Unrest over Floyd killing escalates, 40 US cities under curfew

Washington, June 1

The US remained a tinderbox of anger and emotion as violent protests erupted for the sixth day across the country over the custodial killing of African-American George Floyd, resulting in the death of at least five people, the arrest of thousands and placing of curfew in nearly 40 cities, while forcing President Donald Trump to take shelter in a White House bunker.

Considered to be the worst-ever civil unrest in the US in decades, the violent protests have engulfed at least 140 cities across America in the days following the death of Floyd, a 46-year-old man who was pinned to the ground in Minneapolis on Monday by a white police officer who kneeled on his neck as he gasped for breath.

Some of the protests have turned violent, prompting the activation of the National Guard in at least 20 states.

The police have arrested at least 2,564 people in two dozen US cities over the weekend.

The unrest initially began in Minneapolis in Minnesota, but has now spread across the country, with reports of violence coming in from across major cities, including Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Houston, Philadelphia and Washington DC.

The police fired tear gas near the White House on Sunday night to dissuade protesters who had smashed the windows of prominent buildings, overturned cars and set fires.

Trump made no public appearances on Sunday, but in a series of tweets he blamed the media for fomenting hatred and anarchy in the country. PTI

‘Will designate Antifa terrorist group’

Washington: US President Donald Trump has said America will designate far-left extremist group Antifa as a terrorist organisation in view of its role in violence across the country after the killing of a black man by a white police officer in Minnesota. Antifa, regarded as a militant, left-wing, anti-fascist political activist movement in the US, comprises autonomous activist groups that aim to achieve their political objectives through the use of direct action rather than through policy reforms. PTI