What’s going on and how did we get here? Violent protests have been raging across the country for a week after George Floyd, a black man, 46, was killed (murdered) by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin on Monday, May 25, while Chauvin was trying to subdue Floyd with his knee on Floyd’s neck.
The independent autopsy [released June 1] says Floyd died of “asphyxiation from sustained pressure” when his neck and back were compressed by Minneapolis police officers during his arrest last week. The pressure cut off blood flow to his brain, that autopsy determined….The officer had his knee on Floyd’s neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds in total and two minutes and 53 seconds after Floyd was unresponsive, according to the criminal complaint against Chauvin, who faces charges in the death.
Source: CNN
Today, President Trump stirred the pot.
An active duty military police battalion consisting of 200 to 250 military personnel is now in the process of deploying to Washington, DC, and could be in the nation’s capital as soon as tonight, three US defense officials tell CNN.
Source: CNN
And he put the rest of the United States on notice. He threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act of 1807.
Declaring himself “your president of law and order,” President Donald Trump vowed Monday to return order to American streets using the military if widespread violence isn’t quelled
Source: CNN
But, the world is paying attention and they support the protests 100%.
Global Anger Grows Over George Floyd Death, and Becomes an Anti-Trump Cudgel
Source: NY Times
The criticism thundered from the streets of Berlin, London, Paris and Vancouver, to capitals in Africa, Latin America and the Middle East.
Meanwhile, Governor Greg Abbott deployed the Texas National Guard to major cities in Texas, and today he declared a State of Disaster across all counties in Texas.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott declared a State of Disaster for all Texas counties after violent protests endangered public safety and threatened property loss and damage. This declaration gives the Governor the ability to designate federal agents to serve as Texas Peace Officers.
Source: News 4 San Antonio
I don’t see this ending well for anyone.
Oh yeah, Texas also had a record number of COVID19 cases for one day on Sunday: 1,949. And, there’s a tropical depression brewing off of the Yucatan peninsula.
Update 6/8/2020
Thousands pay tribute to George Floyd at public viewing in Houston
Update 6/10/2020
Even Texas A&M has felt the hatred of protesters. The Sul Ross statue was vandalized overnight with a rainbow-colored wig and graffiti – someone sprayed the words BLM, ACAB, and racist (and graphic depictions of the male sexual organ) on the statue with red paint.
Lawrence Sullivan “Sully” Ross was a Brigadier General during the Civil War and commander of the Texas Cavalry Brigade. After the war, he served as a Texas state senator, governor of Texas and, ultimately, president of the troubled Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas, which eventually became Texas A&M University.
Source: KBTX.com
Organizers of the local Black Lives Matter group posted on Facebook that no one in their group did this.
Since the George Floyd protests started there has been a petition going around to remove the statue. Petitioners and protestors plan a peaceful protest on Saturday June 13, where they’ll walk from the administration building to the statue. Counter protesters (Aggies who want to keep the statue) say they’ll be a the statue on Saturday as well.