George Floyd protesters defy curfews across US
Tens of thousands of protesters across the US have defied curfews to remain on the streets but with fewer violent incidents.
Tens of thousands of protesters across the US have defied curfews to remain on the streets but with fewer violent incidents, raising hopes the worst of the national civil unrest may be over.
Even so, the protest movement that began with the police killing of African-American George Floyd last week remains strong, with many thousands in dozens of cities protesting for the eighth day.
Thousands of protesters in New York ignored the city’s earlier 8pm curfew to stay on the streets, but a beefed-up police presence did not rush in to make mass arrests.
A crowd marched through the city’s Upper West side after the curfew but police followed and did not intervene. There was no widespread looting that rocked the city a night earlier.
Protests outside the White House in Washington were large but peaceful, with police choosing not to move the crowd along when the curfew was reached. The relatively relaxed mood was in sharp contrast to the violence of the previous day when riot police forcibly moved the crowd to clear a path for Donald Trump to visit the nearby St John’s Church.
The President’s threat to militarise the defence of the capital was in full view with armoured vehicles on corners near the White House and many guards stationed at national landmarks, including the Lincoln Memorial.
The Pentagon said about 1600 active-duty US soldiers had been moved to Fort Drum near Washington, ready for call up if protests spiralled out of control.
In Minneapolis, where the protests started after Mr Floyd’s death, many protesters turned out but the gathering was peaceful.
“We have really seen the temperature change in terms of the kind of protests that we’ve been seeing,” state public safety commissioner John Harrington said.
Curfews have been imposed in more than 200 cities and at least 27 states as authorities try to end the violence that has erupted after nightfall over the past week, costing at least nine lives and countless billions of dollars in damage to businesses and properties.
More than 5600 people nationwide have been arrested over the past week for looting, abusing police, breaking curfews and engaging in violence.
Mr Trump was widely criticised on Wednesday (AEST), including by some Republicans, for his decision to authorise the use of teargas to disperse protesters so he could walk to the nearby St John’s Church to hold up a Bible for a photo opportunity.
“I’m against clearing out a peaceful protest for a photo-op that treats the word of god as a political prop,” Republican senator Ben Sasse said.
It came after the President threatened to deploy US military to counter nationwide protests if local mayors and governors failed to take tough action.
Mr Trump claimed that after protesters had been forcibly cleared from the streets in front of the White House, Washington had “no problems” that night.
“DC had no problems last night. Great job done by all. Overwhelming force. Domination. Likewise, Minneapolis was great (thank you President Trump!),” he tweeted.
The Trump administration defended the move to walk to the church, with the White House producing a 30-second campaign-style video of the President’s walk.
Mr Trump’s presidential opponent, Joe Biden, launched a major attack during a speech in Philadelphia, accusing the President of promoting fear, division and hate in America. The speech was the first time since the start of the pandemic that Mr Biden has left his home state of Delaware.
“I won’t traffic in fear and division. I won’t fan the flames of hate. I’ll seek to heal the racial wounds that have long plagued our country, not use them for political gain,” Mr Biden said.
“Look at where we are now and think anew: Is this who we are? Is this who we want to be? Is this what we want to pass on to our children and grandchildren — fear, anger, finger-pointing, rather than the pursuit of happiness? Incompetence and anxiety, self-absorption, selfishness?”
Mr Trump tweeted back, claiming he was tougher than the former vice-president on law and order: “Joe has been politically weak all his life. LAW AND ORDER.”
Mr Trump also attacked New York Governor Andrew Cuomo after his city experienced widespread looting on Tuesday (AEST).
“New York was lost to the looters, thugs, Radical Left, and all others forms of Lowlife & Scum,” Mr Trump tweeted. “The Governor refuses to accept my offer of a dominating National Guard. NYC was ripped to pieces.”
Mr Cuomo blamed New York mayor Bill de Blasio for the breakdown in law and order. “I am disappointed and outraged in what happened in New York City last night,” he said.
“The police in New York City were not effective in doing their job last night. Period. They have to do a better job.”
Cameron Stewart is also US contributor for Sky News Australia
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