June 7, 2020 7:16 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Massive protests against police brutality nationwide capped a week that began in chaos but ended with largely peaceful expressions that organizers hope will sustain their movement. Saturday’s marches featured few reports of problems in scenes that were more often festive than tense. Authorities were not quick to release crowd size estimates, but it was clear tens of thousands of people — and perhaps hundreds of thousands — turned out nationally. Wearing masks and urging fundamental change, protesters gathered in dozens of places from coast to coast while mourners in North Carolina waited for hours to glimpse the golden coffin carrying the body of native son George Floyd, the black man whose death at the hands of Minneapolis police has galvanized the expanding movement. Collectively, it was perhaps the largest one-day mobilization since Floyd died May 25 and came as many cities lifted curfews imposed following initial spasms of arson, assaults and smash-and-grab raids on businesses. Authorities have softened restrictions as the number of arrests plummeted. Demonstrations also reached four other continents, ending in clashes in London and Marseille, France. In the U.S., Seattle police used flash bang devices and pepper spray to disperse protesters hurling rocks, bottles and what authorities said were “improvised explosives” that had injured officers, just a day after city leaders temporarily banned one kind of tear gas. Around midnight in Portland, a firework was thrown over the fence at the Justice Center, injuring a Multnomah County deputy, Portland police Lt. Tina Jones said. Smith said police had declare an unlawful assembly and were making arrests.
June 7, 2020 7:12 am
PITTSBURGH (WPXI)— One man is facing federal charges in connection with last weekend’s protests that turned into rioting and looting in Pittsburgh. Now, police are asking for help finding another man. Investigators said they are looking for the man in connection with tossing an “improvised incendiary device” at officers near Mellon Square on May 30. The device exploded on the ground and an officer suffered concussion-like symptoms. Police said this is part of an investigation with a newly formed task force between local agencies, the FBI and ATF. If you know who the man is, where he might be located or have additional pictures or video, you’re asked to contact the Damage Assessment Accountability Taskforce at DAAT@pittsburghpa.gov or call 412-323-7800 and ask for the task force. You can remain anonymous.
June 6, 2020 4:31 am
COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, France (AP) – Saturday’s D-Day remembrance in Normandy has turned out to be one of the loneliest remembrances ever. The coronavirus pandemic and its lockdown restrictions made sure the famous Omaha Beach landing strip was largely deserted. Lone U.S. veteran Charles Shay mourned not only the deaths of his comrades 76 years ago but also the fact than he could not see any of the dwindling number of veterans who fought in the historic battle.
June 6, 2020 4:31 am
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – South Korea has reported 51 new cases of COVID-19, mostly in the densely populated capital region as authorities scramble to stem transmissions among low-income workers who can’t afford to stay home. The figures announced by South Korea’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention brought national totals to 11,719 workers and 273 deaths. At least 42 cases have been linked to door-to-door sellers hired by Richway, a Seoul-based health product provider. The vice health minister says the spread of the virus among Richway sellers was particularly alarming as most of them are in their 60s and 70s. India meanwhile surpassed Italy as the sixth worst-hit by the pandemic after another biggest single-day spike of 9,887 new cases.
June 6, 2020 4:30 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – Attorney General William Barr says law enforcement officers were already moving to push back protesters from a park in front of the White House when he arrived there Monday evening, and he says he did not give a command to disperse the crowd. Barr’s comments in an interview Friday with The Associated Press were his most detailed explanation yet of what unfolded outside the White House earlier this week. They come after the White House and others said repeatedly that the attorney general ordered officers to clear the park. Shortly after officers aggressively pushed back demonstrators, President Donald Trump and others walked through Lafayette Park to pose for a photo at a nearby church damaged during the protests.
June 6, 2020 4:29 am
Facebook says it has removed nearly 200 social media accounts linked to white supremacy groups planning to rally members to show up at protests over police killings of black people – in some cases with weapons. The Facebook and Instagram users were associated with the Proud Boys and American Guard, two racist groups already banned on Facebook. Facebook officials said Friday the platform was already planning to remove the accounts for violating its ban on hate groups but decided to act when the groups attempted to exploit the protests prompted by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
June 6, 2020 4:28 am
MEXICO CITY (AP) – A re-energized Tropical Storm Cristobal is swirling in the southern Gulf of Mexico on a path expected to take it to the U.S. Gulf Coast along with the heavy rains that already caused flooding and mudslides in Mexico and Central America. After weakening to a tropical depression while moving over land in Mexico, Cristobal headed back into the Gulf on Friday and powered back up into a tropical storm. The U.S. National Hurricane Center says Cristobal’s maximum sustained winds strengthened to 45 mph (75 kph) by late Friday. The storm is forecast to áclose in on the U.S. coast by Sunday night, gaining some more strength but not growing into a hurricane. It could cause heavy rains from East Texas to Florida this weekend and into early next week.
June 6, 2020 4:27 am
Momentum for what many hope is a sustained movement aimed at tackling racial injustice and police reforms promised to grow Saturday as more protesters filled streets around the world. In the U.S., mourners prepared for a second memorial service for George Floyd, who died a dozen days ago at the hands of police in Minneapolis. Formal and impromptu memorials to Floyd have stretched from Minnesota to Paris, Rome and Johannesburg, South Africa. In his birthplace of North Carolina, a public viewing and private service for family was planned Saturday as authorities in Washington prepared for what was expected to be the largest demonstration against police brutality in the city so far.
June 6, 2020 4:26 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – Joe Biden has formally clinched the Democratic presidential nomination, setting him up for a bruising challenge to President Donald Trump that will play out against the unprecedented backdrop of a pandemic, economic collapse and civil unrest. The former vice president has effectively been his party’s leader since his last challenger in the Democratic primary, Bernie Sanders, ended his campaign in April. But Biden pulled together the 1,991 delegates needed to become the nominee after seven states and the District of Columbia held presidential primaries Tuesday. Biden reached the threshold three days after the primaries because several states, overwhelmed by huge increases in mail ballots, took days to tabulate results.
June 6, 2020 4:25 am
SRINAGAR, India (AP) – Indian and Chinese military commanders are meeting at a Himalayan border post to try to resolve a bitter standoff along their disputed frontier where thousands of troops on both sides are facing off. The meeting is the highest-level so far attended by senior commanders. Local border commanders held a series of meetings in the past four weeks but failed to break the impasse. Indian officials say the standoff began in early May when large contingents of Chinese soldiers entered deep inside Indian-controlled territory at three places in Ladakh, erecting tents and posts. áChina has sought to downplay the confrontation.
