Mostafa Bassim/Anadolu Agency via Getty ImagesBy JON HAWORTH, EMILY SHAPIRO and IVAN PEREIRA, ABC News
(NEW YORK) — The death of George Floyd, a black man who died on Memorial Day after he was pinned down by a white Minnesota police officer, has sparked outrage and protests in Minneapolis and across the United States.
Murder and manslaughter charges have been filed against Derek Chauvin, the officer who prosecutors say held his knee on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes.
Chauvin and the other three officers at the scene have been fired. The Department of Justice is investigating.
Here is how the news unfolded on Tuesday. All times Eastern:
10:39 p.m.: Trump objects to GOP criticism of church photo op
President Donald Trump lashed out at fellow Republicans who have criticized his decision to clear protesters out of Lafayette Park Monday evening prior to a photo op in front of St. John’s Episcopal Church.
He called out Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, James Lankford of Oklahoma and Ben Sasse of Nebraska, who were all critical of the violent removal of peaceful protesters with flashbangs and smoke canisters.
“You got it wrong! If the protesters were so peaceful, why did they light the Church on fire the night before?” he tweeted, though it was a different group of protesters and Monday’s group had not been violent. “People liked my walk to this historic place of worship! Sen. Susan Collins, Sen. James Lankford, Sen. Ben Sasse.”
8:58 p.m.: Police close Soho to New York Protesters
Police blocked streets in Soho just after New York’s 8 p.m. curfew started.
Several boutique stores in the expensive Manhattan neighborhood were damaged by protesters over the weekend. Sidewalks were taped off and barricades were placed in the street preventing anyone from entering.
Even though the curfew banned nonessential workers from being outside, some protesters continued to march throughout the city.
8:00 p.m.: Boston protesters hold die-in at Franklin Park
Thousands of protesters rallied peacefully in Boston with a massive “die-in” demonstration in Franklin Park.
The crowds laid on the ground for eight minutes and 46 seconds, the exact time former officer Derek Chauvin placed his knee on George Floyd’s neck.
The protesters stayed in the park for at least two hours.
“The peaceful protest at Franklin Park has come to a conclusion. As participants vacate the area, we respectfully remind individuals to remain committed to peace,” the Boston police said.
7:10 p.m.: DC protests rally behind gate near White House
As Washington, D.C., approached its 7 p.m. curfew, thousands of protesters once again gathered outside the White House.
A chain-link fence was set up just outside the section where officers fired flash bang grenades and tear gas into the crowd 24 hours earlier. The crowd shouted at police officers on the other side but remained peaceful, with some taking a knee.
When some protesters climbed street lights, others in the crowd screamed for them to climb down.
National Guard troops were still deployed in the city, including a group that was lined up on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.
7:05 p.m.: Minneapolis school board votes to cut ties with police
In a unanimous decision, Minneapolis school board members voted Tuesday night to terminate its contract with the Minneapolis Police Department following its actions in Floyd’s death.
The school superintendent’s office will devise an alternative plan to serve its students, according to the board.
6:47 p.m.: Dr. Birx calls on mayors to test all protesters for coronavirus
Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coordinator for its coronavirus task force, said during a video appearance at The German Marshall Fund’s Brussels Forum that she worries about the spread of COVID among protesters around the country.
Birx said she is particularly concerned with footage that shows many of the protesters not wearing face coverings and with the possible spread to elderly persons.
“And so we’re really trying to do the work with mayors to expand testing availability over the next week or two so that the individuals who were involved in the peaceful protest can get tested,” she said.
7:10 p.m.: DC protests rally behind gate near White House
As Washington, D.C., approached its 7 p.m. curfew, thousands of protesters once again gathered outside the White House.
A chain-link fence was set up just outside the section where officers fired flash bang grenades and tear gas into the crowd 24 hours earlier. The crowd shouted at police officers on the other side but remained peaceful, with some taking a knee.
When some protesters climbed street lights, others in the crowd screamed for them to climb down.
National Guard troops were still deployed in the city, including a group that was lined up on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.
7:05 p.m.: Minneapolis school board votes to cut ties with police
In a unanimous decision, Minneapolis school board members voted Tuesday night to terminate its contract with the Minneapolis Police Department following its actions in Floyd’s death.
The school superintendent’s office will devise an alternative plan to serve its students, according to the board.
6:47 p.m.: Dr. Birx calls on mayors to test all protesters for coronavirus
Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coordinator for its coronavirus task force, said during a video appearance at The German Marshall Fund’s Brussels Forum that she worries about the spread of COVID among protesters around the country.
Birx said she is particularly concerned with footage that shows many of the protesters not wearing face coverings and with the possible spread to elderly persons.
“And so we’re really trying to do the work with mayors to expand testing availability over the next week or two so that the individuals who were involved in the peaceful protest can get tested,” she said.
6:38 p.m.: New York protesters take knee outside mayor’s mansion
Hundreds of protesters in Manhattan marched to Gracie Mansion, Mayor Bill de Blasio’s residence, and took a knee.
The protest was largely peaceful and there were even volunteers giving out face masks and hand sanitizer. Afterward, the crowd made its way to Central Park, according to eyewitnesses.
New York’s curfew is slated to go into effect at 8 p.m.
6:12 p.m.: George Floyd’s daughter, girl’s mother make 1st public appearance
Gianna Floyd, the 6-year-old daughter of George Floyd, and her mother, Roxie Washington, made their first public appearance since his death at a news conference Minneapolis City Hall.
Washington held back tears as she talked about Floyd and lamented that their child won’t grow up with him in her life.
“If there’s a problem and she needs her dad, she does not have that anymore,” she said.
Floyd moved from Houston to Minneapolis for better job opportunities and to provide for his family, Washington said.
“I want justice for him. Because he was good,” she said.
“And this is the proof that he was a good man,” Washington said, referring to Gianna.
5:47 p.m.: Denver cop fired over social media post
The Denver Police Department said it has fired an officer and begun an internal affairs investigation after he posted an inappropriate photo on social media while policing the city’s protests.
Officer Thomas McClay posted a picture of himself and two other officers in riot gear with the caption, “Let’s start a riot,” on Instagram, according to the department. The post was taken down, however, police officials said it violated the department’s social media policy and was “inconsistent with the values of the department.”
5:27 p.m.: Florida police place cop who put knee on back of black suspect on leave
The Sarasota, Florida, Police Department said an officer who was videotaped putting their knee on a black suspect during an arrest last month has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation.
A video of the unnamed officer putting their knee on Patrick Qwashawn Carroll’s neck was put on social media Monday and tagged the department. Police Chief Bernadette DiPino reviewed the video and other footage of the May 18 arrest, immediately initiated a formal internal affairs investigation and placed the officer on administrative leave, according to the department.
“Chief DiPino was disturbed to see an Officer kneeling on the head and neck of an individual in the video. While it appears the Officer eventually moves his leg to the individual’s back, this tactic is not taught, used or advocated by our agency,” the department said in a statement.
According to the Sarasota Police Department, Carroll, 27, did not require medical attention and did not complain of injuries. He was later charged with possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, resisting arrest and domestic violence
The police are asking anyone who had more information or footage of the arrest to contact them.
Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin placed his knee on George Floyd’s neck before he died.
4 p.m.: French protesters set fires, clash with police
Demonstrations in support of George Floyd are ongoing overseas, including in the French cities of Paris and Lyon.
Protesters there are setting fires and clashing with police officers, who are responding with tear gas.
The French are not only showing solidarity with George Floyd, but also the family of a French black man who died after being arrested by police in 2016.
3:22 p.m.: Minnesota Dept. of Human Rights to investigate police department
Minnesota’s Department of Human Rights is launching an investigation into the Minneapolis Police Department after filing a civil rights charge related to Floyd’s death, Gov. Tim Walz announced Tuesday.
The investigation will examine the “policies, procedures, and practices over the past 10 years” to determine if the police department “has engaged in systemic discriminatory practices towards people of color,” a statement said.
If so, the investigation will work to “ensure any such practices are stopped,” the statement said.
Walz called this investigation “only one of many steps to come in our effort to restore trust with those in the community who have been unseen and unheard for far too long.”
As protests spread across the Twin Cities, about 123 people were arrested Monday and early Tuesday, mostly for curfew violations, authorities said. About 13 guns were seized, police said.
A total of 604 people have been arrested since Friday, according to the Minnesota State Patrol, and dozens of fires have been reported in the last several days.
2 p.m.: Floyd Mayweather to pay for George Floyd’s funeral
George Floyd’s family has accepted an offer from boxer Floyd Mayweather to pay for his funeral, Leonard Ellerbe, the CEO of Mayweather Promotions, told ABC News.
Floyd, who is from Houston, will be laid to rest there on June 9.
His family plans to march with protesters to Houston’s City Hall Tuesday afternoon.
1:40 p.m.: NY trooper pushing back demonstrators gets hit by speeding SUV
A 19-year veteran trooper of the New York State Police was pushing back a crowd of demonstrators in Buffalo on Monday night when he was hit by a speeding SUV, authorities said.
A Buffalo police officer was also hit by the car and a second trooper was run over.
Troopers fired at the SUV, state police said, and then the driver and passengers were taken into custody.
The veteran trooper was taken to the hospital with a shattered pelvis and broken leg, state police said. The other officers suffered minor injuries.
Those in the SUV were not seriously hurt.
1 p.m.: Surveillance video released from fatal police shooting in Louisville
Authorities on Tuesday released surveillance video from an incident which caused the death of David McAtee, a black man shot by officers in Louisville, Kentucky, during protests.
McAtee owned a local BBQ restaurant which was frequented by police officers, Mayor Greg Fischer said.
At about 12:15 a.m. Monday, members of the Louisville police and Kentucky National Guard were trying to disperse a crowd when they “were fired upon,” Gov. Andy Beshear said. The local police and National Guard returned fire, “resulting in a death,” Beshear said.
Video footage from McAtee’s restaurant and a neighboring business appeared to show officers approaching McAtee’s business, police said Tuesday.
McAtee then appeared to fire a gun outside his restaurant, toward the officers, police said. Officers took cover and returned fire, police said.
From the footage it appears McAtee fired first, police said.
Authorities cautioned Tuesday that the video does not provide all of the answers.
Why officers were approaching McAtee’s restaurant in the first place is under investigation, police said.
The officers have not yet been interviewed, police said.
Louisville Metro Police Chief Steve Conrad has since been fired after it was announced that no body camera footage was available of the shooting, The Louisville Courier Journal reported.
Conrad previously said he would retire at the end of June after facing immense pressure following the March death of Breonna Taylor, a young black woman who was shot dead by police while in her home.
The Kentucky State Police will independently investigate McAtee’s death, the governor said Monday.
12:15 p.m.: Despite overnight looting, Chicago to move into next phase of reopening
Amid overnight looting, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot promised Tuesday, “we are 110% dedicated to you successfully reopening safely and securely.”
Lightfoot said she was with one business owner who “burst into tears” and “broke down” as she looked at the devastation to her store.
Despite the unrest, Lightfoot said Chicago will move into phase 3 of its coronavirus reopening on Wednesday.
“We want economic activity to resume peacefully and safely in every single neighborhood, especially those hurting the most,” Lightfoot said.
11:12 a.m.: Nearly 700 arrested in NYC, curfew extended through the week
In New York City, despite an 11 p.m. curfew, nearly 700 people were arrested overnight as peaceful protests devolved into moments of vandalism, looting, fire and confrontation.
Luxury brands and big box retail stores in Rockefeller Center and the Upper East Side had windows smashed and spray painted. Many retailers have boarded up their storefronts.
Some officers were hit by cars of protesters fleeing the scenes of vandalism and looting.
It also appeared officers were shot at, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said, condemning it as “unacceptable.”
“I know people want peace,” de Blasio stressed Tuesday, “and I know the want change.”
“I know we will overcome this,” he said, adding he’s asked community leaders to “step forward” and “take charge.”
“Do not let outsiders attack your community …do not let criminals attack your community,” the mayor said. “I’ll be standing by you.”
New York City will now be under a nine-hour curfew each night this week, beginning at 8 p.m. and ending at 5 a.m.
The mayor on Tuesday asked those who want to protest to do so during the day, and then return home.
He also said he’s very worried that protests are leading to the spread of the coronavirus.
10:40 a.m.: Senate Judiciary to hold hearing on George Floyd’s death, policing in US
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham said he’s planning to hold a hearing on June 16 to examine Floyd’s death and policing in the country, promising to “take a deep dive” into the issue.
“It’s a long-overdue wake-up call to the country that there are too many of these cases where African American men die in police custody under fairly brutal circumstances,” he said. “It’s clear to me that policing among men in the African American community is a topic that needs to be discussed and acted upon, and I expect this committee to do its part.”
“I’d like to get to the root cause of it. Mr. Floyd’s case is outrageous on its face, but I think it speaks to a broader issue,” said Graham, R-S.C. “We just need to get to the bottom of what happened and what we can do to fix it.”
Graham called community policing “the anecdote.”
“I don’t know how to make that a reality, but we’ll have a hearing along those lines,” Graham said.
9 a.m.: More than 500 arrested overnight in NYC
In New York City, despite an 11 p.m. curfew, more than 500 people were arrested overnight as peaceful protests devolved into moments of vandalism, looting, fire and confrontation.
Luxury brands and big box retail stores in Rockefeller Center and the Upper East Side had windows smashed and spray painted. Many retailers have boarded up their storefronts.
Several officers were hit by cars of protesters fleeing the scenes of vandalism and looting.
7:35 a.m.: Minnesota Attorney General says he is considering all charges for Derek Chauvin, including first degree murder
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison confirmed he is “considering all charges” and that “all options are on the table,” when it comes to prosecuting Derek Chauvin for the death of George Floyd.
Speaking to ABC News’ Good Morning America, Ellison, who has taken over the prosecution in Floyd’s death, warned that the case must be dealt with methodically and that prosecuting Chauvin would not necessarily be easy.
“Generally, jurors resolve all doubts in favor of the police,” said Ellison. “The system is such that there are certain immunities police have, there are certain presumptions. There are relationships that police have that are established over the course of years. And the fact is if you just look at the Freddie Gray case, people looked at that video and were quite certain that there needed to be a conviction. No one was.”
“The fact is these cases are not easy,” said Ellison. “And anybody who says they are has never done one.”
Ellison was reluctant to give a firm deadline on the timeline of the case but confirmed that the public could see charges very soon.
“We are having a fresh review from what the county attorney has already done … and we are looking at this case with fresh eyes,” said Ellison. “There is nobody who has culpability who will not be held accountable.”
Said Ellison: “The public has an expectation that there will be, there will render assistance when necessary, that [police] will not add harm. Just saying ‘I didn’t know’ and ‘I was following orders’, I don’t think is working for the public anymore. That is not a comment about the evidence or the law. It is a comment about where the public’s mind is these days.”
Ellison said that he and his team are moving “expeditiously” but warned that they also have to move carefully which could take more time than the public would like.
“There are numerous videos, numerous witness statements, a lot of stuff to go through for us to do due diligence,” Ellison stated. “We are not going to prolong this any longer than is absolutely necessary to do that due diligence and we are moving expeditiously, yet we have to move carefully. I know that is unsatisfying to people. They want, what they want immediately, and of course people have waited too long and have been too patient over the years but this case must be done methodically and we are doing that right now.”
6:49 a.m.: Las Vegas police officer in critical condition and on life support
Las Vegas Sheriff Joe Lombardo held a brief press conference to update the public on the two shooting incidents that took place amid protests happening across the city last night.
In the first incident, an officer was engaging with protesters near the Circus Circus hotel and casino and was shot.
“Our officers were attempting to take rocks and bottles from the crowd,” said Lombardo during the press conference. “Officers were attempting to get some of the protesters in custody when a shot rang out and our officer went down.”
The suspect in that shooting has been taken into custody but Lombardo said the police officer who was shot is in “extremely critical condition and on life support currently.”
The second incident occurred at the courthouse on South Las Vegas Boulevard when officers who were posted at the federal building to protect it from protesters encountered a suspect at approximately 11:22 p.m. armed with multiple weapons and appeared to be wearing body armor.
When authorities approached the individual, the suspect reached for one of those weapons and was subsequently shot by the responding officers.
The suspect later died at the hospital.
“This is a tragic night for our community,” said Lombardo. “With these protests, which are leading to riots, one tragedy is only leading to another … our investigations into both these incidents will be ongoing throughout the morning.”
“What has occurred is utterly, utterly unacceptable and I hope the community sees it that way too,” he concluded.
5:43 a.m.: Peaceful protests in New York City devolve into night of looting
Peaceful protests over the death of George Floyd devolved Monday night into jarring moments of vandalism, looting, fire and confrontation in New York.
There were more than 200 arrests and widespread vandalism in Midtown Manhattan and along Fordham Road and the Grand Concourse in the Bronx, much of which went down after the citywide 11 p.m. curfew.
Luxury brands and big box retail stores in Rockefeller Center and the Upper East Side had windows smashed and spray painted. Many more retailers boarded up their storefronts, giving the heart of a vibrant city already shuttered for the virus the look of blight.
There were also several reports of officers being hit by vehicles of protesters fleeing the scenes of vandalism and looting.
4:14 a.m.: Two police officers shot in Las Vegas in separate incidents
Two police officers have been shot in separate incidents in Las Vegas as people protest the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, authorities said.
One officer was shot near the 300 block of South Las Vegas Boulevard and the other officer was shot about two miles away in the 2800 block of South Las Vegas Boulevard.
The condition of the two officers is currently unknown. Police have said the scene is active and have asked the public to avoid the areas.
3:22 a.m.: Four police officers shot in St. Louis on a night of violent protests
St. Louis Police Chief Hayden John Hayden held a press conference regarding four officers that were shot amid protests last night.
He confirmed that all four officers have non life threatening injuries. Two were shot in the leg, one was shot in the foot and the other was shot in the arm.
Police Chief Hayden said that a peaceful protest began around 3 p.m. with a couple of thousand people in attendance but that sometime later a group of about 200 people started looting.
The group reportedly ignited fireworks and set them off aiming at the officers. Hayden also said the officers, who he said exhibited restraint throughout the entire ordeal, also had gas thrown on them.
That is when, he said, several officers, who were standing on the line, all of a sudden felt pain and realized that they had been fired upon with four of them being hit, according to Hayden.
The Police Chief also confirmed that there are still reports of gunshots being fired in the city that they’re trying to get under control.
The officers were taken to hospital and treated for their wounds. The investigation into who shot them is ongoing.
1:57 a.m.: LAPD Chief apologizes for equating looters with officers involved in Floyd’s death
Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michel Moore apologized for a remark he made during a mayor’s press conference Monday afternoon where he said: “We didn’t have people mourning the death of this man, George Floyd, we had people capitalizing. His death is on their hands as much as it is those officers … We didn’t have protests last night. We had criminal acts.”
The comment was met with immediate backlash and Black Lives Matter LA called for Moore to be fired in a tweet.
Several hours later, Police Chief Moore, amid much criticism, issued an apology on Twitter saying that he misspoke during the press conference.
12:44 a.m.: Protests mostly peaceful in NYC, Denver, Louisville
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio tweeted late Monday night that any unrest has calmed down at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, the site of clashes between protesters and police over the last few days.
De Blasio said protesters were overwhelmingly peaceful on this latest night of demonstrations, but that some people during the evening caused some damage that won’t be allowed.
In Denver, protesters at the State Capitol took a knee and observed eight minutes and 46 seconds of silence — the same amount of time Derek Chauvin had his knee on George Floyd’s neck before Floyd died. Only the sound of helicopters above and honking in the distance could be heard.
Louisville, Kentucky, Mayor Greg Fischer also said protests in his city were largely peaceful.
The mayor said the peaceful demonstrations honored the memory of David McAtee, the local restaurant owner who was shot and killed by Louisville police officers early Monday morning.
12:27 a.m.: Streets quiet in nation’s capital
The city of Washington, D.C., has been relatively quiet tonight compared to the violence of the past weekend, law enforcement and homeland security officials tell ABC News.
Officials report sporadic disturbances in Chinatown, where tear gas was deployed near the Convention Center.
City and federal law enforcement, as well as the military, has had a heavy presence on the city streets, with aircraft, including a Black Hawk helicopter, patrolling overhead.
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