urging people not to use that approach and if they do they focus on social distancing and wearing face coverings,” New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said Saturday.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said that while people have the right to protest, even during a pandemic, they also have a duty to protect the health of themselves and others.

“You have a right to demonstrate, you have a right to protest, god bless America,” Cuomo said at a Saturday news conference. “You don’t have a right to infect other people, you don’t have a right to act in a way that’s going to jeopardize public health.”

He told people to “demonstrate with a mask on,” and noted how the coronavirus has highlighted longstanding health disparities for the black community.

“The coronavirus crisis has created a depth of pain that still has not been accounted for. So many New Yorkers have lost someone but that is particularly true in communities of color and particularly true in the African American community,” Cuomo said. “That loss is being felt so deeply because every knows it’s not based on equality … communities of color lost so much more.”

Read more:

Demonstrators gathered to protest the death of George Floyd near the White House Sunday.

Related article Concerns for coronavirus spreading rapidly during protests shared by government leaders and health experts

China’s foreign affairs ministry has called on the US to prevent racial discrimination against minorities.

“We are following the latest developments around the death of Mr. Floyd, Black Lives Matter and their human rights should be protected,” said Zhao Lijian, a spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry on Monday.

He added that “the racial discrimination against minorities is a social ill in the United States, what happened again reflects there are serious problems that should be urgently addressed, that is the racial discrimination and violent law enforcement by police.”

Zhao said: “We hope the US government will take concrete measures to fulfil its obligations under the international convention on the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination to uphold the legal rights of ethnic minorities.” 

In response to a question about claims made by US officials stating there was interference from foreign countries including China in current protests Zhao said: “The remarks by [US National Security Adviser Robert] O’Brien and other US officials are just baseless, China does not interfere in other countries domestic affairs.”

Zhao added that he hoped “US politicians can mind their own business.”

Traditionally, Beijing has portrayed racism as a Western problem. But China has come under heavy criticism in recent weeks for its treatment of Africans in the country. 

Last month, many Africans were subject to forced coronavirus testing and arbitrary 14-day self-quarantine in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, regardless of their recent travel history, and scores were left homeless after being evicted by landlords and rejected by hotels under the guise of various virus containment measures.

The incident caused a rupture in China-Africa relations, with the foreign ministries of several African nations – and even the African Union – demanding answers from China.

Yet China’s official response stopped short of admitting that the discrimination took place – or apologizing for it.

There have been around 4,000 people arrested across the United States since the death of George Floyd sparked outrage and nationwide protests, according to CNN’s tally. 

The first arrests began on Tuesday, May 26, the day after Floyd’s death. 

Protesters around the world have taken to the streets this week in solidarity with those demonstrating in the US against police brutality and racial inequity, following the death of George Floyd at the hands of a white officer in Minneapolis.

In London, crowds gathered in Trafalgar Square on Sunday morning to show their support, despite UK lockdown rules that prohibit large crowds from gathering together. A total of 23 protesters were arrested for a series of offenses including breaches to coronavirus legislation.

In New Zealand, thousands gathered across multiple cities for Black Lives Matter demonstrations and vigils for Floyd, including in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch.

In Berlin, protesters gathered in front of the US embassy on Saturday and Sunday, holding signs that bear slogans of the Black Lives Matter movement like “I can’t breathe” and “No justice, no peace.”

In Australia, multiple protests are being planned this coming week. One is scheduled in Sydney on Tuesday, one for Brisbane on Saturday, for Melbourne on Saturday, and more. Thousands have marked themselves as attending in each of the protests’ Facebook event pages.

Shortly past midnight local time in Oakland, California, shots were fired at a police administration building, said Oakland police.

Oakland is located just east of San Francisco.

“At 12:09 AM, shots were fired at the Oakland Police Administration Building located at 455-7th Street. No injuries reported,” the police department tweeted. Three people have been detained in connection with the shooting.

This comes after an officer died on Friday. On Friday night, two Federal Protective Service officers suffered gunshot wounds amid protests, and one died from his injury.

It’s about 4:30 a.m. ET in the United States, and it’s been a long night of continuing protests over the death of George Floyd, despite curfews being enacted in cities around the country.

If you’re just joining us, here are the biggest updates from tonight:

See CNN’s photo gallery of the nationwide protests:

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JUNE 25: People march in the street during a demonstration on June 25, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. People gathered in protest, calling for Minneapolis Police Union Lt. Bob Kroll to be fired. The city of Minneapolis continues protests and gatherings to honor the death of George Floyd and other Black and indigenous men and women who have been killed by officers of the Minnesota Police Department. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

gallery

Related gallery In pictures: Protesting the death of George Floyd

Washington’s King County, which includes the city of Seattle, has declared a state of emergency due to “violence and thefts associated with some of the local protests.”

“King County values and respects the peaceful expression of political views, and supports all people in exercising their First Amendment rights,” said the county government in a press release.
“To assist in responding to the violence and theft associated with some of the local protests, King County Executive Dow Constantine has issued a King County Proclamation of Emergency.”

The statement said the country activated its Emergency Operations Center on Saturday to respond to “significant civil emergency.”

Earlier today, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee called up the National Guard statewide, ordering the state’s adjutant general to activate as many guardsmen as needed.

The first court appearance for Derek Chauvin, the former Minnesota police officer charged in death of George Floyd, has been moved to June 8, according to court records.

He was originally scheduled to appear in court for a hearing on Monday. The court records indicate no specific reasoning for why the date was reset.

Chauvin remains in custody. He was charged Friday with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter – two felonies where intent is a key element.

A number of Boston police officers were injured during the protests Sunday night, which saw 40 people arrested, said the police.

Seven injured officers were taken to the hospital, more were treated on scene, and at least 21 police cruisers were damaged, said the police department in a tweet.

Late Sunday night, the Massachusetts National Guard arrived in Boston to disperse remaining protesters, and respond to reports of looting and vandalism.

Protests have swept the US these past six days in the wake of George Floyd’s death at the hands of police in Minnesota.

While some police departments have been accused of being heavy handed in their attempts to control protests that turned violent, other departments have tried to reach out to protesters to share their grief and help convey their message of peace.

In Houston, Floyd’s hometown, Police Chief Art Acevedo kneeled along with protesters. Acevedo told CNN’s Don Lemon that he wants to provide a police escort for George Floyd’s body as he returns to his hometown to be buried.

In New York City, a police officer was seen taking a knee in front of a heart drawn on a wall during a rally for Floyd near Times Square Sunday.

In nearby New Jersey, the Camden County Metro Police Chief Joe Wysocki joined demonstrators at the head of a march holding a sign that read “Standing in Solidarity” to honor the movement and spread a message of peace.

On the opposite coast, an entire line of officers was seen taking the knee as they faced protesters in Spokane County, Washington. Demonstrators cheered as the officers kneeled.

In Kansas City, Missouri, at least one protestor shook the hand of an officer deployed to a protest Sunday.

Read more and see the photos here:

Camden County Metro Police Chief Joe Wysocki raises a fist while participating in a solidarity March Saturday.

Related article While tensions between police and protesters boiled over in some cities, other officers joined the movement

Police in Portland, Oregon, sent “riot control agents” to respond to protesters at the Mark Hatfield US Courthouse on Sunday night, said the Portland Police Bureau.

Protesters had broken windows at the courthouse, and police said they confronted the protesters in order “to ensure the safety of the staff in the court house.”

Earlier in the night, there were concerns protesters may have set fires inside the courthouse, but police later determined they never entered the building.  

Quincy Mason Floyd, one of George Floyd’s sons, attended a protest in Bryan, Texas on Sunday, according to CNN affiliate KBTX.

He had been a young child the last time he saw his father, according to KBTX.

“Everyone is coming out and showing him love,” he told KBTX. “My heart is really touched by all this.”

He and his sister, Connie Mason, praised the peaceful protests in Bryan and urged protesters around the country to avoid violence.

Other protests across Texas were less calm. In Dallas, 76 people were arrested during protests on Sunday, said the Dallas Police Department.

About 45 to 60 more people are also being processed to go to jail, said the police.

Former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin, who was filmed kneeling on George Floyd’s neck, is scheduled to appear in court for a hearing on Monday.

Jail records show he is scheduled for 2 p.m. Eastern Time. Hennepin County Court Public Information Officer Spenser Bickett also confirmed the hearing to CNN.

Charged with murder: Chauvin, 44, was charged Friday with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter – two felonies where intent is a key element.

Under Minnesota law, third-degree murder is defined as causing death of a person “by perpetrating an act eminently dangerous to others and evincing a depraved mind,” without regard for life and without intent to kill.

Second-degree manslaughter in Minnesota is described as when a person “an unreasonable risk, and consciously takes chances of causing death or great bodily harm to another.”

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee is calling up the National Guard statewide, ordering the state’s adjutant general to activate as many guardsmen as needed to keep communities safe.

Inslee had previously capped deployment at 600 members of the Guard, but says in a press release that violence in Spokane County prompted him to expand his order.

“We must not let these illegal and dangerous actions detract from the anger so many feel at the deep injustice laid so ugly and bare by the death of George Floyd,” Inslee said in the statement.

“But we also will not turn away from our responsibility to protect the residents of our state.”

Inslee has ordered that all members of the Guard engaged in crowd control be unarmed.

The Massachusetts National Guard has arrived in Boston to disperse the remaining protesters, Massachusetts State Police spokesman David Procopio told CNN.

The National Guard is now working with police to clear protesters caught vandalizing buildings and looting stores, Procopio said.

Police have made two arrests so far, both protesters who jumped a fence and tried to get onto State House property.

“We say again, the time for protesting is over. The peaceful protest ended hours ago. Individuals now congregating and committing crimes in Boston need to vacate the area and leave our city,” Boston Police said on Twitter.

Some context on the National Guard: The National Guard is a reserve military force and the oldest component of the US armed forces.

Each US state, territory and Washington DC has its own National Guard, per the US Constitution.

National Guardsmen can be deployed for either state or federal missions. They are often called to assist in national disasters or civil disturbances, and the president can order troops for federal missions both domestically and in foreign nations.

Arrests made in nationwide protests: There are multiple protests still happening around the country, and authorities are working to clear and arrest protesters in various states.

Nine protesters were arrested in Charlotte, North Carolina, late Sunday evening, with some arrests involving weapon charges

And in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, police arrested 43 people for alleged looting and burglary. They also arrested one person for assaulting police, one for alleged rioting, one for vandalism, and one for “other/propulsion of missiles.”

Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small Sr. said on Sunday that he was extending the citywide nightly curfew from June 1 through June 8.

The curfew starts at 7 p.m. every night, he said. He did not specify when it would be lifted each morning.

At a press conference Sunday, Small called protesters’ actions that day “unacceptable.”

One of two college students tased by Atlanta police Saturday said she is “traumatized” and “disgusted” over the incident.  

“It was the worst experience of my life,” 20-year-old Taniyah Pilgrim told reporters in Atlanta on Sunday.

Pilgrim, a junior at Spelman College, said there was “so much commotion” happening at the time that all she could think of was “how not to die.”  

What happened: Pilgrim and her friend, Messiah Young, were driving home from protests in downtown Atlanta on Saturday night when police used Tasers to remove them from their car.

Two of the officers involved in the incident have since been fired, with three others put on desk duty.

Pilgrim was released from police custody and wasn’t charged. Young was also released, and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance-Bottoms said Sunday she was ordering charges against him to be dropped.  

In the national capital, the entire DC National Guard has been called out to assist police with protests in the city, according to Capt. Melissa Heintz from the 113th Wing Public Affairs.

According to its website, the DC National Guard has 1,350 members.

In California, National Guard members are on their way to Long Beach to respond to looting and unrest, the city’s police department said Sunday night.

“The National Guard is on their way and we will get control of the situation,” the Long Beach police chief said. “All hands are on deck and the entire police department is mobilized. Everyone is mobilized. All of our partner agencies are mobilized.”

Earlier today, the family of George Floyd had its first direct communication with the Minneapolis Police Department live on CNN’s special program “I Can’t Breathe: Black Men Living and Dying in America.”

George Floyd’s brother, Philonise Floyd, asked Police Chief Medaria Arradondo whether he would arrest the officers and get justice for George’s death.

Speaking directly to Philonise, Arradondo said those decisions would come through the County Attorney’s Office.

He also took off his hat every time he addressed the Floyd family to show respect, and said those who stood silent in the face of injustice were complicit.

“Being silent or not intervening to me, you’re being complicit,” Arradondo said. “My decision to fire all four officers was not based on some sort of hierarchy. Mr. Floyd died in our hands.”

Attorney Ben Crump, who consoled Philonise during the exchange, thanked Arrandondo.

“He was very respectful to the family, and we thank him for that,” Crump said. “This family is in great pain … They need these officers to be arrested.”

Law enforcement officials in Minnesota believe there are white supremacists attending demonstrations in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, said Department of Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell on Sunday night.

He also added that there have been reports of Antifa attending the demonstrations.

Antifa, short for anti-fascists, describes a broad group of people whose political beliefs lean toward the left – often the far left – but do not conform with the Democratic Party platform. 

The two Atlanta police officers who were fired for using excessive force against two protesters said they had tased the couple over concerns they were armed.

The incident happened in Atlanta, Georgia, late Saturday night during protests against the death of George Floyd. Video of the confrontation show two young college students in their car, before being tased by police.

Officer statements: The officer who tased the male driver said, ““The driver started grabbing his right pocket area, causing me to us (sic) my ECW (Electronic Conductive Weapon) on him.”  

The officer who tased the female passenger said he gave verbal commands to the female to, “show her hands and stop resisting.” He also wrote he “heard officers say ‘gun’ two-three times,” according to the report.  

They were fired after the incident: The two officers have been fired, and three other officers involved are now on desk duty pending further determination of disciplinary action, said Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.

“There clearly was a use of excessive force,” she said. “We understand that our officers are working very long hours under an enormous amount of stress. But we also understand that the use of excessive force is never acceptable.”

The mayor of Oklahoma City has enacted a curfew for downtown areas, from 10 p.m. local time until 5 a.m. Monday morning.

City police said on Twitter that a crowd near police headquarters was being dispersed, after the protests became non-peaceful and objects were thrown at officers.

Police are now calling it an “unlawful assembly” and telling protestors to disband.

Bogdan Vechirko, the man who drove a tanker truck into a crowd of protesters on a Minnesota interstate on Sunday night, has been charged with assault, according to records at the Hennepin County Jail.

The incident took place on the I-35W bridge. Aerial video from CNN affiliate WCCO appears to show Vechirko in a scrum with protesters as officers took him away, and law enforcement said he was treated at a hospital. A mugshot of Vechirko shows what appear to be minor injuries to his nose and eyes.

It appears no protesters were hurt, said the Department of Public Safety, which described Vechirko’s actions as “inciting a crowd of peaceful demonstrators.” 

Vechirko is now being held without bail.

In a statement on Sunday, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh thanked peaceful protesters in the city but criticized those who committed “destruction and violence.”

His statement said:

“I want to thank the protestors who exercised their right to free speech effectively and peacefully, making sure everyone hears their message. Tonight’s protests were motivated by a righteous desire for equality, justice, and accountability in our country. I see you. I hear you. I will use my voice for you.
I am angered, however, by the people who came into our city and chose to engage in acts of destruction and violence, undermining their message. If we are to achieve change and if we are to lead the change, our efforts must be rooted in peace and regard for our community.”

He also thanked the city’s police and public safety agencies for their work.

The White House tonight has cautioned staffers who must come to work Monday to hide their passes until they reach a Secret Service entry point and to hide them as they leave, in an email viewed by CNN.

The email repeated mandates for maximum telework status, and said there is still an “elevated security posture” due to the protests. 

“If you must come to the complex, keep your pass and PIV cars hidden until you reach a USSS (United States Secret Service) entry point,” said the email. 

The National Guard has been deployed in multiple major cities around the US rocked by protests on Sunday night.

In Tennessee, Gov. Bill Lee has authorized the deployment of the National Guard to Murfreesboro, saying the protests there are “no longer peaceful” and are threatening public safety.

In Washington, Gov. Jay Inslee activated 200 additional members of the state’s National Guard to Bellevue, east of Seattle. The National Guard would help protect property, manage crowds and traffic, and respond to looting, he said.

In Minnesota, the state’s National Guard is deployed on 29 missions, said Minnesota National Guard Maj. Gen. Jon Jensen earlier this evening.

As of Sunday morning, approximately 5,000 National Guard members had been activated in 15 states and Washington, DC, with another 2,000 prepared to activate if needed.

Manhattan was still full of protesters as night fell on Sunday.

A large group of protesters came over the Brooklyn Bridge into Manhattan earlier in the day, moving north through Soho, where several arrests were made.

Then they arrived in Union Square. A car was set on fire near 12th street, and protesters faced off with riot police in full gear. Tensions are high, with protesters chanting “Shame” and other slogans at the police.

Stores around Manhattan are boarded up today, after the destruction of the past few days. A bank near Union Square has had its windows smashed, said CNN crime correspondent Shimon Prokupecz, reporting from the scene.

“I’ve covered protests in New York City. I covered it during the Eric Garner (protests). I covered occupy Wall Street. You never saw the elements that we’re seeing here,” he said.

Chiara de Blasio, the daughter of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, was arrested on Saturday night alongside protesters, according to police sources.

She was arrested near Greenwich Village for unlawful assembly and was later released, police sources said.

CNN has reached out to NYC Mayor de Blasio’s office for comment.

As protesters gathered outside the White House Friday night in Washington, President Trump was briefly taken to the White House underground bunker for a period of time, according to a White House official and a law enforcement source.

He was there for a little under an hour before being brought upstairs.

A law enforcement source and another source familiar with the matter told CNN that Melania and Barron Trump were also taken to the bunker.

The law enforcement source familiar with protocol said that if authorities moved Trump they would move all protectees, meaning Melania and Barron.

The separate source said, “If the condition at the White House is elevated to RED and the President is moved to the EOC (Emergency Operations Center, below the East Wing), Melania Trump, Barron Trump and any other first family members would be moved as well.”

Trump has repeatedly praised the Secret Service for its handling of the protests outside the White House Friday night. 

At least 40 cities and Washington, DC, have imposed curfews tonight in response to violent protests across the country this weekend.

Additionally, as of Sunday morning, approximately 5,000 National Guard members have been activated in 15 states and Washington, DC, with another 2,000 prepared to activate if needed.

Here’s a look at what cities currently have curfews in place for tonight:

Curfews:

State of disaster/emergency:

Other things to note: