Garrett Haake reports from a chaotic downtown Washington, D.C. where law enforcement fired pepper bullets at protesters.
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Police fire pepper bullets at protesters in chaotic Washington, D.C. scene
Israel kills unarmed autistic Palestinian
Israeli police have shot dead an unarmed autistic Palestinian man in Jerusalem’s Old City after saying they suspected he was carrying a weapon. an unarmed autistic Palestinian man in Jerusalem’s Old City after saying they suspected he was carrying a weapon.
The shooting drew broad condemnations and revived complaints alleging excessive force by Israeli security forces. On social media, some compared the shooting to police violence in the US
Relatives identified the man as Iyad Halak, 32. They said he suffered from autism and was heading to the school for students with special needs where he studied each day when he was shot on Saturday.
“They killed him in cold blood,” Halak’s mother, Rana, told Israel’s Channel 12 TV.
In a statement, Israeli police said they spotted a suspect “with a suspicious object that looked like a pistol”. When he failed to obey orders to stop, officers opened fire, the statement said. Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld later said no weapon was found.
Channel 12 said members of Israel’s paramilitary border police force fired at Halak’s legs and chased him into a dead-end alley. It said a senior officer ordered a halt in fire as they entered the alley, but that a second officer did not listen and fired six or seven bullets from an M-16 rifle, killing Halak. The report said both officers were taken into custody and interrogated for several hours.
AP video from the scene showed three bullet holes in a white wall at the end of the alleyway.
Halak’s father, Kheiri, said police raided the family’s home after the shooting. “They found nothing,” he said, claiming that police had cursed his daughter when she became upset at them.
Lone Palestinian attackers with no clear links to armed groups have carried out a series of stabbings, shootings and car-ramming attacks in recent years.
Palestinians and Israeli human rights groups have long accused Israeli security forces of using excessive force in some cases, either by killing individuals who could have been arrested or using lethal force when their lives were not in danger.
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Fires, arrests, curfews, confrontations: George Floyd protests continue nationwide
Thousands of protesters participated in dozens of demonstrations nationwide Saturday, a day after a Minneapolis police officer was arrested and charged with the third-degree murder and manslaughter of George Floyd.
Former officer Derek Chauvin faces the charges, which activist groups say are inadequate. Video from a bystander showed Chauvin pressing his knee on Floyd’s neck for more than eight minutes.
The demonstrations Saturday were part of a National Day of Protest against Chauvin and police brutality inflicted nationwide. Protesters also called out the names of other people of color killed by police, including Louisville’s Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old ER tech who was shot and killed by police in March.
Here is a city-by-city look at what’s happening across the country.
Nashville: Fires at courthouse and City Hall building
Fires in Nashville led Mayor John Cooper to declare a state of civil emergency. Police announced a 10 p.m. curfew for the city, and Gov. Bill Lee deployed the National Guard.Â
Dozens of protesters had gathered on the steps of Nashville’s criminal courthouse and City Hall after a rally and march. Demonstrators smashed windows with rocks and other materials, drawing a swarm of police. The situation at the building appeared to subside around 7:30 p.m.
By 8:15 p.m., fire was visible from a first-floor office at the courthouse. A short time later, police with riot gear arrived as a fire burned inside a window at City Hall. Officers deployed tear gas as demonstrators clustered in the center of Public Square Park.
— Staff of The TennesseanÂ
Miami: Curfew after fire in cars, rubber bullets
The Miami Police Department announced a 10 p.m. Saturday curfew for the city. The city also will have a Sunday curfew for 8 p.m. until 6 a.m. Police warned violators would be subject to arrest. Thirty-eight people had been arrested as midnight approached, police said.
The police department asked residents to stay away from Miami’s downtown and Wynwood areas, citing a “situation involving large crowds of protestors.”
The Miami Herald reported protests in the area started peacefully but eventually devolved into violence. People threw things at officers and s
New York City: Videos show fire, vehicle’s confrontation with crowd
Hundreds of protesters walked against traffic in Manhattan on Saturday afternoon, temporarily stalling vehicles on 7th Ave. The group chanted: “No justice, no peace†and “Whose streets? Our streets.â€
Late Saturday, videos circulated on social media that appeared to show a police vehicle driving into a crowd of protesters. Other video showed at least one vehicle on fire.
An initially peaceful demonstration in the city had spiraled into chaos Friday, as protesters skirmished with police officers, destroyed police vehicles and set fires.
Video posted to social media on Friday showed officers using batons and shoving protesters as they took people into custody and cleared streets. One video showed an officer slam a woman to the ground as he walked past her.
Minneapolis: National Guard moves downtown
The National Guard started moving into downtown Minneapolis on Saturday, after days of unrest.
“The situation in Minnesota is no longer in any way about the murder of George Floyd. It is about attacking civil society, instilling fear and disrupting our great cites,” Gov. Tim Walz said in a press conference.
An 8 p.m. curfew would be strictly enforced, major highways would be closed and those on the streets Saturday night could be subject to arrest, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter said Saturday night.
“Don’t go out of your homes; don’t make things more difficult,â€Â Walz said.Â
As curfew approached, hundreds of protesters sat to await the arrival of law enforcement near Fifth Precinct. One commented that police couldn’t arrest the whole group.
Soon, black-clad law enforcement approached to the sound of explosions. Some demonstrators chanted: “Hands up, don’t shoot!â€
Police officers fired nonlethal projectiles toward masses of people, including a crowd of journalists gathered in an alley next to a looted store.
Protesters reported tear gas being used. Some people hobbled away from an intersection appearing to be injured.
“State Patrol troopers are moving in to secure the Fifth Precinct. Go home and obey the curfew order now,” Minnesota Department of Public Safety tweeted.
“The situation in Minnesota is no longer in any way about the murder of George Floyd. It is about attacking civil society, instilling fear and disrupting our great cites,” Gov. Tim Walz said in a press conference.
— Trevor Hughes and Jordan Culver, USA TODAY
Chicago: Mayor announces curfew
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced a curfew for the city, effective between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Earlier, hundreds of protesters gathered downtown at Federal Plaza on Saturday afternoon for a demonstration organized by Black Lives Matter. Protesters chanted “Say his name, George Floyd†and “Say her name, Breonna Taylor†as drivers honked their horns. Some held signs saying “Black lives matter†and “Liberty and justice for all.â€
At least two police vehicles were covered in spray paint.
Protesters reported seeing demonstrators being arrested outside Trump Tower as the group marched north through downtown. After passing Trump Tower, thousands of protesters took a knee in silence. A spokesperson for Chicago police said he was not immediately able to provide an update.Â
The Chicago Transit Authority temporarily suspended train services to downtown.
— Grace Hauck and Jordan Culver, USA TODAYÂ
Detroit: Day starts peacefully, turns violent
Saturday, in the light of day, the protesting crowd appeared to be mostly peaceful, with police following marching protesters closely and even handing out masks, a coronavirus precaution, to those who did not have them.
The situation changed late in the evening. A new — and larger — crowd filled downtown and turned violent. In the skirmishes, Detroit Free Press reporters were exposed to tear gas, and a phone was violently knocked out of a photographer’s hand.
Police in riot gear, supported by armored cars, moved toward protesters.Â
Crowds began to gather at about 4:30 p.m. Most wore masks, and many carried signs, some with angry slogans. By about 8 p.m., and just after a moment of tension between protesters and police, the crowd began to disperse, with a few folks saying they’d be back again for a third day of demonstrations at 4 p.m. Sunday.
On Friday, a 21-year-old male from Eastpointe was been fatally shot near a protest in downtown Detroit when he was approached by an unknown suspect while in his vehicle, police said. Friday night’s protest had at least 60 arrests.Â
— David Jesse, JC Reindl, Branden Hunter and Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press
Charlotte, North Carolina: State of emergency
The City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County announced a state of emergency for the area Saturday night. A curfew was not included in the declaration.Â
“The proclamation grants the city and county managers the authority to enact a curfew if necessary,” the city announced via Twitter as protests continued in the city. “If a curfew is enacted, it will be announced in advance to allow residents to prepare.”
Previously, the National Guard was deployed to Charlotte to assist with the city’s response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Indianapolis: Officers fire tear gas at protesters
Police told protesters late Saturday they were subject to arrest for unlawful assembly and should “disperse immediately.”
“This is no longer a lawful assembly. You are subject to arrest,” an officer told protesters.Â
A reporter at the scene saw 10 officers and four police cars. Most were wearing gas masks and standing still. One protester threw a water bottle at an officer, and several others followed.
Officers then began firing tear gas.
On Friday, of the more than 200 estimated to be demonstrating, 27 had been arrested, Police Chief Randal Taylor said, and at least 30 businesses sustained some sort of damage, including a CVSÂ store that sustained fire damage.
Five police vehicles were damaged and three officers were injured, he said. Three civilians were also injured.
— Staff of The Indianapolis Star
Washington: Protests escalate near White House, Trump warns against ‘mob violence’
Protesters clashed with police outside the White House Saturday, as tensions flared there for a second day.Â
Protesters marched and chanted “No justice! No peace!” and “I can’t breathe!” – a phrase Floyd was heard saying before his death – in Lafayette Square, across the street from the White House and along surrounding streets. Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., stood with peaceful protesters outside the White House during the afternoon.
Protesters stood facing a line of police wearing helmets and holding shields, the officers with their backs to the White House. At times, some protesters tried to knock over barriers or attacked officers around the White House perimeter, although none scaled the surrounding fence, according to the Secret Service. “Multiple” special agents and uniformed officers were injured when some protesters threw bricks, rocks, bottles and fireworks at officers, officials said.
President Donald Trump attended the historic SpaceX rocket launch in Florida during the afternoon, but was flying back to Washington by 6 p.m. He used an address at the Kennedy Space Center to offer a stern warning against violence by “rioters, looters and anarchists.”
Mayor Muriel Bowser tweeted Saturday that the city’s police department would protect everyone, regardless of whether the mayor agreed with them.
— Nicholas Wu, David Jackson, Courtney Subramanian and John Fritze, USA TODAY
Jacksonville, Florida: Peaceful march turns violent, officer injured
Violence erupted in Jacksonville’s downtown Saturday night, after thousands of people earlier marched peacefully on police headquarters in protest against law enforcement abuses of force.
Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams said one officer had been hospitalized after being “slashed in the neck.â€
Broken glass and damage to Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office vehicles were reported, as was the firing of tear gas. Police urged people not already downtown Saturday night to stay away from the area.
— Teresa Stepzinski and Garry Smits, Florida Times-Union
Attorney General Barr: Peaceful protests ‘hijacked’ by ‘far-left extremist groups’
Attorney General William Barr said violent protests that have erupted after the death of George Floyd appear to be organized by “anarchic” and “far-left extremist groups” pursuing their own aims.Â
Addressing “rioting” in many cities, Barr said:Â “The voices of peaceful protest are being hijacked by violent radical elements.”
“Groups of outside radicals and agitators are exploiting the situation to pursue their own separate and violent agenda,” he said. “In many places, it appears the violence is planned, organized and driven by anarchic and … far-left extremist groups using Antifa-like tactics.”
— Nicholas Wu, USA TODAY
Philadelphia: Officers injured, peaceful protests turn chaotic
Charred cars, one lying flipped on its roof in a pile of ashes, lined John F. Kennedy Blvd. Saturday night as the city started to clean up after peaceful protests gave way to a fiery afternoon.Â
Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said 13 police officers were injured in protests that resulted in property damage and several burned cars. Fourteen people were arrested, police said just before midnight.
By the 8 p.m. curfew set by Philadelphia police, the large crowds had mostly dispersed. Dozens of officers stood in a line at the municipal services building, steps away from where at least one of the department’s cars was burned.
Just hours before, hundreds flooded City Hall, damaging cars and spraypainting messages on buildings, vehicles and the city block.
— Phaedra Trethan and Jeff Neiburg, Cherry Hill Courier-Post
Montgomery, Alabama: Largely peaceful protests at precinct, Capitol
Dozens gathered Saturday afternoon in front of a Montgomery police precinct before a gathering at the Capitol, where law enforcement blocked off traffic for a rally that lasted more than two hours.Â
Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed on Friday called Floyd’s death a “lynching” in a virtual town hall before asking for a moment of silence for him at an afternoon press conference.
Police Chief Ernest Finley also spoke, calling Floyd’s death “very disturbing.”
— Melissa Brown, Montgomery Advertiser
Los Angeles: Looting and destruction mount, mayor sets curfew
Looting and property destruction mounted Saturday in Los Angeles as police worked to disperse protesters after the third evening of mass demonstrations. City Mayor Eric Garcetti set a curfew from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. throughout the whole city.
Police set up skirmish lines throughout the downtown area and fired non-lethal ammunition in at least one incident, City News Service reported. The Associated Press reported Garcetti requested the National Guard.Â
Protesters looted several downtown businesses, including a Target store, a Rite Aid, a Starbucks and jewelry stores near Sixth Street and Broadway. Fires were ignited near the intersection of Hill and Seventh Street, and in one case, a person threw the hose being used by a firefighter into a smoldering fire.
Garcetti urged residents to go home.
“When things burn, it is not the time to stay,†he said. Taking part in civil unrest, he added, does a disservice to the memory of George Floyd.
He noted Los Angeles has seen unrest over racial issues before, a nod to the Watts Riots in 1965 and the disturbance after the Rodney King verdict that exonerated the police officers who were videotaped beating him in 1992.
— Chris Woodyard, USA TODAY
Seattle: ‘Hands up, don’t shoot’
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee tweeted Saturday he activated 200 members of the state’s National Guard.Â
“The National Guard is on stand by to assist the Seattle Police Department as requested by Mayor Durkan,” Inslee said in a statement. “They will be unarmed and assist with infrastructure protection and crowd movement. They will only be utilized if absolutely necessary and we appreciate their efforts to help in this important work.”
Hundreds of people gathered outside Seattle Police Department headquarters midday Saturday, where speakers from the NAACP and ACLU spoke to the crowd. “Hands up, don’t shoot,†the group chanted.
Atlanta: 9 p.m. curfew established
Georgia’s governor declared a state of emergency early Saturday to activate the state National Guard. Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms signed an executive order Saturday establishing a 9 p.m. curfew “as a result of the recent acts of violence demonstrated throughout the city.”Â
The curfew ends at sunrise Sunday.Â
Brian Kemp tweeted that up to 500 members of the Guard would deploy immediately “to protect people & property in Atlanta.†He said he acted at the request of Bottoms, who earlier appealed for calm.
At least three officers were hurt and there were multiple arrests in Friday’s protests, Atlanta police spokesman Carlos Campos said.
— Associated Press
Pittsburgh: Protests become ‘volatile’Â
Pittsburgh police deployed gas on a group of thousands of demonstrators Saturday after a peaceful protest against turned destructive.
Pittsburgh Public Safety declared the situation an unlawful assembly.
“This follows repeated acts of violence, property damage and looting of businesses, which is ongoing. Residents please stay home. Businesses should close. If you are Downtown, leave the area,†officials tweeted.
Pittsburgh Public Safety tweeted just before 6 p.m. that police had deployed gas after the protest became “volatile.â€
— Daveen Rae Kurutz, The Beaver County Times
Petal, Mississippi: Mayor sorry for comments, won’t resign
Petal Mayor Hal Marx said he apologizes that comments he made have caused so much pain to the city he leads and its people, but he denies his comments were racist, and says he won’t resign.
Marx came under fire Tuesday when he tweeted he “didn’t see anything unreasonable” in the incident that led to the death of George Floyd.Â
“I admit that my comments on the recent tragic death of George Floyd in Minnesota were made in haste and not well-thought out or expressed,” he said. “Because of this, my words were taken out of the context in which they were meant. For that, I apologize.
“I apologize to those who found them to be insensitive, and I apologize to the people of our city.”
— Lici Beveridge, Mississippi Clarion Ledger
Providence, Rhode Island: A chorus of 1,000 voices
A chorus of nearly 1,000 voices shouted Floyd’s name from the State House lawn on Saturday.
“I’m tired of watching young black, brown, beautiful people dying,†said Gary Dantzler, an activist with Black Lives Matter Rhode Island, the group that organized Saturday’s rally. “White supremacy, we gotta end it.â€
– Madeleine List, Providence Journal
Lake Worth Beach, Florida: No violence
Shouting “I can’t breathe” and “Hands up, don’t shoot,†about 250 demonstrators stopped traffic downtown on Saturday in a march that joined nationwide demonstrations seeking justice for Floyd’s death.
Unlike rallies that have turned violent in Minneapolis, Los Angeles, New York and Atlanta, the march down Lake Avenue from Bryant Park to City Hall was orderly and largely peaceful.
-Â Joe Capozzi, Palm Beach Post
Sarasota, Florida: Teens decorate cars
At Sarasota City Hall, about 30 masked protesters from teens to seniors decorated their cars with messages condemning police brutality in light of Floyd’s death.Â
Emily Wunderlich, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Peoria, Illinois: ‘Fired up! Ready to go!’
A crowd of a few hundred marched for about a mile and a half in Peoria on Saturday afternoon, from the riverfront to the city’s police station and the courthouse, alternating call-and-response slogans, including “No justice, no peace; no racist police” and “Fired up! Ready to go!”
Most attendees wore masks or other face coverings, which organizers urged to abide by the state’s standing public health orders.Â
The peaceful demonstration of just more than two hours included participants chanting not only Floyd’s name, but also the names of Peoria men Eddie Russell Jr. and Luis Cruz, who were killed in police-involved shootings over the past three years.
New Orleans: ‘We are here in solidarity’
A crowd of close to 1,000 people gathered in heat at noon across the street from New Orleans City Hall carrying signs that read “No Justice No Peace†and “Say his name! George Floyd.” Within thirty minutes groups of people clustered across the park preparing to march out in three rows through the streets of downtown to the New Orleans Police headquarters several blocks away.Â
“I’m here to make them see we are here with Minneapolis — we are here in solidarity as a community,†said Andrew Miragliotta, who went to the rally with his wife Jenna Miragliotta. As organizers started leading the crowd in a chant of “No Justice No Peace”, Jenna Miragliottta said, “white silence is perpetuating this and it keeps happening. We are bringing our bodies, our voices to support and show up. Visibility matters.â€Â
The crowd was organized in three rows in an effort to social distance during the march. Most people wore masks.Â
– Maria Clark, The American South
Denver: 19 arrests
Police announced 19 arrests Saturday in Denver amid Floyd protests.
Visalia, California: ‘This is America’
Hundreds of protesters – from toddlers to adults – lined a highway, chanting “Black lives matter†and holding signs that said “justice for George Floyd†and “we will be the change.†One protester brought a portable speaker and played Childish Gambino’s “This is America.†Cars honked as they drove past.
-Â Vongni Yang, The Visalia Times Delta
Cincinnati: Curfew imposed
Cincinnati’s worst night of civil unrest in almost two decades gave way Saturday to calls for peaceful protests and an end to violence.
But even as businesses cleaned up the damage caused by vandals and looters Friday, police and city officials braced for the possibility of more trouble. Mayor John Cranley said the city will impose a 10 p.m. curfew Saturday and Sunday in an effort to tamp down unrest.
“We believe it’s prudent,” Cranley said of the curfew. “We will get through this.”
— Dan Horn, Sharon Coolidge, Madeline Mitchell and Alexander Coolidge, Cincinnati Enquirer
Columbus: Daytime protests more peaceful
For the third straight day, protesters converged on downtown Columbus to demonstrate over Floyd’s death. Saturday’s daytime protest drew more people — at least an estimated 2,000 — but was more peaceful than Friday night, when windows of many businesses were broken and protesters faced off with police until the early morning hours.
— By Lucas Sullivan, Beth Burger, Marc Kovac, The Columbus Dispatch
Rochester: ‘For over 400 years, we have been in pain’
Hundreds marched to the Public Safety Building in downtown Rochester on Saturday to honor victims of police brutality. Organizers asked participants to wear masks and practice social distancing.
“Four hundred years ago, a lie got told — the lie of white superiority and black inferiority,†said Melanie Funchess, the Director of Community Engagement for the Mental Health Association of Rochester/Monroe County. “For over 400 years, we have been in pain.â€Â
Some members of the crowd spray painted poles and other objects along the way; their actions were later denounced by organizers of the event. Rochester Police were present at the rally, but did not intervene. Some were armed and carried shields.
– Sarah Taddeo, USA TODAY Network
Dallas: Public Safety troops deployed
Texas Governor Greg Abbott deployed the state’s Department of Public Safety troops to help local police departments with protests in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Austin.
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Surveillance video in Minneapolis shows the first moments of George Floyd’s police interaction.
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Greenville, S.C.: Organizers encourage unity
More than 200 people gathered in Greenville on Saturday morning for a peaceful protest.
Dalores Bowens, one of the organizers, said the goal of the protest is to highlight the risks that black people, and others, face at times from police. But the big aim, she said, is to encourage unity and have a peaceful expression of anger and frustration.
– Mike Ellis, Eric Connor and Sarah Sheridan, Greenville News
Louisville: National Guard called after downtown vandalized
After a trail of vandalism across much of downtown Louisville, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear announced he’d send the National Guard to Louisville, calling it a step to “ensure the safety of everybody” and “help keep peace.”
Meanwhile, Mayor Greg Fischer said he is implementing a dusk-to-dawn curfew for future protests against the fatal police shooting of Taylor in March.
“What we have seen, especially last night, and what our intelligence says is going to happen tonight are outside groups moving in, trying to create violence to harm everybody who is on those streets,” said Beshear. “We cannot let Breonna’s legacy be marred by violence and we can’t let our streets turn violent.”
— Darcy Costello, Louisville Courier-Journal
Madison and Milwaukee: Tear gas disperses crowds
Gov. Tony Evers on Saturday authorized the Wisconsin National Guard to help respond to protests in Milwaukee, saying 125 guard members were made immediately available to local law enforcement.
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett announced a 9 p.m. curfew for the city Saturday. Barrett did not say if the curfew will extend past Saturday.
“We have to get control of our city tonight,” Barrett said. “We will have the curfew tonight, the National Guard tonight, and then we can reevaluate tomorrow. I think we want to be as prudent as we can be. We want to make sure that we’re doing everything we can to protect the people who live in this community.â€
Demonstrations in Milwaukee escalated to violence overnight, with police using tear gas to disperse crowds and several stores vandalized and looted.
More than a dozen businesses were damaged and about 50 people were arrested overnight Friday, Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales said Saturday in a news release. A Milwaukee police officer suffered a minor gunshot wound during the protests.
— Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel staff
Memphis: Megaphone shared with crowd
Peaceful protests are expected to continue Saturday evening, likely mirroring Friday’s 300-person protest.
The Friday gathering had a decidedly different energy than the two days prior, which were fraught with anger.
Rather than one person leading call-and-response style chants, Memphis pastor and activist DeVante Hill shared his megaphone with people in the crowd, giving anyone who wanted a chance to address the crowd.
Some people shared stories about their own fraught interactions with police. One woman sang to the crowd. One man simply asked the crowd to say out loud that Black Lives Matter.
— Desiree Stennett, Micaela A. Watts and Laura Testino, Memphis Commercial Appeal
Portland: State of emergency
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler announced a state of emergency Saturday morning after protests in the city intensified.
The state of emergency includes a curfew on Saturday beginning at 8 p.m. and running through 6 a.m. Sunday.
“Burning buildings with people inside, stealing from small and large businesses, threatening and harassing reporters,” he tweeted early Saturday morning. “This isn’t calling for meaningful change in our communities, this is disgusting.”
Tallahassee, Florida: Truck hits protesters
Scattered and largely peaceful demonstrations Saturday in Tallahassee were marred when a pickup truck allegedly hit a group of protesters.
Three white people in a red pickup truck with a Georgia license plate yelled at a crowd of Black Lives Matter protesters, then drove into the crowd, witnesses said. Some wound up on the hood of the car and may have shattered the windshield.
Tallahassee Mayor John E. Dailey later tweeted that “no one was seriously injured” and the driver of the vehicle was “immediately taken into custody.”Â
— Nada Hassanein, Jeff Burlew and James Call, Tallahassee Democrat
Wilmington, Delaware: Protesters block traffic
In Wilmington, Delaware, dozens of protesters blocked traffic on Interstate 95. Delaware State Police temporarily closed the interstate around 2 p.m. ET. At least one protester could be seen smashing the window of a police SUV, according to videos posted on social media.
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Police crack down on Minneapolis unrest after mayor blames cartels, white supremacists
Minneapolis police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to beat back protesters after the city’s mayor and the state governor blamed white supremacists, organized crime and even foreign agents for stoking days of violence.
Saturday is the fifth straight day of protests demanding justice for George Floyd, a black man who died in handcuffs with an officers knee on his neck on the streets of Minneapolis.
Officers fired tear gas and rubber bullets into the crowd of protesters to get them to disperse after the 8 p.m. curfew in the city.
Protesters hurled projectiles as they retreated and eventually broke up into smaller groups.
Reporters covering the clashes said on Twitter that police had fired on them. In a tweet from Molly Hennessy-Fiske of the Los Angeles Times, she said that police fired “tear gas canisters at point blank range,” after she and other reporters identified themselves as media.
Other reporters also tweeted that they had been fired on, including Ali Velshi of MSNBC and Michael George of CBS. George shared a photograph of CBS sound engineer John Marschitz, who was hit with a rubber bullet. George said that the press area was not within 500 feet of any protesters, and that the reporters had their credentials displayed and their cameras out.
Police in Minneapolis are firing on us (press) with rubber bullets. Our sound engineer John Marschitz was hit. He is ok. We were not standing within 500 feet of any protesters at the time, and we had credentials displayed and cameras out. #cbsnews pic.twitter.com/Ai6Qd8gLjz
— Michael George (@MikeGeorgeCBS) May 31, 2020
“I’m hit in the leg by a rubber bullet but am fine. State Police supported by National guard fired unprovoked into an entirely peaceful rally,” Velshi wrote.
I’m hit in the leg by a rubber bullet but am fine. State Police supported by National guard fired unprovoked into an entirely peaceful rally
— Ali Velshi (@AliVelshi) May 31, 2020
“I’m hit in the leg by a rubber bullet but am fine. State Police supported by National guard fired unprovoked into an entirely peaceful rally,” Velshi wrote.
Minneapolis is the epicenter of the unrest sweeping the United States. Governors and mayors imposed curfews on Saturday and deployed the National Guard to quell violence that has left buildings and cars ablaze, scores injured and at least two people dead.
President Donald Trump blamed the violence on left wing extremists and the radical group Antifa.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, both Democrats, said the violence was the work of people from outside the state.
“We are now confronting white supremacists, members of organized crime, out of state instigators, and possibly even foreign actors to destroy and destabilize our city and our region,” Frey wrote on Twitter without providing evidence.
We are now confronting white supremacists, members of organized crime, out of state instigators, and possibly even foreign actors to destroy and destabilize our city and our region.
— Mayor Jacob Frey (@MayorFrey) May 30, 2020
Walz said that as many as 80 percent of those arrested during the protests had come from outside Minnesota. He too blamed drug cartels and white supremacists. Mayor Melvin Carter of Minneapolis’ sister city St. Paul said that everyone arrested in his city had come from other states.
Scott Olson/Getty
However, data from the Hennepin County Jail’s do not appear to support those claims The data show that approximately 86 percent of those arrested related to the unrest live in Minnesota, according to KARE-TV. Minneapolis Police spokesman John Elder told the station he believes some of those arrested may have give false addresses to appear local.
On Saturday evening, Carter walked back his claim of out-of-state instigators and said he had been given inaccurate data. At the same press conference, Walz said his initial 80 percent estimate was based on intelligence information from law enforcement.
Newsweek reached out to Mayor Frey for comment. This story will be updated with any response.
Team management to budget, Bollywood gears up as new normal sets in
With the new normal setting in, Bollywood filmmaking will not be the same. New guidelines and restrictions — from on-set temperature checks to budget alterations — are bound to be in vogue if shooting and other production activities are to begin for films, TV and OTT shows once the lockdown is lifted.
Filmmaker Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari told IANS that there will be a change in the way the process of production is looked at.
“We are staying in unknown times of hope. Whenever shoot starts, there will be a change in the way we look at the process of production. A new normal where safety of all is the most important priority will be in place, according to the rule book of the Guild,” Tiwari told IANS.
“For all new productions, there may be a schedule revamp, whereby indoor locations with minimum requirement of cast and crew, and production elements will be accomplished first,” she added.
“Team management and processes will require special care and planning. This is not going to be easy. It is important to not take chances. Most importantly, everyone is required to be responsible for their team as well as,” said Tiwari.
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With the economy taking a dip, does she think budgets will have to be reworked?
“I assume budgets will be reworked and the allocation might increase in some areas. It’s not easy for production executives and producers, where the supply and demand chain, and managing of operations, will change — especially on a set which is used to seeing a chain of people on auto mode,” Tiwari said.
She added: “To be honest anyone will squirm before they start shooting, especially in Mumbai where the cases have risen. All of us are human and will be worried about the safety of everyone. Whenever shooting begins, I feel there will be a force of universe to protect everyone. People need to get paid and the river needs to flow with all safety measures in place. It is not going to be easy,” she said.
Actress Richa Chadha hopes that shooting will start with proper guidelines in place.
“I really don’t know what the shooting scenario will be post the pandemic but I am hoping with proper guidelines shoots can begin. I believe the Producers Guild has already sent a long set of guidelines saying how they plan to restart shoots slowly especially for television,” Chadha told IANS.
She agrees that there is a fear of uncertainty.
“Of course, there is a fear of uncertainty but that fear exists in every sector. So, I think we are all in this together and definitely there is uncertainty and definitely there is stuff to worry about. But I think we have to be optimistic and just take a pause and wait for stuff to settle down so that more lives are not endangered,” she added.
She urged to support the health infrastructure: “We need to support our health infrastructure by also taking due precautions, because there is already a shortage of beds and ventilators, and doctors have succumbed to the disease.”
Actress Jacqueline Fernandez feels the changes will take place slowly.
“Post the lockdown, I’m sure there will be change but it will happen gradually. Things will take time to get back to normal for everyone and not just for the entertainment industry. Till then, we should continue to stay safe at home,” Jacqueline told IANS.
Acclaimed actor Pankaj Tripathi told IANS that whatever rules are given by the higher authorities have to be followed by actors and workers alike.
“The guidelines given by the government, medical authorities and experts across the world — those will be the change we will get to see. Any guidelines — from WHO, the medical fraternity, doctors in India, the Maharashtra government, the film federation, CINTAA and our union — will be similar for actors as well as workers. We actors are also workers,” said Pankaj.
ALSO READ: Bollywood dancers in Delhi left at wits’ end, struggle to feed families
Actress Yami Gautam feels that budgets are going to be adjusted.
“Budgets are going to be reworked. Already, proposed films most of us were to be part of are looking at reworked budgets and mediums, with theatres being shut and with no idea when they will open,” Yami told IANS.
Safety is the key, she feels. “We will have to follow protocols, precautions and the fresh guidelines. We’ll have to wait and watch. Safety is the most important thing. I don’t think things will be resumed any time soon. Budgets, of course, are going to be curtailed and reworked, knowing that globally the economy is taking a hit. Content-wise, I can hope that this is the time people are using to write films about good subjects and fresh concepts. I hope content-wise we come out stronger,” she said.
Actress Purbi Joshi feels that films with big sets will be drained.
“There’s going to be a lot of changes in the near future where more precautions are going to be taken. The way we even film — big sets with many people coming and going might all be drained now,” Purbi told IANS.
Congolese fashion designer hosts first 3D fashion show on Instagram Live
The pandemic has changed the way business is done worldwide and the fashion industry is not getting left behind. Interestingly, the 3D fashion show was planned for a virtual release before the pandemic.
The 29-year-old designer is originally from the Democratic Republic of The Congo and is now based in Baltimore in the United States where she is a contemporary women’s wear designer and is the founder and lead designer at Hanifa, established in 2012. Her clothes have been warn by the likes of Kelly Rowland, Ciara and rapper Cardi B to name a few.
A tribute to the Congolese Cobalt mines
Mvuemba’s new line is titled the Pink Label Congo collection and is more than just a garment parade. It is a virtual show with a meaning.
A statement off the Hanifa website pertaining to the collection reads, “My hope is that this collection inspires all women to stand tall in their power and like the Democratic Republic of Congo, to use their history, whether pretty or painful — to redesign their future. My country, the land of Congo, is ripe with an abundance of natural resources — the greatest of which are its people — its women.â€
The fashion show started off with a clip depicting Mvuemba’s hometown in Congo focusing on the experiences of women and children working in the cobalt mines. The environment is pernicious and underaged children as well as women are often abused and work tirelessly under harsh conditions.
Everything in the Pink Label Congo collection has a tie to the Congo — from the vibrant colours to the fact that the line was created as a tribute to African seamstresses. The collection was created in mind with being a support able to benefit the families working in the mines.
You can watch the entire show @hanifaofficial IGTV.
This content has been created as part of our freelancer relief programme. We are supporting journalists and freelance writers impacted by the economic slowdown caused by #lockdownlife.
If you are a freelancer looking to contribute to The South African, read more here.
George Floyd: US protests over police brutality intensify – Live
- Another round of protests is gripping major cities across the United States against police brutality and violence, especially against unarmed Black people.Â
- Several states have called in National Guard troops to help quell the protests, with some turning violent with fires and looting. Cities nationwide have also implemented curfews, but protesters appear undeterred.Â
- Protesters in Minneapolis, Minnesota, have pledged to stay in the streets until all four officers involved in the death of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, are charged. Floyd died on Monday after a white officer pinned his neck to the ground. The officer – Derek Chauvin has been charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter. The other officers have not been charged.Â
- Trump orders Pentagon to put military police on alert, saying they may be deployed to Minnesota.Â
Latest updates:Â
Sunday, May 31
03:50 GMT – National Guard called in in DC
The National Guard has been called out in Washington, DC, as pockets of violence erupted during a second straight night of protests.
Hundreds of protesters converged on the White House during the day Saturday and marched on the National Mall, chanting “Black Lives Matter,†“I can’t breathe†and “No justice, no peace.†Those protests remained relatively peaceful.
Police used pepper spray to try to disperse the crowd but the standoff continued. Protesters dragged away barricades and some broke up concrete to use as projectiles. At one point, a trash bin was set on fire.
National Guard troops took up position around the White House on Saturday night.
03:45 GMT – Nearly 1,400 people arrested in 17 US cities
Police have arrested nearly 1,400 people in 17 US cities as protests continue over the death of George Floyd, according to the Associated Press news agency.
An Associated Press tally of arrests found at least 1,383 people have been arrested since Thursday. The actual number is likely higher as protests continue Saturday night.
03:00 GMT – NYC police drive into protesters
New York City Police Department cruisers drove into protesters who were pelting, pushing barricade against police car, knocking several to ground, video shared on Twitter showed.
The Associated Press news agency also reported on the incident
Warning: Graphic video
Wtf!!! #BlacklivesMaters #brooklynprotest pic.twitter.com/S1oet8JC0x
— Pierre G. (@pgarapon) May 31, 2020
02:50 GMT – Nashville mayor declares emergency as courthouse burns
The mayor of Nashville, Tennessee, has declared a state of civil emergency after protesters set a fire inside the Metro Courthouse in the state’s capital city.
Thousands had rallied near the Capitol building Saturday afternoon to peacefully protest police brutality and racism. But things turned violent after darkness fell, with protesters breaking windows in government buildings and causing other property damage.
People are setting the Metro City Hall on Fire #GeorgeFloydProtests #NashvilleProtest @FOXNashville pic.twitter.com/h58AFXkh5G
— AJ Abell (Fox17) (@aj_abell) May 31, 2020
The Tennessean newspaper says demonstrators also pulled down a statue outside the Capitol of Edward Carmack, a controversial former lawmaker and newspaper publisher who espoused racist views.
Police deployed tear gas and began warning demonstrators that the protest was unlawful.
Governor Bill Lee issued an order Saturday night for the National Guard to mobilize “in response to protests that have now taken a violent, unlawful turn in Nashville.”
02:15 GMT – Trump continues to attack Minneapolis leaders
Trump continued his attacks on Minneapolis city leaders as protests there continued for a fifth night.
“The National Guard has been released in Minneapolis to do the job that the Democrat Mayor couldn’t do,” he said as protests raged on in the city.
“Great job by the National Guard,” he tweeted. “No games!” he added, appearing to cheer on the tougher tactics being used by law enforcement around the country.
02:00 GMT – What Al Jazeera correspondents and reporters are seeing in major US cities
Gabriel Elizondo in New York City: “It’s pretty chaotic out here right now … Groups of protesters are really playing a cat and mouse game [with police] … Right now the bottom line is: New York City is really a city in the middle of fog right now because it’s really hard to make out exactly what’s happening
Natasha Ghoneim in Chicago, Illinois: “This moment is eerily reminiscent of another moment that the city of Chicago had and it won’t fade from it’s memory. That was in 2014 when the police shot and killed 17-year-old Laquan McDonald.” (Read more about that police killing here.)
Lucien Formichella in Minneapolis, Minnesota: “There was a tense moment here in Minneapolis earlier when what was believed to be a drunk man attempted to drive his car through the protest area. The situation was de-escalated by protesters, and the man was sent back. Protesters then erected a makeshift barricades to stop cars from driving down the street.”
Rob Reynolds in Los Angeles: “As night falls the stand off between protesters and police continue.”
Mike Hanna in Washington, DC: “The demonstrations here have been largely peaceful through the course of the day and indeed in the course of the evening. There had been some scuffles. At one stage demonstrators were being pushed back across the park in front of the White House, but generally the demonstrations have been relatively peaceful.”
01:45 GMT – More cities impose curfews
Eugene, Oregon, was the latest US city to impose a nightly curfew as protests over the death of George Floyd intensifies.
Eugene city officials enacted a 9pm Saturday curfew
Seattle and Portland, Oregon, also issued Saturday night curfews due to unrest.
Eugene is home to the University of Oregon.
01:30 GMT – Protests erupt in US West Coast
Protests on the West Coast of the US are rocking several cities
Washington Governor Jay Inslee activated up to 200 members of the National Guard to respond to protests, some violent, in downtown Seattle that forced the closure of Interstate 5 and the imposition of a citywide curfew.
Inslee said the guard personnel will be unarmed and be directed by Seattle officials, who requested the help to protect property and manage crowds who had gathered in response to the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
A woman gestures in front of police officers during a protest against the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd, in Los Angeles, California [Patrick T Fallon/Reuters]Â
The mayor of Seattle, Washington, meanwhile announced a 5pm curfew for Saturday following protests that spilled onto Interstate 5, forcing the freeway’s closure through the central part of the Northwest’s largest city.
The mayor of Portland, Oregon declared an 8pm curfew for Saturday after that city saw fiery protests Friday night.
00:40 GMT – Protesters in Minneapolis run after man believed to have a knife
Calls of “he’s got a knife” rang out as a large group of protesters, roughly 100, followed a man out of the protest.
Many in the group were yelling “let him go”. Before getting out of the parking lot where he was walking, another man ran up and sprayed him with what appeared to be mace.
“I saw somebody run that way after him, [onto Lake Street] but I don’t know if he got caught,” said one witness.
Calls of “he’s got a knife” rang out as a large group of protesters, roughly 100, followed a man out of the #Minneapolisprotest
Many in the group were yelling “let him go.” Before getting out of the parking lot, another man ran up and sprayed him with what appeared to be mace. pic.twitter.com/GYdsPhYQEE
— Lucien Formichella (@lucien_form) May 31, 2020
00:15 GMT – Protesters defy curfew in Minneapolis, other citiesÂ
Hundreds of protesters continued to rally in Minneapolis, even as a city-wide curfew took effect. Similar reports were coming from other cities across the US.Â
Protesters have told Al Jazeera that will stay in the streets and continue to rally at least until all four officers involved in the death of Floyd are arrested. They are also calling for police reforms.Â
Hundreds of people continued to rally in Minneapolis on Saturday after a curfew began [ Lucien Formichella/Al Jazeera]Â
00:05 GMT – Protests intensify in Texas
As anger over the death of Floyd intensified in Texas, Governor Greg Abbott said he was sending more than 1,500 state troopers to cities where demonstrations were taking place.
Abbott said in a news release Saturday that troopers are being sent to Houston, Dallas, Austin and San Antonio.
Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo says on Twitter that nearly 200 people were arrested Friday and most will be charged with obstructing a roadway as several protesters blocked an interstate and a highway.
Hundreds of protesters gathered in Austin on Saturday outside police headquarters and then marched along Interstate 35.
00:00 GMT – Protesters confront police in Chicago
Protesters were confronting police in Chicago, Illinois, for a second night as anger about police violence and the death of Floyd grew.
More than 100 arrests were made on Friday night in relation to the protests, police said.
Saturday, May 30
23:50 GMT – Protests grip New York City for third night
Protesters rallied in New York City for a third night on Saturday, marching and blocking traffic on the highway.
Several thousand peacefully protested in Union Square and outside Brooklyn’s Prospect Park. Later in the day, as protesters confronted police, video posted online showed officers pushing some protesters to the ground.
Big turnout outside Prospect Park for another #georgefloyd protest in Brooklyn, one of several happening across the city today. “Are we tired? No!/ Are we gonna stop? No!” pic.twitter.com/GKFOUBv6IZ
— Jake Offenhartz (@jangelooff) May 30, 2020
The mayor said he was upset by videos in which “protesters were handled very violently” by police and by reports that a state senator and member of the state Assembly were among the people sprayed with irritating chemicals by officers.
Dozens have been arrested over the three days of protest, according to authorities.
23:20 GMT – Protesters rally in Atlanta
Hundreds of people rallied outside the mansion of the governor of Georgia.
Video and photos shared on social media showed protesters blocking the road in front of the Atlanta building, chanted “hands up, don’t shoot!”
According to The Associated Post news agency, the governor, Brian Kemp, was not home on Saturday evening.
Protest outside Gov’s Mansion in Atlanta got a little testy a few minutes ago; crowd moved from the sidewalk to the street & blocked traffic. Now people are raising their hands #GeorgeFloydProtests pic.twitter.com/57SygLf6aI
— Beau Evans (@beauvans) May 30, 2020
Atlanta’s mayor has announced a 9pm (01:00 GMT) curfew in the city that will last until sunrise Sunday morning.
Protests turned violent as outrage over Floyd’s death intensified outside the headquarters of CNN on Friday night.
22:30 GMT – Minneapolis city leaders call for state’s attorney general to be named special prosecutor
Community leaders and organisers have told Al Jazeera they want Keith Ellison to handle the case as they do not trust Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman to do so.
Local media also reported that six of the city council’s 13 members have supported that call.
Ellison, who is Black and was also the first Muslim US congressman before being elected Minnesota attorney general, has good ties with the community, organisers have told Al Jazeera.
22:15 GMT – Protests erupt outside White House for second night
Protester have gathered outside the White House for a second night, demanding an end to police violence and to protest against US President Donald Trump, who has been accused of inciting and glorifying violence.
Trump said on Saturday that he is a “friend and ally to every American”.
“I stand before you in firm opposition to anyone exploiting this tragedy to loot, rob, attack and menace. Healing, not hatred, justice, not chaos are the missions at hand,” Trump said in Florida, where he was watching the launching of the SpaceX rocket.
Without evidence, the president has blamed “radical left” protesters for the violence.
The White House was placed on lockdown on Friday evening as protesters tore down barricades outside the White House. Those barricades were several feet in front the fence that surrounds the president’s residence.
22:25 GMT – Ohio calls in National Guard
The governor of Ohio has called in the National Guard to support local authorities as protests continue to rage in Columbus and Cleveland.
The mayors of both cities announced 10pm (02:00 GMT) curfews.
Governor Mike DeWine said Saturday that the vast majority of protesters want “simply to be heard” and focus attention on the death of Floyd.
But the governor adds that sadly the calls for justice and change are “being drowned out by a smaller group of violent individuals.” He says that “acts of violence cannot, and will not, be tolerated.”
Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther says he believes racism “is a public health and safety crisis” and he wants to see a more equitable city, but “we are now at a point that we can no longer tell who is protesting for change and an end to racism and who has only chaos and destruction in mind.”
22: 20 GMT – Denver imposes curfew
The mayor of Denver, Colorado, has ordered a nighttime a curfew as demonstrations protesting the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis entered a third day.
Mayor Michael Hancock said Saturday that the Colorado National Guard would help enforce the 8pm to 5am (02:00 – 11:00 GMT) curfew.
Downtown Denver has seen protests for two nights, with tense moments between demonstrators and police. Authorities have fired tear gas, flash grenades and pepper pellets. Some protesters have broken windows of businesses.
22:00 GMT -Â George Floyd protests: Minnesota fully mobilises National Guard
The governor of Minnesota, where protests have erupted over police brutality and the death of George Floyd during the last week, has fully mobilised the National Guard to Minneapolis for the first time in state history.
Governor Tim Walz said the deployment comes as part of an effort to help quell the protests, which have often started off peaceful before descending into chaos, with fires and looting – violence he largely blamed on outsiders.
Read more here.
A man reacts as he confronts National Guard members guarding an area of Minneapolis, Minnesota [Carlos Barria/Reuters]
Hello and welcome to Al Jazeera’s continuing coverage of the protests in the United States over the deadly arrest of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This is Ted Regencia in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Laurin-Whitney Gottbrath in Louisville, Kentucky, and Lucien Formichella in Minneapolis, Minnesota.Â
Here are a few things to get caught up:Â
- George Floyd, unarmed 46-year-old Black man, died on Monday after a white officer used his knee to pin Floyd’s neck to the ground for several minutes. Floyd can be heard on a bystander video repeatedly pleading with officers, saying “I can’t breathe.” He eventually goes motionless with the officer’s knee still on his neck. (You can read about the deadly incident here.)
- The four officers involved in the incident were fired. Derek Chauvin, the white officer, who pinned Floyd down has been arrested and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter. Protesters demand the three other protesters be charged as well.Â
- Protests – some violent – have since erupted nationwide as demonstrators rally for justice for Floyd and all unarmed Black people killed by police.Â
See the updates from Friday night’s protests here.Â
‘Community Transmission is Well-established’: ICMR Research Group Experts, Others Slam Govt’s Covid-19 Response
As India gears up to enter the next stage of lockdown with significant relaxations, public health experts have come down heavily on the government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. The experts also include two members of an ICMR research group constituted to handle the Covid-19 crisis, according to a report in The Indian Express.
A joint statement issued by Indian Public Health Association, Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine and Indian Association of Epidemiologists said: “It is unrealistic to expect that COVID-19 pandemic can be eliminated at this stage given that community transmission is already well-established across large sections or sub-populations in the country.â€
The government has, however, repeatedly said that no community transmission has taken place so far in India.
On Saturday, India’s COVID-19 death toll crossed the 5,000-mark and the case count reached 1.76 lakh after a record spike in numbers of new cases and fatalities, while the government said a phased exit would begin on June 1 from the months-long nationwide lockdown.
“India’s nationwide lockdown from March 25, 2020 till May 30, 2020 has been one of the most stringent; and yet COVID cases have increased exponentially through this phase… This draconian lockdown is presumably in response to a modeling exercise from an influential institution which was a ‘worst-case simulation,'” the statement said.
The signatories of the statement include Dr Shashi Kant, Professor & Head, Centre for Community Medicine AIIMS, New Delhi and Dr DCS Reddy, Former Professor & Head, Community Medicine, BHU. The two are part of an ICMR research group which was set up on April 6 on epidemiology and surveillance for Covid-19. Notably, Dr Reddy chairs the group.
The statement added that the subsequent events had proven that the predictions of this model were way off the mark.
“Had the Government of India consulted epidemiologists who had better grasp of disease transmission dynamics compared to modelers, it would have perhaps been better served…,†it said.
The statement further says that the handling of the migrant workers has added to the challenges in limiting the spread of Covid-19, the IE report added. The signatories make a range of recommendations, including the setting up of a panel of inter-disciplinary preventive health and public health experts and social scientists at central, state and district levels to tackle both public health and humanitarian crises.
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Bluffers guide: Is the drive-in making a comeback?
They seem like such a fun way to watch movies. They always have been, though generally more fun in warmer months than mid-winter. The heyday in Sydney was the 1960s to the early ’80s – a time of post-war prosperity and big cars. There were Skyline drive-ins at Frenchs Forest, Dundas, Chullora, North Ryde, Liverpool, Warriewood, Caringbah, Fairfield, Matraville, Parklea, Bass Hill, Penrith and Blacktown. But gradually the lustre wore off as colour TV, videos and clubs showing movies became competition and the land became more valuable to developers. Blacktown is the last one standing.
There’s a lot of nostalgia around them. They are definitely icons of popular culture, famously featuring in such movies as Grease and Twister. In 1986, a Peter Carey short story was turned into the Australian film Dead-End Drive-In.
Were they as good as everyone remembers? They were great for young couples wanting to get close. Great for parents with kids who could wear their pyjamas and fall asleep before the movie finished. Great if you like to talk or smoke during a movie. Great if you like two movies for the price of one. Great for a different kind of movie experience. People really did try to sneak in so ticket-sellers would check the back seat and look for a low hanging boot and telltale fingermarks at the front gate. And when the movie finished, staff knew that someone was always bound to have fallen asleep, someone else would need a jump start and at least one couple would not have realised the movie had finished.
But … Back in the day, drive-ins were always stronger on atmospherics than sound and picture quality. The food was more bowling alley standard than fine dining: steak sandwiches, chicken burgers, Pluto pups and donuts. In winter, it always seemed like a long cold walk to buy a drink or use the rest rooms. When it was cold and misty, you had to turn on the engine to run the demister or get out to wipe the windscreen. There always seemed to be a crush to get out after the movie. And if you want to drink, you’ll need a designated driver.
Surely it would make sense to open some new drive-ins, maybe using other carparks, industrial sites, sports fields or even racecourses that don’t get used at night? You would think there would be a market for what the American industry calls “ozoners” – as opposed to “hardtops” – screening new releases, especially in summer. But maybe open-air cinemas will always win out for comfort, atmosphere and quality food.
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Will Skyline Blacktown get a boost now that it’s open again? Event’s director of entertainment Luke Mackey predicted “we’ll see a resurgence for sure” a week ago and that’s been borne out already. The first two nights sold out for restricted numbers for two movies that had their cinema runs interrupted by COVID-19: Sonic The Hedgehog and Bloodshot. Given the lack of other entertainment options away from the couch, it’s likely to be continue being popular even while it can only screen older movies.
Are there plans for any others? Mackay says Event is always looking for opportunities but there are no plans for any more drive-ins.
So the comeback is probably a novelty? If the country’s biggest chain isn’t backing a revival as the nation emerges from lockdown, sadly it looks like it.
Samsung aims to kill server CPUs with this special new SSD
At this week’s OCP Global Summit, Samsung disclosed more information about a new type of solid state drive (SSD) it’s working on – one that only makes sense in a data center context, for now.
When it comes to flash memory, the most common configuration in data centers worldwide is JBOF (or just a bunch of flash), which uses NVMe SSD storage attached to PCIe switches, processors and NICs (network interface cards). There are two rather significant issues with this system, to do with the lack of scalability of the storage controller and limited bandwidth; a classic case of too many middlemen.Â
EBOF – or Ethernet SSD Bunch of Flash, as Samsung puts it – aims to solve this issue by putting the Ethernet ports (two of them for redundancy) on the SSDs themselves.
These are not your usual Ethernet ports, however, as each supports a staggering 25Gbps – about 25x what most Gigabit interfaces can achieve. Unsurprisingly, that’s only available in a standard SSD (i.e. 2.5-inch), rather than the smaller M2 form factors.
Samsung claims the E-SSD drive will achieve PCIe Gen4x4 performance, or about 1500K IOPS at 4K random read. What’s even more spectacular, though, is that the performance of the drive scales in an almost linear fashion.
Based on the chart provided by the company, 24 NVMe drives will be about 7.5x faster than a single NVMe drive, whereas the same number of NVMe-oF SSDs will be about 23x faster than a single drive.Â
Removing the CPU, networking and other bottlenecks means lower latency, higher bandwidth, lower cost, better performance and potentially big TCO savings. Great news for data center operators, but not so great for everyone else in hardware procurement.