Sen Mitt Romney joined George Floyd protesters during a Black Lives Matter march in Washington, DC, on Sunday, making him the first Republ...
Sen Mitt Romney joined George Floyd protesters during a Black Lives Matter march in Washington, DC, on Sunday, making him the first Republican senator to do so, just a day after it was revealed that he will not be supporting President Donald Trump's reelection.
Romney, who represents Utah, posted a tweet showing him wearing a mask as he walked with demonstrators demanding justice for Floyd, a black man in handcuffs, who died on May 25 after white officer, Derek Chauvin, 44, pressed his knee on Floyd's neck, ignoring his 'I can´t breathe' cries and holding it there for eight minutes and 46 seconds.
'Black Lives Matter,' Romney wrote in the caption of the images.
On Saturday, Romney tweeted a photo of his father, George, who was the governor of Michigan from 1963 to 1969, marching with civil rights protesters in the 1960s in Detroit.
In the caption of that photo, Romney wrote: 'This is my father, George Romney, participating in a Civil Rights march in the Detroit suburbs during the late 1960s - "Force alone will not eliminate riots," he said. "We must eliminate the problems from which they stem."'
Sen Mitt Romney joined a Black Lives Matter march in Washington, DC, on Sunday, making him the first Republican senator to do so
Romney, who represents Utah, posted a tweet showing him wearing a mask as he walked with demonstrators demanding justice for the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor
Romney protested near the newly named Black Lives Matter Plaza that's just a short distance from the White House (protesters pictured on Sunday)
On Saturday, Romney tweeted a photo of his father, George, who was the governor of Michigan from 1963 to 1969, marching with civil rights protesters in the 1960s in Detroit. George Romney is seen marching with protesters in June 1963
.@MittRomney officially tweets what he told me in a video interview two hours ago, while marching — that “Black Lives Matter.”
He’s the first GOP senator to join in the George Floyd demonstrations sweeping the nation. pic.twitter.com/Za0Am2WL8g twitter.com/mittromney/sta…
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Romney protested near the newly named Black Lives Matter Plaza that's just a short distance from the White House.
Federal law enforcement officers and National Guard members who had been out in force for a week have largely withdrawn and have been replaced by city police in DC, who have blocked off adjacent roads to give demonstrators space.
Protesters were also seen posing with the new sign the city painted in big yellow block letters on 16th Street that reads 'BLACK LIVES MATTER.'
Romney's display of solidarity with the Black community comes just a day after it was revealed that the senator won't be supporting Trump's reelection.
According to the New York Times, Romney is even considering whether to again write in his wife, Ann, or cast another ballot this November.
In other parts of the United States, peaceful protests continued as officials pulled back National Guard troops.
National Guard troops will be pulled out of California cities where they've been deployed for a week after rampant violence and thievery marred the first days of protests over the death of Floyd, officials announced Sunday.
The announcement came as peaceful demonstrations again popped up across the state, including one on horseback and another on wheels, as protesters continue to call for police reforms.
'After nearly a week assisting civil authorities on the streets of California, soldiers with the California National Guard will begin transitioning back to their home armories,' the Cal Guard said in a statement. A timeline for the pullout was not provided.
Hundreds of demonstrators walk down 16th Street to the White House, during a rally north of Lafayette Square near the White House on Sunday
Protesters were also seen posing with the new sign the city painted in big yellow block letters on 16th Street that reads 'BLACK LIVES MATTER'
Protesters (pictured) demonstrated peacefully in Washington, DC, on Sunday afternoon
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said some troops began departing Sunday evening.
'A small number of units will be stationed nearby until June 10 to provide emergency support if needed,' Garcetti said in a statement.
Gov Gavin Newsom said Friday that he'd encourage local leaders to end their use of the Guard 'in an expeditious manner, but a very thoughtful manner'.
More than 7,000 National Guard troops were deployed to LA, San Francisco, Sacramento and other cities to assist local law enforcement, Cal Guard said.
While the vast majority of protesters have been peaceful, there were violent clashes with police and hundreds of businesses were vandalized.
In Minnesota, Minneapolis City Council members spoke in support of radical changes in their city's police department.
Nine of the council's 12 members appeared at a rally in a city park Sunday afternoon and vowed to end policing as the city currently knows it.
Council Member Jeremiah Ellison promised that the council would 'dismantle' the department.
In other parts of the United States, peaceful protests continued as officials pulled back National Guard troops. Demonstrators attend a protest against racial inequality in Boston, Massachusetts, on Sunday
People display signs during a protest against police brutality on Sunday in Boston
People gather in the Lilac Bowl at Riverfront Park in Spokane, Washington, on Sunday for a Black Lives Matter rally
Protesters participated in a Black Lives Matter rally march to downtown Pittsburgh from Mount Washington on Sunday
Community activists have criticized the department for years for what they say is a racist and brutal culture that resists change.
The state of Minnesota launched a civil rights investigation of the department last week, and the first concrete changes came Friday when the city agreed to ban chokeholds and neck restraints.
A more complete remaking of the department is likely to unfold in coming months.
Authorities have also started lifting some curfews that were put in place to quell violent protests.
For a second straight day, the city of Atlanta lifted a curfew it had set for 8pm. The decision to revoke the weekend curfews came after days of peaceful demonstrations and two nights without any arrests.
Atlanta had been under a nightly curfew since the previous Friday, when vandals smashed windows and looted stores after a peaceful demonstration attended by thousands of people.
Protesters again rallied in the city on Sunday. A group of African American pastors walked down Auburn Avenue - the street Dr Martin Luther King, Jr was born on - singing, Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around.
In Wisconsin, the Milwaukee Bucks led thousands of fans on what the team described as a public protest march through downtown Milwaukee in support of social justice.
Bucks officials estimated that 7,500 people participated.
National Guard troops will be pulled out of California cities where they've been deployed for a week after rampant violence and thievery marred the first days of protests over the death of Floyd, officials announced Sunday. Demonstrators are seen in Los Angeles on Sunday
The announcement came as peaceful demonstrations again popped up across the state, including one on horseback (pictured in Compton) and another on wheels, as protesters continue to call for police reforms
A demonstrator climbs on a car and holds a sign in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles on Sunday
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo joins some of his teammates during a march protesting racial injustice Saturday in Wisconsin
Before the march, Bucks guard Sterling Brown led the crowd in 9 seconds of silence to honor George Floyd. Bucks players are seen Saturday alongside other protesters in Milwaukee
Before the march, Bucks guard Sterling Brown led the crowd in 9 seconds of silence to honor Floyd.
Brown has a pending lawsuit against the city of Milwaukee, saying that police used excessive force and targeted him because he is black when they used a stun gun on him on January 26, 2018.
'It's great to see everybody out here standing as one, standing for equality, standing for George Floyd and his family and everybody who´s been a victim to police brutality,' Brown told the crowd before the march.
Brown was at the front row with many of his Bucks teammates and led the crowd in various chants that included 'black lives matter,' 'no justice, no peace' and 'we will be seen, we will be heard'.
Several of the Bucks players also had participated in a local march against police brutality on Saturday night.
'We're here as one,' Brown told the crowd beforehand. 'We're making something great happen. We're making something positive happen, something that´s heard around the world.'
Protesters demonstrated peacefully in New York City with thousands walking through Manhattan without a looming curfew.
The city had been scheduled to leave its 8pm curfew in place through at least Sunday night.
But Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that it would be nixed, saying: 'Yesterday and last night we saw the very best of our city.'
New York City police pulled back on enforcing the curfew Saturday night, as thousands took to the streets for another day of marches and rallies. The citywide curfew was the first in decades.
Protesters demonstrated peacefully in New York City with thousands walking through Manhattan without a looming curfew
The city had been scheduled to leave its 8pm curfew in place through at least Sunday night. But Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that it would be nixed, saying: 'Yesterday and last night we saw the very best of our city'
New York City police pulled back on enforcing the curfew Saturday night, as thousands took to the streets for another day of marches and rallies. The citywide curfew was the first in decades
Protesters are seen with their hands in the air during a demonstration in Times Square in Manhattan on Sunday
Protesters wearing Covid-19 coronavirus protection masks demonstrate in Times Square in Manhattan on Sunday
NYU Langone Health workers kneel and raise their fists in Manhattan during a protest against racial inequality on Sunday
In Chicago, Mayor Lori Lightfoot also lifted the city's curfew. Chicago has even reopened downtown train stations and allowed full bus service to resume following days of protests that largely remained peaceful.
Lightfoot imposed the 9pm curfew on May 30 during a night of unrest that included widespread vandalism and break-ins that followed peaceful protests earlier that day.
Access to the Loop was limited to essential workers for days, with bridges over the Chicago River raised and streets blocked.
Several hundred Illinois National Guard were brought into Chicago to enforce the limited access. The mayor announced the lifting of the curfew Sunday on Twitter.
Meanwhile, demonstrations over Floyd's death and police brutality continued on Sunday, with hundreds gathering at an intersection on the city's South Side.
Community activist Jahmal Cole says that since many stores boarded their windows and shut down because of the protests, parts of the South Side have become food and pharmacy deserts, with residents having to travel 15 to 20 minutes for milk or their medications.
In Dearborn, Michigan, the statue of the city's longest-serving mayor, who favored segregationist policies and made racist comments over his 35-year tenure that ended in 1977, was removed.
The statue of Orville Hubbard had been on the grounds of the Dearborn Historical Museum for several years after it was removed from the former City Hall campus in 2015. It was taken down Friday.
A city spokeswoman says the statute had become a 'divisive symbol rather than a unifying one.'
Calls for the statue to be removed were renewed following Floyd's death.
Protests have also continued to erupt all over the world as millions demonstrate against racism and police brutality while demanding justice for Floyd, Breonna Taylor and others who have been killed by police.
Protests have also continued to erupt all over the world. Anti-racism protesters in the southwestern England port city of Bristol toppled the statue of prominent slave trader, Edward Colston, and dumped it into the harbor (pictured on Sunday)
Boxer Jean Pascal attended a demonstration calling for justice for the death of Floyd and all victims of police brutality, in Montreal, on Sunday
Anti-racism protesters in the southwestern England port city of Bristol toppled the statue of a prominent slave trader and dumped it into the harbor.
Footage from local broadcaster ITV News West Country shows demonstrators attach ropes to the statue of Edward Colston before pulling it down on Sunday and eventually dumping it into the harbor.
Images on social media show protesters appearing to kneel on the statue's neck, recalling how Chauvin used his knee to pin down Floyd's neck before the handcuffed man died.
Colston, who was born in 1636, has been a controversial figure in Bristol. Among efforts to 'decolonize' the city have been calls to remove his name from its biggest music venue, Colston Hall.
In his 40s, Colston was prominently involved in Britain's sole official slaving company at the time, the Royal African Company, which transported tens of thousands of Africans across the Atlantic Ocean, mainly to the Caribbean.
Bristol, an an international port, was a center of the slave trade and benefited hugely financially. Britain formally abolished the slave trade in 1807.
Floyd's body arrived in Houston on Sunday for a final memorial service and funeral, according to police chief Art Acevedo.
Acevedo tweeted early Sunday that Floyd's family also arrived safely.
A six-hour viewing for Floyd is planned for Monday in Houston, followed by funeral services and burial on Tuesday in the suburb of Pearland.
Previous memorials were held for Floyd in Minneapolis and Raeford, North Carolina, which is near where he was born.
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