Protests Over George Floyd's Death Enter Second Week... Spread Across US
President Trump "Will Deploy Military"
Coroner "Floyd's Cause of Death: Cardiopulmonary Arrest Due to Police Restraint"
On the 1st (local time), a citizen attending the protest condemning the so-called 'George Floyd incident,' in which an unarmed Black man died due to excessive force by a white police officer / Photo by AP Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ga-yeon] The anti-racism protests sparked by the so-called 'George Floyd incident,' in which an unarmed Black man died due to excessive force by a white police officer, have spread to 140 cities across the United States in their second week. However, U.S. President Donald Trump posted tweets suggesting a tough response, indicating that the protests may intensify further.
President Trump maintained his stance on taking a hardline approach to the violent protests spreading nationwide.
On the 1st (local time), President Trump held a press conference at the White House, stating, "We cannot allow angry mobs to swallow peaceful protesters." He also pointed out that many states have failed to protect their regions and emphasized that the military could be deployed to suppress riots and looting.
On the 31st of last month, he referred to the protest leaders as 'far-left extremists' and announced plans to designate 'Antifa' as a terrorist organization.
Accordingly, the spread of protests seems inevitable. Earlier, on the 29th of last month, after President Trump tweeted "when the looting starts, the shooting starts," the protests escalated. Twitter attached a warning label to the tweet citing reasons such as 'glorification of violence.'
According to CNN and The Washington Post (WP) on the 1st, the protests had spread to 140 cities as of the 31st of last month. Violent protests accompanied by looting and arson continued, and shootings occurred, resulting in at least five deaths so far. It is reported that over 4,000 protesters have been arrested.
In response to the escalating protests, 40 cities imposed nighttime curfews. WP noted, "Massive protests on Sunday led to another night of 'fire and fury,' plunging many parts of the U.S. into chaos," adding, "As protesters and police clashed outside the White House for the third consecutive day, President Trump tweeted calls for 'law and order.'"
On the 1st (local time), protesters attending the demonstration condemning the so-called 'George Floyd incident,' in which an unarmed Black man died due to excessive force by a white police officer / Photo by AP Yonhap News
While citizens and local police knelt to show solidarity with the protesters, celebrities also voiced their support for the protests.
Former U.S. President Barack Obama posted an article titled "How to Make This Moment a Real Turning Point for Change" on an online platform, expressing support for the protesters: "The vast majority of protesters deserve respect and support. The overwhelming majority were peaceful, brave, responsible, and inspiring."
However, he cautioned, "There are a small number of people who rely on various forms of violence," adding, "We must not tolerate, rationalize, or participate in violence. If we want our justice system and American society to operate under higher ethical standards, we must create those standards ourselves."
Kiara, 26, daughter of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, reportedly participated in protests held in Manhattan. At a press conference the same day, Mayor de Blasio said regarding Kiara's arrest during the protests, "Kiara wants a better, more peaceful world. She believes many changes are necessary."
He continued, "I am proud that she went out to do something," and praised her for "going out to change what she believes is unjust, and doing so in a peaceful manner."
Major international media outlets criticized President Trump's handling of the situation, saying it worsened the circumstances.
WP strongly criticized, stating, "Amid the pandemic, President Trump said little about the frustrations of people flooding the streets," and "Instead, he maintained his usual leadership style of insulting people and speaking harshly."
On the 1st (local time), protests condemning the so-called 'George Floyd incident,' in which an unarmed Black man died due to excessive force by a white police officer, have continued for a week. Photo by AP Yonhap News
German media Spiegel Online, in a commentary titled "America's Anger, Trump's Failure," pointed out, "This protest situation is a symptom of a long-standing illness in America." It particularly criticized President Trump for deepening social inequality and dividing society.
The outlet stated, "The situation has reached an unimaginable level amid the COVID-19 crisis. Billionaires and the white upper class continue to perform well, but most of the population is falling behind," adding, "While the wealthy stroll leisurely in the suburbs of New York, Washington, and Chicago with dogs worth $5,000, poor neighbors line up for food."
It continued, "Racism is an old, deep wound. There are also issues such as drug abuse, domestic violence, chronic diseases, educational crises in poor areas, and gun use. The Floyd incident is enough to ignite this explosive mixture," emphasizing, "President Trump is not interested in making things better for everyone and prioritizes white people who will guarantee his re-election."
Fox News, a news channel favorable to President Trump, also publicly raised the need for a national press conference.
Internet media Axios evaluated that it is a rare event that a close group, which had so far refrained from reacting to President Trump's tweets, is now sounding alarm bells.
Meanwhile, Derek Chauvin, a Minneapolis police officer in Minnesota, was indicted last month on charges of third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for pressing his knee on Floyd's neck for about nine minutes, causing his death.
According to local media such as the Associated Press and CNN on the 1st, the Hennepin County medical examiner in Minnesota classified Floyd's death as 'homicide' that day. According to the report, the medical examiner determined the cause of death as 'cardiopulmonary arrest caused by the combined effects of restraint, compression, and neck pressure by the police officer.'
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