Army units pulled toward Washington, curfews were announced in US cities, and protesters besieged the White House. What happens in the United States
According to the Associated Press, by June 3, the number of victims of the riots had reached at least 11 people.
On the evening of June 2 local time, despite the curfew announced, protesters gathered at the White House. Security officers had to expand the security perimeter of the residence. Some of the protesters went to the Capitol.
About 1.6 thousand troops were pulled into the Washington area. A Pentagon spokesman said they were prepared to take part in the crackdown if the police could not cope with them.
In addition to the US, protests are also taking place in other countries. For example, in France, in Paris, the police had to use tear gas to disperse the demonstration.
The Senate blocked a resolution that condemned Donald Trump’s actions during the riots. Its authors were political opponents of the US president – senators from the Democratic Party. Their claims were related to the use of tear gas against protesters at the White House.
What caused the protests?
The protests are caused by the death of African-American George Floyd after hard detention, this happened on May 25. Floyd, 46, was detained on suspicion of using fake bills. One of the policemen, Derek Chauvin, pressed his knee down his throat, ignoring Floyd’s words that he could not breathe. This episode hit the video.
- A few hours later, Floyd died in the hospital. Four police officers who were detained were fired.
- Chauvin arrested, charged with murder.
- According to the results of the first examination, Floyd did not die of suffocation. Experts concluded that the cause of death could be a combination of the circumstances of the detention, concomitant health problems and possible intoxication. Floyd’s relatives do not agree with the results of the examination and turned to independent experts.
- Independent forensic experts concluded that mechanical asphyxia was the cause of death.
- After the emergence of information about the death of Floyd, the action began in Minneapolis, where he died, and grew into pogroms. Curfews have been introduced in 40 cities across the country. Part of the protesters in parallel with the protests took up the looting of shops.
- US President Donald Trump said that these protests have nothing to do with justice, and promised not to allow anarchy in the country.
- Trump also said that the United States will include the Antifa movement on the list of terrorist organizations, whose supporters, he believes, are behind the organization of the riots.
- Susan Rice, the former national security adviser to former US President Barack Obama, suggested that Russia could be involved in the riots, for example in terms of using
- incitement in social networks.
- Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called this statement propaganda.
- The Kremlin said that Rice’s point of view is wrong.
- Pope Francis recalled the value of every life and called racism a sin. He also called for a prayer for reconciliation.
- US officials are worried that mass protests across states may trigger a new outbreak of COVID-19, The New York Times notes.