TRUMP’S IN HIDING AS AMERICA BURNS
DONALD Trump was rushed into an underground bunker as protesters furious over the death of George Floyd lay siege to the White House, it has emerged.
The President and his family sought refuge in the safe room built to protect US leaders from terrorist attacks as deadly demonstrations raged across America.
Fuelled by Trump’s incendiary tweets, hundreds of protesters converged on the White House setting fires early yesterday, smashing windows of prominent buildings and overturning cars.
Mr Floyd, 46, died after white cop Derek Chauvin knelt on the black man’s neck for almost nine minutes despite the father-of-two’s pleas for mercy.
Turmoil
A curfew, intended to last from 11pm until 6am did little to prevent the crowds from clashing violently with riot police. It left more than 50 secret service agents injured while forcing the White House into darkness as most of its external lights were turned off.
Nearby, arsonists torched the basement of the historic St John’s Church, known as the Church of Presidents, where every US leader going back to 1809 has worshipped.
As buildings and American flags burned authorities responded with tear gas but time and again demonstrators kept advancing, trying to break through the barricades set up around Trump’s home.
Since Mr Floyd’s death on May 25, the President has spurned the promptings of his advisers to deliver a TV address but has opted to remain out of sight.
Instead, he has attacked demonstrators, had Twitter mark his tweets as “glorifying violence” and blamed rival Democrats for the turmoil. Yesterday Trump told governors in a video teleconference to aggressively go after violent protesters.
He said: “You have to dominate or you’ll look like a bunch of jerks, you have to arrest and try people.” He tweeted: “These people are ANARCHISTS. Call in our National Guard NOW.”
In Minneapolis, where Mr Floyd died, up to 10,800 National Guard soldiers now patrol the streets.
The victim’s brother Terrence addressed protesters in the city, urging them to vote for change rather than resort to violence.
He said: “My family is a peaceful family, my family is God-fearing.
“Vote. Educate yourself. Don’t wait for somebody else to tell you who’s who. That’s how we’re gonna hit them. There’s a lot of us and we’re gonna do this peacefully.”
He chanted “Peace on the left, justice on the right.”
As the city’s fury began to subside tensions flared briefly when a tanker lorry barrelled into a crowd of marching protesters.
Video showed the truck sending hundreds of demonstrators running for their lives as the driver refused to stop on the I-35W bridge.
No one appeared to be struck. Protesters climbed into the lorry’s cab and pulled the driver, Bogdan Vechirko, out before beating him.
The 35-year-old was left bloodied before he was placed under arrest and then taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
One of those forced to jump out of the way, was Estelle Mahon, 26.
She told the Daily Express: “He could have killed us. He almost got himself killed. People were ready to beat him to death. What is wrong with people?”
Vechirko faces possible assault charges. Elsewhere, violence con-
tinued across America with at least 140 US cities holding demonstrations.
Ten of thousands of National Guard soldiers were deployed in more than two dozen states to assist overwhelmed police departments. At least 40 cities have imposed curfews.
New York was gripped by mayhem while stores in exclusive Santa Monica, California, were looted after peaceful protests descended into anarchy.
In Philadelphia, stores were ransacked while similar scenes were seen in Boston and a police car was torched as officers moved in to protect businesses. One protester was shot dead by police in Louisville, and the National Guard opened fire following a confrontation in a car park.
At least five people have been killed after shots were fired in Detroit and Indianapolis.
In Omaha, a 22-year-old black demonstrator was killed in a struggle with a business owner.
At least 4,100 people have been arrested taking part in rallies since Mr Floyd’s death.
Chauvin, 44, who along with three colleagues has been fired from his job, has been charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter.
If found guilty, he could face up to 25 years in prison. Chauvin, who has been moved into a highsecurity prison for his protection, is due in court on June 8.
Lewis Hamilton has shamed fellow Formula 1 drivers for “staying silent” over the death of Mr Floyd. The six-time champion said he is “one of the only people of colour yet I stand alone”.
Boris Johnson’s spokesman said: “The violence we have seen in the US is clearly very alarming.
“People must be allowed to protest peacefully. The footage of George Floyd’s death is distressing.” The spokesman said arrests and incidents of journalists being injured are “very concerning”.