Here are the latest developments:
Trump’s Statements: After President Donald Trump’s speech in which he threatened military intervention, the violence associated with the protests seemed to have slightly decreased.
Protests Nationwide: Demonstrations continue to spread across the entire country, with protesters in various cities gathering peacefully in large numbers. These cities include Los Angeles, Washington, and Philadelphia.
Main Slogans and Signs: Key slogans and signs at the protests include “No justice, no peace” and “say his name, George Floyd.” In New York City, thousands marched up 86th Street peacefully, while in Houston, George Floyd’s hometown, thousands participated in a march organized by his friends and family. Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles was also filled with protesters.
Solidarity Gestures: There have been instances of solidarity and gestures of understanding between protesters and law enforcement officers outside the Los Angeles Police Department headquarters.
George Floyd’s Death: George Floyd died after a white police officer, Derek Chauvin, kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes in Minneapolis on May 25. The video of this incident went viral, sparking widespread outrage and bringing the issue of police brutality against African Americans to the forefront. Derek Chauvin has been charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, while the three other officers involved have been fired but not yet charged.
In Minneapolis, Roxie Washington, the mother of George Floyd’s 6-year-old daughter, Gianna, expressed her grief, stating that “I want everybody to know that this is what those officers took from me… Gianna does not have a father. He will never see her grow up, graduate.” Her words reflect the profound impact of this tragedy on the lives of those close to George Floyd.
