IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser.

June 6 coverage of nationwide unrest and ongoing protests

Here are the latest updates on protests across the country about George Floyd's death.
Image: Black Lives Matter demonstration
Demonstrators walk along Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington on Saturday.Andrew Harnik / AP

This live coverage has now ended. Continue reading June 7 coverage of George Floyd's death and the nationwide protests.

Demonstrations are taking place this weekend as the national anger over the death of George Floyd showed little sign of abating.

In Washington D.C., thousands of people gathered to protest both Floyd's death and President Donald Trump's use of military personnel in response to largely peaceful demonstrations. After more than a week of protests in Washington, city officials said they expected Saturday to be the largest demonstration yet with potential for tens of thousands of people taking to the streets.

Meanwhile, Floyd's family members gathered for a song- and prayer-filled private memorial service in North Carolina on Saturday after an earlier public viewing of his body drew long lines of mourners from around the country.

Download the NBC News app for the latest updates.

Police in Rhode Island drew guns on African American firefighter in uniform

An African American firefighter in Providence, Rhode Island, said Saturday he was in uniform when he was recently stopped by police officers who drew their guns on him earlier in the week.

Terrell Paci, 23, said two officers who work for the same city drew their guns on him as he was sitting in a friend's vehicle outside his fire station, according to NBC affiliate WJAR. He said the officers told him they were looking for a suspect reportedly waving a gun in the area.

"The situation makes clear that even in uniform — a young black man is not immune from the impact of systemic, institutional racism," Derek Silva, the president of the Providence Firefighters Union, said in a statement posted on Twitter.

Providence Public Safety Commissioner Steven Pare said the incident was under investigation. Paci joined George Floyd protesters Friday. "Why is a young black male in uniform at his job a threat to a police officer?" he asked WJAR.

Missouri detective suspended for allegedly hitting a man with car

A Missouri detective has been suspended after video footage emerged of him allegedly running over a man with his car as the man repeatedly called out for help.

In the video, obtained by NBC affiliate KSDK, the man can be seen running onto a lawn in Florissant, Missouri, before a car suddenly slams into him from behind. The man falls to the ground and can be heard screaming "I don't have nothing" as someone who appears to be a law enforcement officer jumps on top of him and forces the man's hands behind his back. 

Florissant police said the detective driving the car has been suspended. 

St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell recused himself from the case because an officer riding in the back of the detective's car is the son of Bell's spokesman.

Police officer in Long Beach, California, fired after posting 'graphic photos' on social media

A Long Beach police officer was fired after posting "graphic photos" on social media, including one showing him standing over a bloody sidewalk while holding a baton. 

The former officer, Jacob Delgado, 26, posted the photo to Instagram last weekend and then deleted it, NBC Los Angeles reported

The Long Beach Police Department learned about the posts a few days later and "immediately took action," according to Chief Robert Luna.

“Our organization is dedicated to our community and we must build upon the relationships we have while continuing to develop and foster new relationships,” Luna said in a statement. "We hold our employees to the highest standards and will not ignore behavior that erodes public trust.”

Sacramento Police Department in California suspends use of carotid control hold

Photo: New York City protesters gather in Washington Square Park

Image: Demonstrators protest against the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd, in New York City
Demonstrators gather at Washington Square Park, during a protest against the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd, in New York City, New York, on Saturday.Eduardo Munoz / Reuters

Man seen clinging to hood of car near protest in Pensacola, Florida

A man ended up on top of a car Saturday after allegedly attempting to stop it from evading a group of protesters who were blocking a bridge in Pensacola, Florida.

Authorities say the protesters had blocked a roadway preventing vehicles from entering and exiting the Pensacola Bay Bridge. When one of the cars tried to continue onto the bridge the man stood in front of it, according to Pensacola Police.

“The protester remained in front of the vehicle and placed himself on the hood of the vehicle,” police said in a statement.

Liz Parker and Tony Corradetti were in a car on the opposite side of the bridge and captured video of the man clinging to the hood of the car as it slowly drove south.

“What we saw this morning is something you see on TV," Parker said. "It doesn’t happen in your town.” 

Police say the man was taken to the hospital but there were no known injuries. The incident was under investigation.

California police detain man exercising outside his own home

A man in Northern California says he was briefly detained by police while exercising outside his own home. 

“I said, ‘Hey, my car is parked three cars up, that is where I live,’” Mali Watkins, 44, who is black, told NBC Bay Area. “I literally asked him, I said, ‘Officer what was I doing?’ He said, ‘You were dancing.’”

Alameda City Manager Eric Levitt said there will be an independent investigation of the May 23 incident. Police released body camera footage of the encounter on Friday.

Atlanta dental hygienist says police slammed her to ground at protest

An Atlanta dental hygienist is recovering from broken bones after police allegedly slammed her to the ground as she was attempting to leave a protest, NBC affiliate 11 Alive reported.

"The police then comes in and slams me, yanks me out of the car, and slams me down," Amber Jackson told local reporters. "My shoulder is broken. My clavicle is fractured."

A police officer was placed on administrative leave as a result of the incident, which was captured on cell phone video and widely shared on social media.

Atlanta police said Jackson refused to get out of her car when she was instructed to do so. Her lawyer said Jackson is the victim. 

"Our young people who are courageously and correctly demanding an end to police brutality are being brutalized in the street, where it is their right to protest. We need a change in police culture," attorney Mawuli Davis said in a statement.

Photo: Peaceful protesters in Washington, D.C.

Image: Protest against racial inequality in the aftermath of the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd, in Washington
Demonstrators raise their fists in a celebratory dance party of civil rights and black culture as they gather at the Black Lives Matter Plaza, near the White House, on Saturday.Jim Bourg / Reuters

Philadelphia Inquirer executive editor resigns after publishing controversial headline

Philadelphia Inquirer executive editor Stan Wischnowski announced his resignation Saturday, just days after some 40 journalists called out "sick and tired" from work following a controversial headline published in the newspaper. 

On Tuesday, the Inquirer ran a story titled "Buildings Matter, Too," which looked at the destruction of businesses across the city as some protests over the death of George Floyd turned violent. 

The headline drew immediate backlash from dozens of reporters and countless readers, who called it tone deaf at best and insulting at worst. The Inquirer issued an apology, saying the headline was "offensive, inappropriate and we should not have printed it."

"We deeply regret that we did," the statement read in part. "We also know that an apology on its own is not sufficient."

Wischnowski worked at the Inquirer for 20 years, according to the newspaper.

California man dies after being hit by car during George Floyd protest

A California man died Saturday after being hit by a car while he was marching in solidarity with George Floyd protesters earlier in the week. 

The man was identified as Robert Forbes from Bakersfield, NBC affiliate KGET reported. He was struck by a vehicle Wednesday night around 10:23 p.m. 

Police said an initial investigation indicated Forbes was hit on accident. Police also said the driver pulled over after the incident and waited for help to arrive. 

Forbes' nephew told KGET he believes the driver intentionally hit his uncle. A formal investigation is underway, according to police.

Portland, Oregon, mayor bans tear gas

'The power of love': Newlyweds join Philly protest on their wedding day

Alyssa Newcomb

Behold the power of love!

Dr. Kerry-Anne Perkins and Michael Gordon tied the knot Saturday in Philadelphia and then stepped outside to join the protests in honor of George Floyd.

The happy couple were greeted with applause and cheers when they joined the crowd outside the Logan Hotel. The bride looked radiant in her wedding dress, while her husband looked dapper in his tuxedo.

The crowd parted ways for the couple, who kissed and posed for wedding photos to capture their special day. They then joined the march along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway as the crowd walked toward City Hall.

Read the full story here.

Minneapolis businesswoman stands with protesters, even after her store burned down

MINNEAPOLIS – Brandy Moore surveyed the twisted remains of what was once her clothing store, called LEVELS.

The store was burned down and looted during the protests over the killing of George Floyd, whose May 25 death in police custody sparked nationwide demonstrations over police brutality and racial injustice.

While the loss of her business was painful for Moore, it paled in comparison to the loss of Floyd’s life.

“This hurts, but watching him lose his life like that, it hurts more, it hurts more than losing my business,” Moore, who is African American, said from outside the destroyed property. “This is a sacrifice that I was willing to take –- George Floyd, he’s gone, he’ll never be back again.”

Read the full story here.

Sambo's, which once had 1,100 restaurants, changes name amid national George Floyd protests

Sambo's, once a chain with more than 1,100 restaurants that traded in racist iconography, will change the name of its last remaining site amid the national protests sparked by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody.

Once a chain that boasted locations across 47 states, it is now down to one family-run restaurant in Santa Barbara, California. The owners said they decided to change the name from "Sambo's," a racist term for people of African descent, to something undetermined.

"Our family has looked into our hearts and realize that we must be sensitive when others whom we respect make a strong appeal," they said in a statement on the restaurant's Facebook page, which still carries the "Sambo's" name. "So today we stand in solidarity with those seeking change and doing our part as best we can."

Read the full story here.

'Beautiful, peaceful and diverse': Thousands of protesters flood streets near White House

WASHINGTON — Thousands of people gathered outside Washington D.C. monuments and the White House on Saturday protesting the killing of George Floyd, years of unanswered calls for police reform and President Donald Trump's use of the military in response to largely peaceful demonstrations.

“I’m tired of the racism. Just tired,” said Rochelle Grate, a 58-year-old information technology specialist from fort Washington, Maryland, who described the Saturday protest as “beautiful, peaceful and diverse.”

Image: Lincoln Memorial
Demonstrators protest on June 6, 2020, at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, over the death of George Floyd.Alex Brandon / AP

 

“This is different," she said about the protests seen around the country over much of the past two weeks since Floyd, a black man, was killed in police custody in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 25. "It snapped people not of color to say ‘Man, this is real and I’ve been blind to it.’”

After more than a week of protests in Washington, city officials said they expected Saturday to be the largest demonstration yet with potential for tens of thousands of people taking to the streets.

Click here to read the full story.

PHOTO: Protesters at the Lincoln Memorial

Image: Lincoln Memorial
Protesters gather outside the Lincoln Memorial on Sat. June 6, 2020, for another day of demonstrations following the death of George Floyd.Lauren Egan

Thousands defy coronavirus bans to take a knee at global George Floyd protests

From Paris to London, Sydney to Tokyo, thousands of protesters got down on one knee to honor George Floyd, during the second weekend of worldwide protests.

Many dressed in black and most defied coronavirus lockdown rules to pour onto the streets.

In Paris, police officially banned protests on Saturday, citing fears of the respiratory illness. It was to no avail as people turned out in force in the center of the French capital.

In a gray and rainy central London, thousands defied a plea from Britain's Home Secretary Priti Patel to stay at home and gathered in Parliament Square, a traditional venue for protests outside the country's legislature.

Read the full story here.

Image:
Demonstrators gather at Downing Street during a Black Lives Matter march in London.Frank Augstein / AP

LA Galaxy release Serbian soccer star Aleksander Katai over wife's racist social media posts

The LA Galaxy said it released Serbian soccer star Aleksander Katai on Friday after his wife, Tea Katai, shared a series of "racist and violent" social media posts in response to the George Floyd protests occurring across the country.

The Major League Soccer club met with Katai on Thursday after it was made aware of two of his wife's Instagram posts that she shared the day before. After fans protested outside the LA Galaxy stadium, the club announced in a one-sentence statement on Friday that it would drop Katai from its roster.

The club said the two sides had "mutually agreed" to part ways.

"The LA Galaxy strongly condemn the social posts and requested their immediate removal," the club said in a statement days before announcing Katai's removal. "The LA Galaxy stands firmly against racism of any kind, including that which suggests violence or seeks to demean the efforts of those in pursuit of social equity."

Read the full story here.

Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr voice support for George Floyd protesters

The two living Beatles members have issued statements of support for those protesting the police killing of George Floyd.

"I feel sick and angry that here we are almost 60 years later, and the world is in shock at the horrific scenes of the senseless murder of George Floyd at the hands of police racism, along with the countless others that came before," Paul McCartney wrote.

"All of us here support and stand alongside all those who are protesting and raising their voices."

The singer-songwriter also shared a story from 1964 when the popular British band refused to play to a segregated audience in Jacksonville. 

Drummer Ringo Starr echoed his band-mate's sentiment: "The Beatles always stood for equal rights and justice and I’ve never stopped working for peace and love," he said online.

"I send my peace, love and continuous support to everyone marching and speaking up for justice."

'Blackout Tuesday' on Instagram was a teachable moment for allies like me

#BlackoutTuesday was a reminder that being an ally sometimes means making mistakes.
#BlackoutTuesday was a reminder that being an ally sometimes means making mistakes.TODAY illustration

This week I discovered the extent to which some of my attempts at allyship were hurting, not helping, the struggle for black liberation. As a queer woman of color, this was a difficult pill to swallow. But I wasn’t alone. #BlackoutTuesday forced a lot of us wannabe allies to confront the ways in which our allyship can be misguided and, frankly, lazy.

On Tuesday, as Americans across the country searched for ways to express solidarity with black people, #BlackoutTuesday took social media by storm. It was an ostensible display of allyship — posting a black square with the aforementioned hashtag — with a promise not to post anything else that day and instead take the time to think about the ways in which many nonblack Americans benefit from structural racism.

While Tuesday morning saw a great many Instagram feeds flooded with black tiles, by the evening, many of these posts had been deleted, with people attempting to make amends. I was one of these people. There was an important lesson to be learned, if people were paying attention, and it had nothing to do with policing behavior or judgement. Rather, the #BlackoutTuesday debacle was a reminder that being an ally, sometimes, means making mistakes. But a true ally doesn’t give up when corrected; a true ally listens and course-corrects without shame or resentment. I say this as someone who’s wished, on numerous occasions, friends and family would do the same when I point out their transgressions, but who can still gets defensive if I’m not being thoughtful about it.

Read the full story here.

Photo: Justin Trudeau takes a knee

Image: Justin Trudeau
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau takes a knee during a Black Lives Matter protest on Parliament Hill, June 5, 2020 in Ottawa, Canada.Dave Chan / AFP - Getty Images

Two Buffalo officers charged over police shoving 75-year-old man to ground

Two officers in Buffalo, New York, who were suspended after video showed police shoving a 75-year-old man onto the ground at a George Floyd protest Thursday night, were charged with second-degree assault on Saturday, NBC affiliate WGRZ reported.

The two officers, Aaron Torgalski and Robert McCabe, pleaded not guilty and were released on their own recognizance. The 75-year-old man, Martin Gugino, a longtime social justice activist, was taken to a hospital in serious but stable condition after the incident.

Read the full story here.

George Floyd's death sparks protests across Europe

Solidarity protests have erupted this weekend across Europe in response to George Floyd's death and racism in America. 

Many took a knee and observed 8 minutes and 46 seconds of silence — the length of time a white police officer kept his knee on Floyd's neck. 

Thousands gathered in London, defying government advice to stay home amid the coronavirus pandemic.

While in Berlin, an estimated 30,000 people gathered, up from 2,000 last weekend. 

Street artist Banksy reveals new artwork examining George Floyd death and protests

The anonymous British street artist Banksy revealed a new artwork on Saturday in light of global protests sparked by the police killing of George Floyd.

"People of colour are being failed by the system. The white system," the mysterious artist wrote on his Instagram page. "This faulty system is making their life a misery, but it's not their job to fix it."

The image shows a memorial with a photo and flowers, surrounded by candles — one flame beginning to set alight the flag of the United States.

George Floyd memorial service to be held in North Carolina, with police escort of his body

George Floyd died last week in Minneapolis police custody and on Saturday another set of law enforcement officers will escort his body for a memorial service in North Carolina.

The Hoke County Sheriff's Officer will escort Floyd's body for the service, which is to include a public viewing from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Cape Fear Conference B in Raeford, about 24 miles from Fayetteville. A private service for family members only will begin at 3 p.m. and will be broadcast.

Read the full story here. 

Pompeo criticizes China for using George Floyd death for 'political gain'

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has criticized China for using the death of black American George Floyd for "its own political gain."

Pompeo didn't refer to a specific incident but called the ruling communist party "callous." 

Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, Pompeo has become an outspoken critic of China, often engaging in a tense war-of-words, which some experts have dubbed a new cold war between the two powers.

House Oversight Committee wants to know more about unidentified officers in D.C.

Haley Talbot

Garrett Haake and Haley Talbot

The House Oversight Committee sent a letter to Attorney General Bill Barr seeking information about the “sudden surge of federal and unidentified law enforcement officers in the District of Columbia following the murder of George Floyd at the hands of police officers in Minneapolis.” 

The Committee is requesting a number of documents and information by June 10, including a list of departments and agencies that have been activated since June 1 to enforce federal law in D.C., the number of law enforcement officers deployed or assigned, and the overall mission of the federal law enforcement response in the city.

The letter reads in part, “The vast majority of protests in the District of Columbia have been peaceful. It appears that the massive influx of federal forces is intended to assert authoritarian power over the District of Columbia rather than to protect federal property, enforce federal law, or protect people exercising their First Amendment rights by protesting systemic racial inequalities within the U.S. criminal justice system.”

Hong Kong black lives matter event cancelled due to coronavirus and politics, organizers say

Justin Solomon

HONG KONG - Organizers of a black lives matter solidarity protest in Hong Kong, planned for Sunday, cancelled the event amid fears that other groups may use it to "push their own agenda" and worries over breaching social distancing rules in place due to the coronavirus pandemic.

One of the event organizers Max Percy told NBC News that there was large interest in the event meant to honor George Floyd. 

"It has come to our attention that due to the number of people trying to use this event to push their own agenda, there are concerns that the event will no longer abide by the terms set by the Hong Kong Police and we have been forced to cancel," Percy wrote on a now deleted Facebook page.

"This is an enormous shame that people have lost sight of the reason why we were doing this event in the first place ... We are saddened by the state of Hong Kong."

Protesters have taken to the streets of Hong Kong multiple times this year to challenge Beijing-led security laws and to mark the recent anniversary of the 1989 quashing of demonstrations in Tiananmen Square.

Black girls and supporters surf around the world to honor George Floyd

Reuters

From California to Indonesia, Senegal and Australia, black girls and supporters floated on surfboards on Friday to pay tribute to George Floyd, the black man whose death in U.S. police custody has sparked protests worldwide.

The "Solidarity in Surfing" events in more than 100 locations were organized by Black Girls Surf, a group founded in 2014 to teach the sport to girls of color aged 5 to 17.

In Santa Monica, California, about 200 surfers of various ages and races waded into the water for a paddle out, a traditional Hawaiian ceremony to celebrate the life of someone who has died.

About 200 yards offshore, they held a moment of silence while floating on their boards in a large circle, and placed yellow, pink and red flowers in the water.

French police ban George Floyd solidarity protest citing coronavirus fears

Nancy Ing

French police banned a handful of protests against racism and police brutality in Paris on Saturday, citing fears of coronavirus spread.

They had been due to take place outside the U.S. embassy and underneath the city's iconic Eiffel tower, until the Prefecture de Police banned them. 

Many protesters were nonetheless expected to defy the order and risk clashing with police. Organizers have called for peaceful demonstrations that respect social distancing measures, in place to stem the spread of coronavirus. 

A demonstration last week against police violence and racism was banned by authorities, but 20,000 people still showed up to protest near the Palais de Justice.

 

Image: Banned demonstration in Paris in memory of Adama Traore in Paris
People run from tear gas as they attend a banned demonstration in front of courthouse in Paris, France June 2, 2020.GONZALO FUENTES / Reuters

White House compares Trump-Churchill leadership styles, and historians scoff

This week, the White House has likened Donald Trump to Winston Churchill, the hard-drinking and eccentric prime minister who led Britain as it faced off against the Nazis during World War II.

Some historians have responded to that with a resounding: Mr. President, you're no Winston Churchill.

Others, meanwhile, have raised Churchill's troubling record on race, saying the American president shouldn't try to emulate the British leader whose disturbing views on race were rooted in 19th-century colonialism.

Read the full story here.

Image: The Conservative statesman and war-time leader Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965) at his Kent home
The Conservative statesman and war-time leader Sir Winston Churchill at his Kent home, England.Hulton Deutsch / Corbis via Getty Images file

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz says community has 'begun to rebuild'

Governor of Minnesota Tim Walz said on Saturday night the community where black man George Floyd was killed by a white police officer, was showing "signs of resilience" and starting to rebuild.

But there was still a lot of work ahead, he warned. 

Canadian pilot draws solidarity fist in the sky

A pilot in Canada marked out a fist in the sky through his flight path as a gesture against police brutality and racism.

Dimitri Neonakis took to the skies above Halifax in Canada to create the fist image. 

"I see a world of one race with many colours in which everyone of us can 'breath free'," he wrote on Twitter.

Protests take place in Australia, Japan and Thailand

Reuters

Thousands of people took to the streets in Australia on Saturday to support protests against police brutality across the U.S.

Demonstrations were limited by social-distancing curbs due to the coronavirus pandemic. But in Brisbane, police estimated 10,000 people joined a peaceful protest, wearing masks. Many wrapped themselves in indigenous flags, calling for an end to police mistreatment of indigenous Australians. 

Protests also took place in Japan and others were planned in South Korea, while a virtual rally was also set to be held in Thailand.

In Sydney, a last-minute court decision overruled a coronavirus ban as several thousand people marched, amid a heavy police presence, chanting: "Whose lives matter? Black Lives matter."

In Tokyo, marchers protested against what they said was police treatment of a Kurdish man who says he was stopped while driving and shoved to the ground, leaving him with bruises. "No justice, no peace, no racist police," the crowd chanted.

Judge orders Denver police to stop firing tear gas, projectiles at peaceful protesters

D.C. asks National Guard to go home

On a day when the governor of Ohio said a state National Guard member was removed from duty in Washington, D.C. after the FBI discovered evidence of the soldier's white supremacist ideology online, the city's mayor asked Ohio to withdraw its guard members.

District Mayor Muriel Bowser on Friday wrote letters to Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy arguing that the presence of their guard members is "unnecessary and may be counterproductive." The troops were sent at the behest of the U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, DeWine said.

Bowser didn't mention the removal of the guard member. DeWine said Friday the soldier was under federal investigation and it appeared likely "he will be permanently removed from the Ohio National Guard."

Bowser said the city's state of emergency in response to George Floyd protests that took place near the White House ended Friday morning.

Breonna Taylor honored by protesters on her birthday

Confederate statue in Mobile, Alabama, moved

A statue of a Confederate admiral was removed from public view overnight in Mobile, Alabama, the city's mayor said Friday.

The statue of Civl War Rear Admiral Raphael Semmes near the History Museum of Mobile was dedicated in 1900. Mayor Sandy Stimpson did not mention nationwide protests over the in-custody death of George Floyd, but she said moving the monument would help the city heal.

"Moving this statue will not change the past," he said. "It is about removing a potential distraction so we may focus clearly on the future of our city."