George Floyd anniversary: Joe Biden meets family as US embassies fly Black Lives Matter flag
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Your support makes all the difference.The family of George Floyd, whose murder sparked protests around the world, met president Joe Biden at the White House for almost an hour to mark the anniversary of his death.
“If you can make federal laws to protect the bird which is the bald eagle, then you can make federal laws to protect people of colour,” George Floyd’s brother, Philonise, told reporters after the meeting.
It comes as the US president missed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act deadline, which he originally set for 25 May. To mark the anniversary, embassies around the country were authorized by the State Department to fly the Black Lives Matter flag “advance racial equity and access to justice on May 25 and beyond”.
Mr Floyd was killed by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who knelt on Mr Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes. A jury of 12 found Chauvin guilty on three counts; one count of second-degree murder, one count of third-degree murder, and one count of manslaughter.
The former police officer has not yet been sentenced but faces up to 40 years in prison. The state attorney general, Keith Ellison, has requested the judge consider ‘aggravating factors’ when handing out a sentence, which requests “an upward sentencing departure”.
Following the murder of Mr Floyd, protests broke out in the state, across the nation, and internationally, as thousands of people took to the streets to decry police brutality.
Mr Floyd’s family is marking a year since his death with a series of events, including the Saturday rally held alongside other victims of police killings, a day of action, and a candlelit vigil on Tuesday, 25 May – a year to the day he was killed.
BREAKING: Gunfire reported near George Floyd Square in Minneapolis on anniversary of his death
As many as 30 gunshots were reported a block from George Floyd Square in Minneapolis on Monday, one year to the day that Mr Floyd was murdered.
An Associated Press journalist at the scene heard the shots and reported that there were no known injuries as of yet.
Gunfire reported near George Floyd Square in Minneapolis on anniversary of his death
As many as 30 gunshots were reported a block from George Floyd Square in Minneapolis on Monday, one year to the day that Mr Floyd was murdered.
George Floyd death ‘set the world in a rage’ says brother
Meeting with Nancy Pelosi today, Philonise Floyd said the killing of his brother’s one year ago “set the world in a rage”.
“And people realize what’s going on in America, and we all said enough is enough,” he said.
“We need to fight one thing and that Covid, that’s what we need to be fighting. We need to be working together to make sure people do not live in fear in America anymore.”
The family met with Pelosi to discuss the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act ahead of their private meeting with Joe Biden.
Pelosi, how has previously thanked Floyd for his “sacrifice”, said today his death would lead to change.
“People around the world flooded the streets for days and weeks,” Pelosi said. “[Daughter] Gianna said, ‘my daddy would change the world’.”
Video captures apparent shooting at “George Floyd Square”
What sounds like roughly a dozen shots can be heard fired in the background of a live ABC news broadcast from George Floyd Square as people can be heard shouting “down, down, down, behind the engine block, behind the engine block” before the footage cuts back to the anchor in studio.
“Alright we’re going to check in with Alex in a bit, sounds like there may be some trouble there in Minneapolis, we’re going to check in with them, obviously we hope that they are safe,” the anchor says, before discussing police reform.
After the shooting and cut away to the studio, KARE11 reports on cities that voted to defund the police.
See the footage below.
White House silent on proposed qualified immunity compromise in George Floyd bill
Press secretary Jen Psaki was asked today if Joe Biden supports a compromise proposed to overcome a sticking between Democrats and Republicans on the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.
The compromise proposed by senator Tim Scott is to allow civil suits to be brought against entire police departments instead of individual officers, similar to a practice in the legal and medical industries.
Asked at the daily briefing if the president would support the compromise, Psaki said “we’ll see what the final agreement looks like”.
“The president has had a principle from the beginning, which is that he wants to allow the negotiators the time and space to have those negotiations and discussions,” Psaki said.
“We have been closely engaged with the negotiators and a range of parties on the Hill, we have also been respecting the space needed for the negotiators to have these discussions about where they can find common ground.”
White House won’t defund the police ‘under our watch’
Press secretary Jen Psaki took a sideswipe at the “defund the police” movement from the Democrat’s far left-wing during today’s media briefing.
Psaki was pressed by Fox News reporter Peter Doocy on whether Joe Biden agreed with the mayor of St Louis how said more police does not prevent crime.
In response, Psaki said “there’s not going to be a shortage of funding under our watch”.
“The president believes there are a number of steps that need to be taken to rebuild trust in communities,” she said.
“Police reform is long outdated. He also believes there needs to be funding for local programs and local initiatives and there’s not going to be a shortage of funding under our watch.”
Vermont governor designates George Floyd Remembrance Day
Phil Scott has signed a proclamation designating Tuesday as George Floyd Remembrance Day in Vermont on the anniversary of Floyd’s death in Minneapolis.
Floyd, 46, who was Black, died on Memorial Day 2020 after then-Police Officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck, pinning him to the ground for about 9 1/2 minutes. Chauvin, who is white, was convicted last month of murder and faces sentencing June 25. Three other fired officers still face trial.
“One year ago today, George Floyd, an African American man, was murdered by a police officer. His death under the knee of someone charged with protecting all citizens, and caught on video for all to see, was a terrible tragedy –- one that sparked grief and outrage around the country,” Scott said in a statement. “Importantly, it also inspired a national reckoning on racial justice and equity and the role we all play to address these issues, as well as reforms to modernize law enforcement and address racism across government systems. ”
Scott said he marked the day with a proclamation “so that we reflect on Mr. Floyd’s death and remember why we must continue to acknowledge systemic racism and inequality in order to fulfill the promise of American freedom and justice for every citizen.” - AP
Biden wants to hear from Floyd family ‘how they’re doing’
The White House previewed Joe Biden’s meeting today with the family of George Floyd, saying he will mostly listen to hear how they’re doing and give an update on the Justice in Policing Act.
“A lot of the meeting will be listening to them and hearing from them on what they want the path forward to look like. He’ll provide them I’m sure an update on his efforts on the legislation and the negotiator’s,” press secretary Jen Psaki said.
“But he really wants it to be a private meeting because he has a personal relationship and he wanted to hear how they’re doing.”
That update will be slim if it reflects the update from Psaki during the White House daily briefing.
Asked repeatedly what Biden is doing to pressure lawmakers to reach an agreement in passing the act to meet his self-imposed deadline this week, Psaki would say only he’s giving “space for them to negotiate, so we’re not going to get ahead of that”.
“The president looks forward to signing the bill into law as soon as possible, but he’s encouraged by the fact that they’re making progress and he’ll stay in close touch with them as they continue to negotiate.”
Moment of silence marks George Floyd anniversary begins
Governor Tim Walz announced 9 minutes and 29 seconds of silence at 1pm local time to mark the anniversary of George Floyd’s death.
‘Celebration of life’ with street art, vendors and murals, says MSNBC
The cable news network is on the ground as the moment of silence gets underway in Minneapolis, with correspondent Shaquille Brewster reporting a celebratory atmosphere.
“I’ll tell you the vibe, the atmosphere here has been one of celebration and this is the celebration of life that’s being hosted by the George Floyd memorial foundation, there are vendors here, painting art murals, there’s actually walk up Covid vaccines that are taking place here,” he said.
Watch: Gunshots interrupt live broadcast near George Floyd Square in Minneapolis
“Sh*t, sh*t where is that? We’re ok, we’re ok, we’re ok, we’re ok,” a reporter can be heard saying as people run for cover during the live broadcast.
AP reporter Phillip Crowther counted about 30 shots fired, and said another journalist had her phone smashed for taking photos of a storefront hit by bullets.
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