George Floyd’s coffin put on view for public as Democrats introduce federal police reform legislation
Pressure grows on on Monday for lawmakers to force change
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Members of the public were allowed to view George Floyd's coffin in his hometown of Houston, Texas, on Monday as global protests sparked by his death continued over the weekend. His body was on display for six hours to allow for the public viewing.
On Tuesday, a private memorial would be held in funeral with a 500-person limit. The reasoning behind the limit was to help everyone attending maintain social distancing guidelines during the service.
In response to Black Lives Matter protests across the nation, Congressional Democrats unveiled new legislation that would directly tackle police reform across the United States. But Republicans have urged caution about passing anything on the federal level addressing police reform and brutality.
On the state and local level, Minneapolis lawmakers pledged to dismantle its police department, promising to create, instead, a new system of public safety, while New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said he would cut the city's $6bn police budget and spend more on social services. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti also vowed to cut $100m to $150m of his city's police budget, just a few days after he planned to increase that same budget by 7 per cent.
All of this comes as Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer charged with second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, made a virtual appearance in court on Monday.
The judge accepted prosecutors' $1.25m unconditioned bail, which changes to $1m with conditions. These conditions include Chauvin remaining a law-abiding citizen, attending all court appearances, refraining from taking any law enforcement and security jobs, and handing over all firearms.
Whether Chauvin would be able to post bail remains to be seen.
President Donald Trump has continued his rhetoric of "law and order" amid the protests across the country. He's accused the Democrats of pushing "defund the police" rhetoric, but prominent Democrats like former Vice President Joe Biden said they did not support the movement. Instead, Mr Biden advocated for funding community policing policies and other vital programmes.
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Romney first Republican senator spotted at Black Lives Matter protest
Utah senator Mitt Romney has become the first Republican senator spotted at a protest over police violence and the death of George Floyd, killed in Minneapolis when a white police officer knelt on his neck.
Mr Romney, a former governor of Massachusetts and 2012 presidential candidate, tweeted a mask-clad selfie taken on the streets of Washington accompanied by the words “Black Lives Matter".
In an on-camera interview, Mr Romney said he and the other marchers were there “to end violence and brutality, and to make sure that people understand that black lives matter”.
Read more:
Home Secretary Priti Patel has tweeted an image of the Daily Mail front page, showing the toppling of the Colston statue in Bristol and graffiti on the Churchill monument in Parliament Square.
She wrote: “These demonstrations have been subverted by thuggery. Justice will follow.”
Edward Colston: Who was the slave trader and why was his statue pulled down?
Historic scenes were witness in Bristol over the weekend as Black Lives Matter protesters pulled down a controversial statue of 17th-century slave trader Edward Colston and rolled the memorial into the Bristol Harbour.
The divisive memorial was erected in 1895, with a plaque that read: “Erected by citizens of Bristol as a memorial of one of the most virtuous and wise sons of their city.”
Colston’s legacy and memory has been honoured in Bristol for centuries, and his name is seen on streets and buildings throughout the city. His statue stood on Colston Avenue, as does Colston Tower; Colston Hall is located on Colston Street; Colston’s Day is celebrated on 14 November, when Colston buns are eaten. A number of schools also bear his name.
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A man in Bristol has spoken out about the toppling of the Edward Colston statue.
A New CNN poll shows Donald Trump's approval rating plummeting following his handling of both the coronavirus pandemic and George Floyd protests.
Bristol harbour master checks for a navigational hazard after protesters throw Edward Colston statue into water.
Edward Colston statue was an ‘affront’, mayor of Bristol says
The mayor of Bristol has said the statue of Edward Colston which was torn down on Sunday was an “affront”.
Marvin Rees added that he felt no “sense of loss” when the bronze statue was pulled down and thrown into the city’s harbour but said it would be retrieved “at some point” and would likely be taken to a museum.
“I think circumstances came to a head and people felt the need to take the statue down,” Mr Rees said.
“I can't and won't pretend the statue of a slave trader in a city I was born and grew up in wasn't an affront to me and people like me.”
He added: “People in Bristol who don't want that statue in the middle of the city came together and it is my job to unite, hear those voices and hold those truths together for people for who that statue is a personal affront.”
Houston to hold six-hour public viewing of George Floyd’s coffin
Mourners will be allowed to view George Floyd’s coffin in his hometown of Houston, Texas, on the final stop of a series of memorials in his honour.
A six-hour viewing will be held on Monday at the Fountain of Praise church in southwest Houston, with the event open to the public so long as visitors wear a mask and gloves to comply with public health guidelines.
Mr Floyd’s funeral will be on Tuesday, followed by a burial at Houston Memorial Gardens cemetery in suburban Pearland, where he will be laid to rest next to his mother, Larcenia Floyd.
At a tribute in Minneapolis on Thursday, those in attendance stood in silence for eight minutes and 46 seconds, the length of time prosecutors say Mr Floyd was pinned to the ground under a police officer's knee before he died.
Mr Floyd was raised in Houston's Third Ward and was a well-known former high school American football player who rapped with local musician DJ Screw - he moved to Minneapolis several years ago.
Piers Morgan criticises home secretary Priti Patel for calling toppling of statue ‘disgraceful’
Piers Morgan has called Priti Patel “tone deaf” after the home secretary criticised protesters who tore down a statue of slave trader Edward Colston in Bristol.
Ms Patel said the toppling of the statue was “utterly disgraceful” and suggested it had undermined the anti-racist demonstrations which were sparked by the death of George Floyd in the US.
However, Mr Morgan wrote on his Twitter account on Sunday evening: “Priti Patel thinks pulling down a slave trader’s statue ‘undermines’ racism protests.
“Have we ever had a more tone-deaf home secretary?”
Our reporter, Chiara Giordano, has the full story below:
German government calls on protesters to stick to social distancing rules
The German government has called on protesters attending anti-racism demonstrations to stick to coronavirus social distancing rules.
At least 15,000 people demonstrated in Berlin and 25,000 protested in Munich on Saturday as part of global demonstrations against racism and police brutality following the death of George Floyd.
In some cases, protesters were closely packed together despite requirements in the country for people to stay 1.5 metres apart from each other.
“It is good if people take to the streets in Germany as well with a clear statement against racism,” Steffen Seibert, a spokesperson for chancellor Angela Merkel, said.
However, he added: “The pictures that in some cases emerged over the weekend were not good. Both things must be possible: to demonstrate peacefully, which is a fundamental right, and keep to the (social distancing) rules.”
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