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George Floyd death: Violence erupts on sixth day of protests

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'This is pain right here' - Washington DC protests turn violent
Violence has erupted in cities across the US on the sixth night of protests sparked by
the death in police custody of African-American George Floyd.

Dozens of cities imposed curfews, but many people ignored them, leading to stand-offs and
clashes.

Riot police faced off with protesters in New York, Chicago, Philadelphia and LA, firing tear gas
and pepper bullets to try to disperse crowds.

Police vehicles were set on fire and shops were looted in several cities.

The country is experiencing the most widespread racial turbulence and civil unrest since the
backlash to the assassination of Martin Luther King in 1968.

The outpouring of anger began last Tuesday, after a video showed Mr Floyd being arrested in
Minneapolis and a white police officer continuing to kneel on his neck even after he pleaded
he could not breathe and fell unconscious.
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Live updates from around the US

'Unacceptable' attacks on reporters at Floyd protests

How are African-Americans treated by the law?

More than 75 cities have seen protests, with streets only days ago deserted because of
coronavirus full of demonstrators marching shoulder to shoulder. Some US officials have
warned of protest-connected virus outbreaks.

The Floyd case has reignited deep-seated anger over police killings of black Americans and
racism. It follows the high-profile cases of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Eric Garner in New
York and others that have driven the Black Lives Matter movement.

For many, the outrage also reflects years of frustration over socio-economic inequality and
discrimination, not least in Minneapolis itself, where George Floyd died.

What happened in the latest protests?

About 16,000 troops from the National Guard - the US reserve military force for domestic
emergencies - have been deployed to deal with the unrest across 24 states and Washington,
DC, where crowds once again gathered near the White House on Sunday night.

Demonstrators lit fire to buildings there, including a historic church known as the church of the
presidents, and threw stones at riot officers. Police used tear gas in response.

In Louisville, Kentucky, a man was shot dead in a confrontation between protesters, police
and the National Guard after midnight. Shots were fired at police officers and guard troops as
they moved to disperse a crowd in a car park and they "returned fire", leaving one man dead,
Louisville Metro Police said.

As on Friday and Saturday, demonstrations that had been peaceful during the day again
descended into violence as night fell.

Police vehicles were vandalised and set alight in several cities, while riot officers continued to
respond with tear gas and flash grenades.

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GETTY IMAGES

At least 4,400 people have been arrested in several days of protests, according to the
Associated Press news agency, for offences including blocking motorways, looting and
breaking curfew.

On Monday, President Trump told state governors in a videoconference that they looked
"weak", according to leaked audio obtained by CBS. "You have to dominate, if you don't
dominate you're wasting your time," the president reportedly said.

Jordan 'pained and angry' after Floyd death

The man whose death convulsed the US

In pictures: Washington DC hit by violent protests

A 19:00 curfew has now been imposed in Washington DC for Monday and Tuesday nights.

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EPA

In Minneapolis, a lorry driver was arrested after reportedly breaching a road barrier before
speeding towards a crowd of protesters marching along a major motorway. The driver was
taken to hospital with minor injuries and later to the county jail.

There were no immediate reports of other casualties.

Minnesota's Governor Tim Walz said the motive of the driver was unclear, adding: "To not
have tragedy and many deaths is simply an amazing thing."

Many videos shared on social media appeared to show riot police responding
disproportionately to demonstrators. In Atlanta, Georgia, two officers were sacked on Sunday
for using excessive force - including using a taser on two young college students.

Dozens of journalists have also spoken out about being targeted by police despite
making clear they are with the media. A BBC cameraman was charged at by a shield-
carrying officer near the White House.

There have also been protests in European cities, including London, Dublin, Berlin, Zurich
and Brussels.

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For three years, Donald Trump presided over a nation of relative peace and prosperity. The
crises he faced were largely of his own making, and he confronted them by rallying his
supporters and condemning his opponents.

Now Trump faces a situation ill-suited to a playbook of division. The US economy has been
hobbled by a deadly pandemic. George Floyd's death at the hands of a Minneapolis police
officer has spread racial unrest across the nation. The public is uncertain and afraid - and
increasingly angry.

These are circumstances that would test the abilities of even the most skilful leaders. This
president, however, risks becoming lost at sea. His public calls for unity and healing have

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been undermined by a penchant for Twitter name-calling and bellicosity. Message discipline, a
valuable attribute at this moment, is not his forte.

There may be no easy way to guide the nation through its current peril. Barack Obama's
measured coolness did nothing to stop the fires of Ferguson any more than Richard Nixon's
law-and-order edicts quelled Vietnam-era unrest.

The economic and social devastation of the pandemic has created a political landscape of dry
brush ignited by the lightning strike of Floyd's death. The president may not be able to contain
the wildfire, even if he isn't feeding the flames.

Terrence Floyd, George's younger brother, told ABC News he condemned the violent
protests, saying his brother stood for peace.

"I'm outraged too," he said. "Sometimes I get angry... I want to go crazy. My brother wasn't
about that. My brother was about peace. You'll hear a lot of people saying: 'He was a gentle
giant.'

Why do some protests turn violent?

The last 30 minutes of George Floyd's life

"I just had to come down here to speak to people, and let people know, just channel your
anger elsewhere. Don't tear up your town."

What happened to George Floyd?

On the evening of 25 May, police were called to a grocery store where George Floyd had
allegedly paid for cigarettes with a counterfeit $20 note. They found him in his car outside and
tried to put him in a police vehicle, but Mr Floyd dropped to the ground, telling officers he was
claustrophobic.

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According to police, he physically resisted and was handcuffed. Video of the incident does not
clearly show what happened at that point.

Bystander footage shows three police officers kneeling on the unarmed Mr Floyd, with officer
Derek Chauvin's knee on his neck. Mr Floyd can be heard saying "please, I can't breathe"
several times and "don't kill me" but Mr Chauvin does not remove his knee despite pleas from
bystanders.

GETTY IMAGES

According to a preliminary autopsy, the police officer had his knee on Mr Floyd's neck for eight
minutes and 46 seconds - almost three minutes of which was after Mr Floyd became non-
responsive.

Nearly two minutes before Mr Chauvin removed his knee the other officers checked Mr
Floyd's right wrist for a pulse and were unable to find one. He was taken to hospital and
pronounced dead around an hour later.

Mr Chauvin, 44, has been charged with murder.

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