Tense protests over the death of George Floyd raged for a fifth consecutive night on Saturday in cities across the US, from Philadelphia to Los Angeles, with police cars set ablaze and reports of injuries mounting on all sides.
Donald Trump says the US will designate "Antifa", whom he blames for the unrest, as a terrorist organisation. Democratic mayors of the cities that have seen some of the largest protests have criticised the president for making the situation worse.
The demonstrations, which began in Minneapolis following Floyd’s death on Monday when a police officer pressed a knee onto his neck until he stopped breathing, have become a national phenomenon as protesters decry years of police brutality against African Americans.
See the recap of Sunday's aftermath below
Hello and welcome to The Independent's rolling coverage of the demonstrations taking place in cities across the US in response to the killing of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis.
Protests rage for fifth night as police cruisers and buildings burn
Tense protests over the death of George Floyd raged for a fifth consecutive night on Saturday in cities across the US, from Philadelphia to Los Angeles, with police cars set ablaze and reports of injuries mounting on all sides.
The demonstrations, which began in Minneapolis following Floyd’s death on Monday when a police officer pressed a knee onto his neck until he stopped breathing, have become a national phenomenon as protesters decry years of police brutality against African Americans.
Tens of thousands of people took to the streets across the country, many of them not wearing masks or observing social distancing despite coronavirus lockdown measures remaining in place, raising concerns among health experts about the potential for spreading the pandemic at a time when much of the country is in the process of reopening society and the economy.
After a tumultuous Friday, racially diverse crowds held mostly peaceful demonstrations in dozens of cities, though many later descended into violence as had happened the previous night.
Few corners of America were untouched, from protesters setting fires inside Reno's city hall, to police launching tear gas at rock-throwing demonstrators in Fargo, North Dakota, to shattered windows at police headquarters in Richmond, Virginia.
In Minneapolis, the city where the protests began, police, state troopers and National Guard members moved in soon after an 8pm curfew took effect to break up protests, firing tear gas and rubber bullets to clear streets outside a police precinct and elsewhere.
The show of force came after three days when police largely avoided engaging protesters and after the state poured in more than 4,000 National Guard troops to Minneapolis and said the number would soon rise to nearly 11,000.
"The situation in Minneapolis is no longer in any way about the murder of George Floyd," said governor Tim Walz on Saturday. "It is about attacking civil society, instilling fear and disrupting our great cities."
Minneapolis's streets steadily grew calmer as the night went on and city corrections commissioner Paul Schnell said the tough response would remain as long as it takes to "quell this situation."
Here’s Andrew Buncombe’s report from the Minnesota city.
Violent clashes seen outside Trump Tower in New York and Chicago
The angry confrontations between activists and law enforcement reached the doors of Trump Towers in New York and Chicago on Saturday night after Donald Trump inflamed the situation with tweets threatening “vicious” retribution.
The angry confrontations between activists and law enforcement reached the doors of Trump Towers in New York and Chicago on Saturday night after Donald Trump inflamed the situation with tweets threatening “vicious” retribution.
Hollywood actor John Cusack was at the Windy City protest and found himself chased by baton-wielding officers for attempting to document the proceedings.
Security barriers broken down outside White House as riot police tackle protesters
In Washington, the National Guard was deployed outside the White House, where chanting crowds taunted law enforcement officers.
Dressed in camouflage and holding shields, the troops stood in a tight line a few yards from the crowd, preventing them from pushing forward.
President Trump, who spent much of Saturday in Florida for the delayed SpaceX rocket launch, landed on the lawn in the presidential helicopter at dusk and went inside without speaking to journalists.
Dressed in camouflage and holding shields, the troops stood in a tight line a few yards from the crowd, preventing them from pushing forward.
President Trump, who spent much of Saturday in Florida for the delayed SpaceX rocket launch, landed on the lawn in the presidential helicopter at dusk and went inside without speaking to journalists.
How bad was it? Well, this literal dumpster fire speaks volumes.
Trump returns from Florida SpaceX rocket launch to scenes of chaos
So what about the president?
Having spent yesterday on Twitter discrediting and undermining the previous night’s angry clashes on his own doorstep by praising the Secret Service, he last night commending the National Guard deployment in Minneapolis, declaring "No games!" and saying police in New York City "must be allowed to do their job!"
Earlier in the day, while speaking at Nasa’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, he had remarked that: “What we are now seeing on the streets of our cities has nothing to do with justice or peace.”
Earlier in the day, while speaking at Nasa’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, he had remarked that: “What we are now seeing on the streets of our cities has nothing to do with justice or peace.”
Prior to that, he had insisted that his “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) movement “loves black people” and denied the contention of Governor Walz and Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey that the majority of people engaged in looting and rioting were outside agitators determined to stir up trouble.
Alex Woodward has more on Trump’s consistently unhelpful running commentary.
Mass gatherings raise fear of fresh wave of coronavirus infections
The mayor of Atlanta, one of dozens of US cities hit by the massive protests, has warned demonstrators they have put themselves at risk of contracting coronavirus and should get tested.
As emergency orders imposed at the start of the pandemic are lifted and beaches and businesses reopen across America, protests have now been added to the list of concerns about a possible second wave of infections.
There are similar concerns in Paris and Hong Kong, where anti-government protesters have accused police of using social distancing rules to break up their rallies.
Health experts fear silent carriers of the virus who have no symptoms could unwittingly infect others at gatherings with people packed cheek to jowl and cheering and jeering, many without masks.
One protester said she has no choice but to demonstrate.
"It's not okay that in the middle of a pandemic we have to be out here risking our lives," Spence Ingram, a black woman, said after marching with other protesters to the state capitol in Atlanta on Friday.
"But I have to protest for my life and fight for my life all the time."
Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, in her warning issued on Saturday evening, said: "There is still a pandemic in America that's killing black and brown people at higher numbers."
Minnesota governor Tim Walz said after another night of unrest in Minneapolis that many protesters wearing masks were simply trying to hide their identities and "cause confusion and take advantage of this situation".
The state's health commissioner has warned the protests are almost certain to fuel new cases of the virus.
Minnesota reported 35 coronavirus deaths on Thursday, a single-day high since the start of the outbreak, and 29 more on Friday.
"We have two crises that are sandwiched on top of one other," Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey said.
The US has been worst hit by the coronavirus outbreak, with more than 1.7m cases and over 103,000 deaths.
NYPD filmed ramming cruiser into crowd of protesters
With the protests pushing 25 American cities into enforcing curfews and prompting more than 1,300 arrests since Thursday, we’ve seen some extraordinary citizen journalism over the last few days.
Few examples have been more shocking than this, however, the clip sent viral by US film director Ava DuVernay well before the president praised the NYPD as "New York's Finest".
A night earlier, a police car in the Big Apple was hit by a Molotov cocktail prompting the arrest of a woman for attempted murder.
Dave Maclean has the latest on that.
A night earlier, a police car in the Big Apple was hit by a Molotov cocktail prompting the arrest of a woman for attempted murder.
Dave Maclean has the latest on that.
Colorado protesters lie face-down as one and chant 'I can't breathe' in honour of George Floyd
This was another extraordinary moment from yesterday's demonstrations.
This was another extraordinary moment from yesterday's demonstrations.
US congresswoman, 70, pepper-sprayed at rally in Ohio
While Joyce Beatty is reported to be fine after suffering this unpleasant example of strong-arm policing in Columbus, it provokes the question: is macing people really a wise tactic at the present time - given that it places strain on the respiratory system, potentially already vulnerable to the coronavirus?
And another: how were cops under pressure treating protesters off-camera and those who don't have the good fortune to be well-known elected representatives?
While Joyce Beatty is reported to be fine after suffering this unpleasant example of strong-arm policing in Columbus, it provokes the question: is macing people really a wise tactic at the present time - given that it places strain on the respiratory system, potentially already vulnerable to the coronavirus?
And another: how were cops under pressure treating protesters off-camera and those who don't have the good fortune to be well-known elected representatives?
Civilian fires longbow at Salt Lake City protest before being tackled and having his car overturned
I mean, holy hell.
I mean, holy hell.
George Floyd's brother says Trump 'didn't want to hear what I was talking about'
Philonise Floyd has given an interview to the Reverend Al Sharpton on MSNBC in which he said the president was dismissive and "didn’t give me the opportunity to even speak" when he made a condolence call to the family, a fairly damning insight into Trump's indifference.
Here's Greg Evans for Indy100.
Philonise Floyd has given an interview to the Reverend Al Sharpton on MSNBC in which he said the president was dismissive and "didn’t give me the opportunity to even speak" when he made a condolence call to the family, a fairly damning insight into Trump's indifference.
Here's Greg Evans for Indy100.
'Batman' spotted at Philadelphia protest
As the scene in New York was compared to the anarchic final moments of Todd Phillips's Joker...
...one man attended a corresponding gathering in Philly dressed (convincingly) as Batman.
In the interests of not glorifying this form of extreme cosplay, it's worth reporting that 13 police officers were injured and four police cars burned in the same city last night, which has nothing to do with peaceful protest.
As the scene in New York was compared to the anarchic final moments of Todd Phillips's Joker...
...one man attended a corresponding gathering in Philly dressed (convincingly) as Batman.
In the interests of not glorifying this form of extreme cosplay, it's worth reporting that 13 police officers were injured and four police cars burned in the same city last night, which has nothing to do with peaceful protest.
Social media flooded with footage of police brutality at nationwide protests against police brutality
I feel this one is fairly self-explanatory but, be warned, the following contain some distressing and graphic images.
I feel this one is fairly self-explanatory but, be warned, the following contain some distressing and graphic images.
Joe Biden: ‘The act of protesting should never be allowed to overshadow the reason we protest’
Here's the latest on the alarming scenes across America from Trump's Democratic challenger:
Here's the latest on the alarming scenes across America from Trump's Democratic challenger:
Chicago protester 'steals police horse' and cheesecake looted in Seattle
Although I'm in no way condoning these actions, you have to take your levity where you can find it in these grave times and the sheer surreal force of these images merits a mention.
Although I'm in no way condoning these actions, you have to take your levity where you can find it in these grave times and the sheer surreal force of these images merits a mention.
DC mayor hits back at Trump over 'vicious dogs' tweets
Muriel Bowser has lashed out at the president over his gloating tweets yesterday, calling him a "scared man" hiding behind the White House fence.
The city council and the Secret Service also backed her version of events over policing detail near the White House against claims made by Trump that he was left exposed:
Muriel Bowser has lashed out at the president over his gloating tweets yesterday, calling him a "scared man" hiding behind the White House fence.
The city council and the Secret Service also backed her version of events over policing detail near the White House against claims made by Trump that he was left exposed:
'Criminal mobs': How American conservative media is covering George Floyd protests
Let's just say the likes of Tucker Carlson on Fox News are being every bit as measured, fair and compassionate as you'd expect them to be.
Which is to say: not very.
Let's just say the likes of Tucker Carlson on Fox News are being every bit as measured, fair and compassionate as you'd expect them to be.
Which is to say: not very.
John Cusack attacked by police and ‘hit by pepper spray’ while filming Chicago protests
I mentioned this briefly earlier but here's Adam White with the full story on a wild night in the Windy City for the High Fidelity star, who was documenting the Trump Tower protests on his bike until the cops spotted him (but failed to ask for an autograph).
Black Lives Matter protesters stop looters trashing Target in Brooklyn
This is a fascinating scene from last night, in which African American activists intervene to stop people breaking into a store in the New York borough to ensure their demonstration remains peaceful and its message is not hijacked by criminal opportunism.
This interview by Forbes reporter Andrew Solender with one of the men who intervened - who identifies himself only as David - is superbly clear-eyed and articulate.
He believes the group of agitators in question are really undercover cops.
This is a fascinating scene from last night, in which African American activists intervene to stop people breaking into a store in the New York borough to ensure their demonstration remains peaceful and its message is not hijacked by criminal opportunism.
This interview by Forbes reporter Andrew Solender with one of the men who intervened - who identifies himself only as David - is superbly clear-eyed and articulate.
He believes the group of agitators in question are really undercover cops.
Uplifting moments from the George Floyd protests
While we've witnessed some deplorable acts over the last few days of unrest - from unprovoked police violence to arson and nihilistic looting - there have been plenty of positives.
Here's Greg Evans of Indy100 to round-up some genuinely inspiring moments as people united to fight injustice.
While we've witnessed some deplorable acts over the last few days of unrest - from unprovoked police violence to arson and nihilistic looting - there have been plenty of positives.
Here's Greg Evans of Indy100 to round-up some genuinely inspiring moments as people united to fight injustice.
