On Monday, June 1, with protests over George Floyd’s murder in their seventh day, President Trump and Attorney General William Barr used violence to clear peaceful protesters near the White House. The protesters had committed no crime, but were met with tear gas, flashbang grenades and pepper balls and beaten with batons by Federal Park Police. An Australian camera person and their assistant were hit with a shield and struck with batons as they tried to escape. Trump threatened even more violence as he berated mayors and governors and warned that he would call out the U.S. military to suppress protests in cities across the United States.
Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from the influential Greek labor organization, the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME), that was sent to AFSCME Local 3800.
Minneapolis MN – The driver who drove his tanker truck in the large demonstration on the Interstate 35W bridge in Minneapolis, was released from custody today, June 2, after Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman failed to press charges.
Appleton, WI – On May 30, as many as 1000 people braved the pandemic, wearing masks and practicing social distancing where they could while filling Houdini Plaza in downtown Appleton. People joined together to protest the savage and racist police killing of Minneapolis resident George Floyd last week, and to rally for the Black Lives Matter movement.
New Orleans, LA – May 30, 400 New Orleanians gathered in Duncan Plaza to protest in memory of George Floyd and in solidarity with Minneapolis demonstrators. The rally coordinated with the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression’s National Day of Protest. Participants demanded: “Justice for victims of police crime,” “Community control of the police,” and “Mass release of prisoners, in response to COVID-19.”
Fort Lauderdale, FL – Over 3000 members of the South Florida community took to the streets in downtown Fort Lauderdale to protest the killing of George Floyd. They marched to demand the arrest of the other Minneapolis cops involved in Floyd’s murder and an end to all racist police violence.
New York, NY – On the early evening of June 1, around 1500 people gathered in the Lower East Side. This was one gathering out of dozens happening throughout the five boroughs.
