Updated on Sunday, June 6
‘The Latest News’ is a weekly thread where we update our readers on events that affect our communities.
Coronavirus Death Toll Reached 400,000 Worldwide as Countries Reopen
Coronavirus deaths worldwide officially reached 400,000, although the real toll is likely much higher. In Latin America, several deaths are likely going unreported, according to CNN. Still, the official toll is high: in Brazil, the total number of deaths is expected to reach 50,000 by June 20. Meanwhile, that country’s president, Jair Bolsonaro, ordered his government to stop counting total Covid-19 deaths and instead only report daily cases and deaths.
Meanwhile, many cities across Europe and the United States have begun to reopen. For the first time in months, main squares in cities like Madrid and Rome had near-normal pedestrian traffic. In Paris, cafes and restaurants are now open, albeit with social distancing guidelines. Still, travel across borders is still restricted in most places.
L.A. Pride’s ‘Solidarity March’ Faced Backlash for Potentially Cooperating with Police
When all in-person Pride events were cancelled during the Covid-19 pandemic, there was little hope of any celebration or protest taking place by June. That changed this week, when the organizers of L.A. Pride announced that they would hold a solidarity march alongside Black Lives Matter protestors on June 14.
“We have decided to peacefully assemble a protest in Hollywood,” they wrote.
Together With Pride pic.twitter.com/7131G6FdAF
— LA Pride (@lapride) June 3, 2020
Shortly after the announcement, Jeff Consoletti, the organizer of the event, posted a letter he sent to the LAPD on June 2 ensuring that the march would be peaceful and pointed out that “for the past 50 years, we have demonstrated a strong and unified partnership with law enforcement.” The post quickly drew criticism because Consoletti was appealing to the police force, the very organ that the Black Lives Matter movement is fighting.
On Friday night, Consoletti posted a statement on Instagram apologizing for ever involving the LAPD and announced that he would withdraw from organizing the event.
“I apologize and now see that these actions demonstrate the type of privileged, passive, and systemic issues that permeate society today,” he wrote.
Minneapolis Banned Police Chokeholds
On Friday, the city of Minneapolis banned the use of chokeholds by its police force following nationwide protests against police brutality.
Chokeholds have long been controversial among police departments and were banned in both L.A. and New York City. Despite its ban, the lack of police accountability has allowed the practice to continue without scrutiny. Most notably, Daniel Pantaleo, the NYPD officer who killed Eric Garner in 2014 through the use of a chokehold, faced no federal charges.
Other cities, including San Diego and Sacramento, also moved this week to ban police tactics that could lead to suffocation, according to the New York Times.
All Four Police Officers Involved in George Floyd Death Have Been Charged
On Wednesday, all four police officers who were involved in the death of George Floyd were charged with “aiding and abetting” second-degree murder, according to CNN. In addition, charges against Derek Chauvin, the police officer who pressed his knee against Floyd’s neck and killed him, have been raised to second-degree murder.
The other officers facing charges are Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao. The three officers, who had previously not faced charges, are being held on $1 million bail.
The NYPD Trapped Hundreds of Protestors on the Manhattan Bridge
As the first night of an 8pm curfew descended upon New York City, hundreds of protestors marched from the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn towards the Manhattan Bridge. As they got on the bridge, the NYPD surrounded protesters on both ends, where they were trapped for at least two hours.
Protestors are now pinned on the bridge both ways pic.twitter.com/Axsc4EBhZz
— Sandra E. Garcia (@S_Evangelina) June 3, 2020
The standoff continues. Helicopter circling overhead. Protesters intermittently chant at police pic.twitter.com/PZYBdWIOLl
— Allan Smith (@akarl_smith) June 3, 2020
Overall, there was less looting than in previous days and 200 people were arrested.
On Friday, Trump hid in a bunker during protests outside of the White House
As protests against the murder of George Floyd and police brutality raged outside of the White House on Friday, President Donald Trump was rushed into a bunker usually reserved for times of terrorist threats. Trump spent an hour in the bunker, according to the AP. Instead of calling for unity and peace, Trump later called for more police force in response to the protests and said he would label the movement ANTIFA- short for “Anti-Fascists”- a terrorist organization.
On Monday morning, the hashtag #BunkerBoy was trending on Twitter in reference to the news that Trump hid inside a bunker.
BREAKING: Man who thinks a mask makes him look weak is now hiding in a bunker.
— Randi Mayem Singer (@rmayemsinger) June 1, 2020
Lights out in the White House under Obama and then under #BunkerBoy pic.twitter.com/SFyo2by4B2
— Cherie Boeneman (@crbones) June 1, 2020
