George Floyd protests spread nationwide
Protests over the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, at the hands of police in Minneapolis, Minnesota, entered its eighth day across the US. One former officer was charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter — but protesters and critics believe the charge isn't harsh enough.
President Trump vowed yesterday to use the military if widespread violence isn't quelled, as peaceful protesters just outside the White House gates were dispersed with tear gas.
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Experts hired by George Floyd's family and the Hennepin County Medical Examiner have concluded his death was a homicide.
Los Angeles police are arresting protesters outside the mayor's residence
There is still a small group of protesters in Los Angeles outside the mayor's residence, and police are now beginning to make arrests, hours after curfew.
Many of the protesters are still sitting on the ground, with their hands up together, chanting "Peaceful protest," said CNN Correspondent Kyung Lah on the scene.
"One by one, you see two officers move forward. You can see the two officers move forward, lean down, ask the protester to stand up, turn around, put their hands behind them, and then they're led away," Lah said.
As the protesters are led away, the remaining crowd sitting on the ground cheer for them. The arrested protesters are then lined up against a wall, where they give the police their information and are bused out to be further processed elsewhere, said Lah.
Compared to the scuffles and arrests taking place in other parts of the country, this scene is remarkably calm and orderly -- in line with the peaceful tone of the protests all day.
"We've been out here for hours with these protesters. It has been incredibly peaceful. We haven't seen any signs in the main protest group of any looting. There was a couple reports of looting but they did not appear to be with these protest groups," Lah said.
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"They have been supportive of one another. People in the apartments and the houses that they've walked by have run out to give them water, encouraging them to keep going."
The protests took place in different parts of the city and county today, including Hollywood, Downtown Los Angeles, and the residential neighborhood of Hancock Park, where Mayor Eric Garcetti resides.
A teenager called out New York Democrats accepting police donations. Many actually listened
From CNN's Alec Snyder
Since George Floyd's death, nine New York Democratic elected officials have at least partially reallocated their police and crime-related campaign donations, most of them to bail funds in New York City.
It all started with a 19-year-old college student from Queens.
Aaron Fernando, a rising junior honors student at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, told CNN he began compiling police union campaign donations to New York Democrats the day before George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis.
Since sharing his "Who's Taking Cop Money?" Google spreadsheet on Twitter on May 29, eight Democrats -- including a state senator, state assembly members and New York councilmembers -- have vowed to donate their police-funded contributions to bail funds or criminal justice reform organizations.
Fernando said he requires these elected officials to send him proof of their reallocated money before updating his spreadsheet.
"Your contributors are a reflection of who you are," he said. "I think it's fair to ask politicians to take money that aligns with the values they espouse. If you're going to fight to end solitary confinement in New York, you shouldn't be taking money from corrections officers."
Seattle announces evening curfew through June 6
Seattle Mayor Jenny A. Durkan signed a civil emergency order on Tuesday extending the evening curfew through June 6, according to a copy of the order obtained by CNN.
The curfew extends every night from 9 p.m. local time until 5 a.m. the next morning. In the order, Durkan cited violence and looting as factors prompting the curfew, as well as the dangers of Covid-19 infection that are still present.
The curfew does not apply to law enforcement, emergency personnel, city and government officials, members of the news media authorized in advance, and workers engaged in essential functions like medical care, according to the order.
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Those who violate the curfew could face imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $500.
Credit: CNN.com