Sunday, May 31, 2020
Annapolis protesters join chorus of rage across country in wake of George Floyd’s killing in Minneapolis police custody
By BROOKS DUBOSE
CAPITAL GAZETTE |
MAY 30, 2020
https://www.capitalgazette.com/news/ac-cn-annapolis-george-floyd-protest-20200530-5l5pyil5mfaqjdxzw2q6w4gb5m-story.html
Annapolis protestors gathered at the Alex Haley memorial in downtown Annapolis Saturday to protest the death of George Floyd, a black man who was killed after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for almost 9 minutes including several minutes after Floyd stopped moving, according to a video of the incident.
Floyd’s death has sparked protests across the country, including in Baltimore where several dozen protesters marched through the city Friday. More protests are scheduled in the city for Saturday and Monday. Derek Chauvin, the Minneapolis cop fired after the incident, was arrested Friday and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter four days after Floyd’s death during which time protests included damaging property and clashes with police and other bystanders.
Floyd’s death was disappointing and disgusting, said Alderman DaJuan Gay, D-Ward 6. The incident was filmed by a bystander, showing the length of time Chauvin kept his knee on Floyd’s neck.
“We have to stand together for solidarity to let people know that we’re not satisfied with it,” Gay said. “I think it speaks for itself. It was disappointing. That was disgusting to see.”
Protesters gathered at City Dock with plans to march throughout Annapolis and finish at Whitmore Park. The march started at noon. As the protestors walked through the city — many of them wearing face masks as recommended by health officials — they chanted “No justice, no peace” and “I can’t breathe." The latter line was said by Floyd before he went limp as well as Eric Garner, a New York black man also killed in police custody.
Crowds were obviously larger than state-mandated gathering limits, but police did not get involved dispersing the crowd as the protest remained peaceful throughout the walk. Police exercised similar restraint when Marylanders protested Gov. Larry Hogan’s lockdown orders.
Mayor Gavin Buckley and other local leaders spoke out this week on the killing. County Executive Steuart Pittman went as far as calling a press conference to address the incident.
“The horrific events that took place a few days ago in Minneapolis are deplorable and unacceptable. What George Floyd experienced was not normal police procedure,” Buckley said. “No one should suffer such brutality. Our hearts go out to the family of Mr. Floyd and to the people of Minneapolis. Annapolis shares your struggle for justice.”
Trump: White House protesters would be met with "vicious dogs" if they breached fence
Orion Rummler
https://www.axios.com/trump-george-floyd-white-house-protestors-c9a36cf6-1694-4293-abba-9147e1ba947e.html
President Trump tweeted Saturday that "the most vicious dogs, and the most ominous weapons" would have greeted protestors at the White House had they breached the area's fence on Friday night.
What's happening: Demonstrators protesting the killing of George Floyd gathered around the White House on Friday, as police cracked down on similar protests across the country.
What he's saying: "Great job last night at the White House by the U.S. @SecretService. They were not only totally professional, but very cool. I was inside, watched every move, and couldn’t have felt more safe. They let the 'protesters' scream & rant as much as they wanted, but whenever someone got too frisky or out of line, they would quickly come down on them, hard - didn’t know what hit them.
Trump also claimed that the protestors were "professionally organized," a theory popular amid some of the president's supporters, and took a jab at Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser for not getting local law enforcement involved.
D.C. police were on the scene, according to a Saturday statement from the Secret Service.
"The front line was replaced with fresh agents, like magic. Big crowd, professionally organized, but nobody came close to breaching the fence. If they had they would have been greeted with the most vicious dogs, and most ominous weapons, I have ever seen," Trump wrote Saturday morning.
"That’s when people would have been really badly hurt, at least. Many Secret Service agents just waiting for action. 'We put the young ones on the front line, sir, they love it, and good practice.' As you saw last night, they were very cool & very professional. Never let it get out of hand. Thank you!"
Between the lines: Twitter did not immediately respond when asked if Trump's tweets violated the site's rules on violence, since his previous post that threatened shooting in response to civil unrest in Minneapolis was tagged for that reason.
Go deeper: Police officer in George Floyd killing charged with third-degree murder
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