US protests largely peaceful
SIMMERING RAGE President Trump appeared to be privately backing off his threat to deploy troops
WASHINGTON: Massive yet largely peaceful protests continued across the US as curfews were defied and demonstrators again clashed with law enforcement near the White House, following the death of an African-american in police custody.
From New York to Los Angeles, demonstrators massed to speak out against the killing of George Floyd.
More than 6,000 people were arrested nationwide, over 2,700 in Los Angeles alone.
On Wednesday, President Donald Trump urged police to “get tough” and warned the National Guard “is ready,” appearing to double down on his support for the use of greater force to quell protests.
Trump retweeted a post from Milwaukee police indicating protesters had thrown Molotov cocktails at its officers, urging law enforcement to take a firm line. He also retweeted a post that appeared to show vandalism in midtown Manhattan, reiterating his readiness to deploy the National Guard.
In Washington DC, about 1,600 soldiers have been flown in to bases around the city.
But a day after threatening states that he would dispatch the military to quell protests, Trump appeared to be privately backing off his threat to deploy troops, with White House officials saying this week’s response to demonstrations across the country indicated that local governments should be able to restore order themselves.
Meanwhile, American football player Amen Ogbongbemiga, said that he had tested positive for Covid-19 after attending a Floyd protest in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Oklahoma State linebacker said in a tweet he had been “well protective” of himself and warned others to “take care of yourself” if they were going to protests.
Adverse reaction to the social unrest in the US continued, including several rallies around the world, with Pope Francis saying “we cannot tolerate racism”.
“I have witnessed with great concern the disturbing social unrest in your nation in these past days, following the tragic death of Mr. George Floyd,” the pope told US Catholics in his weekly greeting to the Englishspeaking community.
“We cannot tolerate or turn a blind eye to racism and exclusion in any form and yet claim to defend the sacredness of every human life.”
Canadian PM Justin Trudeau paused for 21 seconds when asked for his reactions on the words and actions of Trump.
He refused to name Trump and instead spoke about racial discrimination in Canada in his response.
INDIAN-AMERICAN HAILED AS HERO
Rahul Dubey, a Washington DC resident, is being hailed as a hero for taking in nearly 70 protestors fleeing police. He let them spend the night in his home and fed them. “Rahul saved lives last night,” one Black Lives Matter activist wrote on Twitter. “He ended this with an inspirational speech about not giving up and keeping up the peaceful fight. What a guy. Thank you Rahul.”