Thousands joins protests across US major cities defying curfew
Washington: Americans, defying curfews in several cities including New York, Philadelphia, Chicago and Washington DC, protested, in some cases violently, against the custodial killing of African-American George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Floyd's death on May 25 has sparked civil unrest that has since spread nationwide.
The 46-year-old, a native of Houston, was handcuffed and pinned to the ground on May 25 by a white police officer who kneeled on his neck as he gasped for breath.
In some cases, peaceful protests turned violent resulting in large scale looting, damage to properties and monuments, and vehicles being set ablaze.
The civic unrest is said to be the largest in the US in recent decades. Curfew was imposed in several cities, including New York and Washington D C, as most protests turned violent during the night.
Reportedly, protesters defied curfew in many of these cities.
In Washington DC, military vehicles were seen on streets close to the White House and there was heavy deployment of armed security personnel at the Lafayette Park, where thousands had gathered to protest the death of Floyd, a native of Houston.
Thousands of people marched on the streets of New York against police brutalities. The city, on Monday night, had witnessed looting, including that at a popular departmental store in midtown Manhattan.
"The NYPD and the (city) mayor did not do their job last night, I believe that," New York Governor Andrew Cuomo told a news conference.
In St Louis, four police officers were hospitalised after they suffered serious injuries during a protest, while a police officer is said to be in critical condition in Las Vegas after he was shot while attempting to quell an unruly mob.
In Atlanta, Georgia, six police officers face criminal charges after a video captured them pulling two college students out of their car and firing tasers at them while enforcing curfew on Saturday night, according to media reports.
Several armoured vehicles formed a tight cordon around the Georgia Capitol after tear gas shells were fired on protesters to scatter them, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
Confrontation between security personnel and protestors were reported from across the US, while Minnesota Governor on Tuesday ordered an investigate into the Minneapolis Police Department's policies and practices over the past decade.
New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal announced that the state will update its guidelines governing the use of force by police for the first time in two decades.
He also announced a mandatory statewide licensing programme for all officers. Thousands rallied in Boston against the recent deaths of Black people across the country at the hands of people, a local newspaper said.
"The protesters, protected from cars by marshals in yellow vests, chanted, 'Black Lives Matter' and 'No Justice No Peace!' They then stood up and began marching through a park to rally peacefully at a large open area outside the Lemuel Shattuck Hospital, Boston Globe reported.
According to The New York Times, hundreds of protesters gathered steam for hours before converging at the corner of Hollywood and Cahuenga Boulevard, a Los Angeles landmark that in many ways is the heart of the city's film roots.
The Los Angeles Times reported that several hundred people have been arrested in the city. In Washington DC, thousands of people remained in a park facing the White House in defiance of the curfew.
The Washington Post described it as the largest crowd since the protest started on Friday night. Senator Elizabeth Warren joined the protestors in Washington D C.
Let's remember why people are protesting. They are protesting for the black lives who matter. For the black lives who were taken from us, Senator Kamala Harris said in a tweet on Tuesday.
Right now, America is raw. Her wounds are exposed. But instead of having a president who understands it, who empathises and acknowledges the pain, we have someone who chooses to hold up the Bible like a prop for a photo op after tear gassing peaceful protestors, the Indian-origin Senator said.
According to The Wall Street Journal, more than 20,400 troops have been deployed in 28 states and district of Columbia to maintain peace.
Meanwhile, a Chicago man was arrested on a federal arson charge for allegedly setting fire to a Chicago Police Department vehicle this past weekend.
Timothy O'Donnell placed a lit object into the gas tank of the marked police vehicle while it was parked in the 200 block of North State Street in downtown Chicago on Saturday, according to a criminal complaint and affidavit filed in US District Court in Chicago.
The vehicle ignited in flames. At the time, Chicago Police officers were in the area investigating reports of various malfeasances and unrest.
O'Donnell set the fire while wearing a joker mask that partially covered his face, the complaint states, the complaint said.
Similarly, in New Jersey, Justin Spry, 21, was arrested by FBI on charges of attempting to set fire to a marked police vehicle after a demonstration over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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US lawmakers seek clarity over financial burden, human cost, endgame in Iran conflict
Washington: Tensions rose at the US Capitol on Tuesday as lawmakers sought clearer answers from the Trump administration on the objectives, duration and costs of the ongoing military campaign against Iran, even as preparations advanced for votes aimed at curbing the president’s war powers.
Senior officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, briefed members of the House and Senate for a second consecutive day behind closed doors, as reported by the Associated Press. The sessions came ahead of votes on war powers resolutions that would limit President Donald Trump’s authority to continue joint US-Israel operations without congressional approval.
Rubio told reporters that the president acted to prevent Iran from striking first. He rejected suggestions that Washington moved only because Israel was poised to launch its own offensive, saying instead that Trump believed the weekend presented a rare opportunity to act with maximum impact. “There is no way in the world that this terroristic regime was going to get nuclear weapons, not under Donald Trump’s watch,” Rubio said.
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The conflict has widened following US and Israeli airstrikes on February 28 that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran has since launched missile attacks targeting US military bases in the region. At least six American service personnel have died so far.
The administration has indicated that supplemental funding may be required to sustain operations. It added that the concerns among lawmakers about the financial burden and potential for a prolonged engagement has disrupted legislative business, sharpening political divisions at the start of a competitive midterm election cycle.
Associated Press cited Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer’s concerns about what he described as possible “mission creep.” Senator Angus King questioned whether the United States had been drawn into war at Israel’s urging, while Senator Elizabeth Warren asked how the campaign aligned with Trump’s “America First” pledge to avoid extended foreign conflicts.
Defence official Elbridge Colby told senators the president had directed the military to degrade Iran’s missile capabilities and prevent it from acquiring nuclear weapons, stressing that the objective was not nation-building. Trump, speaking separately from the Oval Office, dismissed claims that Israel had forced his decision and suggested the conflict could continue if necessary. He has not ruled out deploying US ground troops.
Senator Richard Blumenthal was quoted by Associated Press as saying that he feared the possibility of American boots on the ground while Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin defended the operation, saying the president had acted decisively.
Uncertainty over Iran’s future leadership has added to concerns, with questions mounting about who might succeed Khamenei as Trump rejected the idea of backing Reza Pahlavi, the exiled crown prince of Iran’s former monarchy. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the future of Iran should be determined by its people and House Speaker Mike Johnson said the United States would not engage in nation-building.
Lawmakers from both parties also reported a surge in calls from constituents seeking assistance for Americans attempting to leave the region as hostilities intensify.
The US Constitution grants Congress the right to declare war, however presidents have routinely begun military activities without formal declarations. Both houses are anticipated to vote on proposals that would require explicit congressional approval to continue operations. Some members have also argued that if constraints are not imposed, Congress should consider issuing an Authorization for the Use of Military Force to put lawmakers on the record.
Associated Press quoted House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries questioning the rationale for the campaign and saying there would be strong support among Democrats for the resolution. Johnson, however, warned that restricting the president during active combat could pose risks.
