May 30 George Floyd protests news

12 Posts
Sort byDropdown arrow
12:43 a.m. ET, May 30, 2020

National Guard activated in Georgia as governor declares state of emergency

From CNN’s Jennifer Henderson 

As many as 500 National Guard troops have been activated to protect people and property in Atlanta, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp announced late Friday.

Kemp said he is also issuing a state of emergency for Fulton County due to protests in the state capital.

"At the request of Mayor @KeishaBottoms & in consultation with public safety & emergency preparedness officials, I have issued a State of Emergency for Fulton County to activate as many as 500 @GeorgiaGuard troops to protect people & property in Atlanta," Kemp's Twitter post said.
"They will deploy immediately to assist (local law enforcement) who are working tirelessly to subdue unlawful activity & restore peace. We will continue to make all state resources available to local leaders during this emergency situation."

1:08 a.m. ET, May 30, 2020

Change never comes through violence, says daughter of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

WGCL
WGCL

Bernice King, daughter of civil rights leader Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., said that violence is not a solution, during a news conference by Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.

"We can't keep doing things like we've been doing it in this nation, we've got to deal with systemic racism and white supremacy once and for all," King said.
"But the only pathway I know to do this is through non-violent means. It is a proven method."

She added, "The end goal is we want change, and want it now. But change never comes through violence. It is not a solution."

Watch:

12:58 a.m. ET, May 30, 2020

Suspected looting at luxury Atlanta shopping mall

From CNN’s Joe Sutton  

In addition to the unrest in downtown Atlanta, protesters have made their way north to Lenox Square Mall, in the Buckhead community. 

Lenox is regarded as one of the premier shopping destinations in the US Southeast, featuring brands like Prada, Louis Vuitton and Cartier.

Atlanta police spokesman Carlos Campos told CNN it “sounds like there is some vandalism and looting.” 

Officers are also investigating possible looting at a Buckhead Target store.

12:30 a.m. ET, May 30, 2020

Louisville police apologize to reporter shot at by officer with pepper ball launcher

Louisville Metro Police (LMPD) has apologized to CNN affiliate WAVE’s reporter Kaitlin Rust, who was directly fired upon by an officer with a pepper ball launcher while live on air on Friday night. 

LMPD special advisor Jessie Halladay said she had reviewed the video and the incident was not something that should have occurred if Rust was singled out as a reporter. 

According to Halladay, authorities were unable to confirm that the officer seen in the video is a LMPD officer, but said he could be a member of its special response team.

Halladay said the department would review the video again once the protests end and investigate if disciplinary action is necessary.

The LMPD has no intention of targeting media covering the incident, Halladay added. 

12:12 a.m. ET, May 30, 2020

Multiple arrests in Las Vegas after protesters take over part of iconic Strip

KTNV
KTNV

A number of protesters have been arrested after taking over portions of the world-famous Las Vegas Strip in Nevada on Friday night. 

“As the night went on, many more people joined the protest and some of those protests became more violent, and some of those protesters started breaking the laws," Las Vegas police Capt. Dori Koren said in a briefing with CNN affiliate KTNV.

Koren didn't reveal how many people had been arrested.

“We are fully aware of how delicate and problematic this situation is nationally," Koren added. 

12:12 a.m. ET, May 30, 2020

Accused officer’s wife files for dissolution of marriage, lawyer says

An attorney for Kellie Chauvin, the wife of ex-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, has filed for a dissolution of marriage, according to a statement from the Sekula Family Law office.

Derek Chauvin was arrested Friday and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the death of George Floyd.

“This evening, I spoke with Kellie Chauvin and her family. She is devastated by Mr. Floyd’s death and her utmost sympathy lies with his family, with his loved ones and with everyone who is grieving this tragedy. She has filed for dissolution of her marriage to Derek Chauvin,” the statement said.
“While Ms. Chauvin has no children from her current marriage, she respectfully requests that her children, her elder parents, and her extended family be given safety and privacy during this difficult time.”
12:52 a.m. ET, May 30, 2020

Here's a snapshot of where we've seen protests so far tonight

From CNN's Joe Sutton

Protesters took to the streets across America over the death of George Floyd on Friday night. 

Some of the protests have been peaceful, while others have been destructive. Here are the cities where protesters gathered:

California: Los Angeles, Bakersfield, Sacramento, San Jose, Oakland, San Francisco 

Colorado: Denver  

Georgia: Atlanta

Illinois: Chicago

Iowa: Des Moines

Indiana: Indianapolis, Fort Wayne 

Kentucky: Louisville (Related to the death of Breonna Taylor)

Louisiana: New Orleans

New York: New York City 

Massachusetts: Boston

Michigan: Detroit

Minnesota: Minneapolis

Nevada: Las Vegas

North Carolina: Charlotte 

Ohio: Columbus, Cincinnati 

Texas: Dallas, Houston

Virginia: Richmond

Washington, DC

12:49 a.m. ET, May 30, 2020

Rapper Killer Mike tearfully tells Atlanta protesters: "I am tired of seeing black men die"

WGCL
WGCL

In an emotional speech, rapper Killer Mike addressed George Floyd protesters directly at Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms' news conference tonight.

"I am the son of an Atlanta police officer," said the rapper, whose real name is Michael Render.  "And I got a lot of love and respect for police officers, down to the original eight police officers in Atlanta." 

Crying on camera, he continued: "I watched a white police officer assassinate a black man. And I know that tore your heart out." 

"I woke up wanting to see the world burn down yesterday because I am tired of seeing black men die," he said. "We don't want to see Targets burning. We want to see the system that sets up for systemic racism burned to the ground."
He added, "I am duty-bound to be here to simply say that it is your duty not to burn your own house down for anger with an enemy. It is your duty to fortify your own house in times of organization." 

He concluded by thanking Mayor Lance Bottoms, saying he appreciated her telling the protesters to go home. 

Watch:

12:09 a.m. ET, May 30, 2020

Here's what you need to know about the death of George Floyd

On Monday evening, police in Minneapolis were called about someone trying to pass a counterfeit bill at Cup Foods, a neighborhood grocery store.

Officers responding to an alleged forgery in progress were initially told that a person later described as the suspect was sitting on a car and appeared to be under the influence, police said.

A pair of officers located the man, George Floyd, who was at that point inside the car and who police said "physically resisted" the officers when ordered to get out. Officers handcuffed Floyd, who "appeared to be suffering medical distress," according to police.

The events that happened next sparked outrage and protests across the country:

A video circulated on social media shows two officers and Floyd on the ground –– one of them with his knee on Floyd's neck. The video did not capture what led up to the arrest or what police described as the man resisting arrest.

"Please, I can't breathe," Floyd said, screaming for several minutes before he became silent. Bystanders urged the officer to release the man from his hold.

After several minutes of pleading with the officer, Floyd appeared motionless, his eyes shut, his head against the pavement. He died at a hospital a short time later, police said.

Mayor Jacob Frey has said the technique used to pin Floyd's head to the ground was against department regulations.

"The technique that was used is not permitted; is not a technique that our officers get trained in on," Frey said. "And our chief has been very clear on that piece. There is no reason to apply that kind of pressure with a knee to someone's neck."

"We all watched the horrific death of George Floyd on video as witnesses begged the police officer to take him into the police car and get off his neck," said Ben Crump, a civil rights attorney representing Floyd's family. "This abusive, excessive and inhumane use of force cost the life of a man who was being detained by the police for questioning about a non-violent charge."

New video: A second video taken on the opposite side of the street appears to show three officers kneeling on Floyd. Watch that video here.

What happened next: All four of the officers were fired on Tuesday.

On Friday, the former officer who had his knee on Floyd's neck, Derek Chauvin, was arrested and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter.

None of the other officers have been charged yet, the Hennepin County Attorney's office said.