George Floyd's death reclassified as murder
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Three policemen prosecuted for complicity. In Washington, United States, where the curfew had not yet been extended by Wednesday night, a large police force was deployed in the early hours to close access to the White House.
The Minnesota Attorney General has decided to toughen charges against Derek Chauvin, the police officer behind George Floyd's death, charging him with second-degree murder, the equivalent of involuntary manslaughter, Minnesota Democratic Senator Amy announced Wednesday, June 3 Klobuchar. Three other police officers will also be prosecuted for complicity, added the senator.
The family of the victim who died on May 25 welcomed the worsening of these lawsuits, in a statement from his lawyer, Ben Crump. "This is an important step on the road to justice," he said.
Derek Chauvin was arrested and charged on May 29 with third degree murder. Second degree murder is punishable by 40 years in prison, while third degree murder is punishable by 25 years in prison.
The state of Minnesota, where Mr. Floyd died on May 25, today announced a concrete initiative in response to protesters' requests, with the launch of an investigation into the Minneapolis police. The investigation will examine possible "systemic discriminatory practices" in the past ten years, Governor Tim Walz said on Twitter.
Facebook also made new announcements on Tuesday, saying it had removed accounts associated with the white supremacist movement after certain nationalist groups called for weapons during the protests. Representatives of the US group also announced the deletion of accounts that misleadingly claim membership in the anti-fascist movement, also known as "anti-fa," to discredit it.
Defense Secretary Mark Esper publicly testified Wednesday against the deployment of the US military in the territory, the scene of anti-racist demonstrations after the death of Geoge Floyd, a black man, at the hands of a white police officer.
"I am not in favor of declaring a state of insurrection" that would allow the President of the United States, Donald Trump, to deploy active soldiers in front of American citizens, and no longer reservists of the National Guard, Esper said. during a press conference.
"The option of using active soldiers should only be used as a last resort and in the most urgent and dramatic situations. We are not in these situations today," said Esper, who had been widely criticized the day before for speaking out on the streets of the United States. like a "battlefield".
Important device around the White House
In Washington, the curfew extended from 11 p.m., down from 7 p.m. of the previous two days, and authorities said they expect peaceful protests. However, a large police force was deployed in the first hours to close access to the White House.
On Tuesday night, several thousand people, including Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren, demonstrated until late at night, challenging the curfew enacted by the municipality starting at 7 p.m. The surrounding area of the White House has been blocked by metal barriers, avoiding any direct confrontation with the police. Shortly after midnight, televisions showed police shooting tear gas, but the situation seemed generally calm.
The Pentagon said in a statement it was moving 1,600 soldiers to the federal capital region, but not to Washington itself, and that they were on "high" alert after nights of violence. The United States Secretary of Defense also announced the investigation into the use of a Washington National Guard helicopter to use a "show of force" against protesters near the White House.
On Tuesday, at least 60,000 people peacefully honored the deceased in Houston, the Texas city where he grew up and where he will be buried next week. "We want them to know that George did not die in vain," said Mayor Sylvester Turner.
In New York, where several Fifth Avenue department stores were looted on Monday night, the curfew was brought forward at 8 p.m. and it lasted until Sunday. Hundreds of protesters, black and white, protested peacefully singing "George Floyd, George Floyd" or "Black Lives Matter". (Black Life Matters), a rallying cry against police violence against African Americans. The day was "much calmer," Mayor Bill de Blasio told CNN, welcoming a "strong" police presence.
In Los Angeles, Mayor Eric Garcetti presented a knee to the press, a symbol since 2016 of the complaint of thePolice violence against the African American minority. In the evening, protesters gathered outside his residence and some 200 people were arrested after refusing to disperse, according to the France Presse agency.
UN denounces "structural racism"
Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser protested the military's dispatch "to American streets against Americans," an attack that many Democratic governors have picked up. On November 3, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden accused Donald Trump of "turning the country into a battlefield riddled with old grudges and new fears."
On Wednesday morning, Pope Francis, in turn, spoke on this subject, declaring:
"We cannot tolerate or condone any form of racism or exclusion, and claim to defend the sanctity of all human life."
The United States has also received unusual criticism from its allies, including Germany, Australia, and Great Britain. The death of George Floyd is "scandalous", "inexcusable", British Prime Minister Boris Johnson judged on Wednesday, estimating that "the demonstrations must be carried out in a legal and reasonable manner."
In Ireland, Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said in a Tweet, "deeply concerned about the underlying problems of racial inequality that inspire protests in the United States." "Here in Europe, we are shocked and appalled at the death of George Floyd, like the people of the United States," European Union chief diplomat Josep Borrell said Tuesday.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, denounced "structural racism" and "unprecedented aggression" against journalists in the United States.
"The voices calling for an end to the killings of unarmed African Americans must be heard. Voices calling for an end to police violence must be heard. And voices calling for an end to the endemic and structural racism that affects American society must be heard. "
The social network Snapchat, which is very popular with young people, has decided to stop promoting Donald Trump's messages on Discover (the network's news channel).
Events around the world
Solidarity mobilization demonstrations in the United States have been held around the world, gathering thousands of people, from Greece to Poland through Finland and the Netherlands. The solidarity demonstrations of the mobilization in the United States had already taken place the previous days, particularly on Tuesday in Sydney and, the day before, in several cities in New Zealand.
In Spain, several demonstrations are organized to support protesters in the United States through social networks on Sunday at 11 am: in front of the United States Embassy in Madrid, in Plaza Sant-Jaume, seat of government regional in Barcelona (northeast), as well as Bilbao (north) and Murcia (southeast). In Portugal, a rally was called to support protesters in the United States on Facebook on Friday at 9:30 p.m., outside the United States Embassy in Lisbon.
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