George Floyd protests spread nationwide

By Melissa Macaya, Mike Hayes, Fernando Alfonso III, Daniella Diaz, Jessie Yeung, Steve George, Ivana Kottasová and Nick Thompson, CNN

Updated 8:56 p.m. ET, May 30, 2020
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6:32 p.m. ET, May 29, 2020

Trump says he's spoken to George Floyd's family members

From CNN's Maegan Vazquez 

Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images
Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images

President Trump said Friday that he’s spoken to the family of George Floyd.

“I want to express our nation’s deepest condolences and most heartfelt sympathies to the family of George Floyd,” Trump said during a roundtable event at the White House.

Trump said it was “a terrible, terrible thing that happened,” before adding that he’s ordered the Justice Department to expedite a federal investigation into the matter.

“It’s a local situation but we’re also making it into a federal situation and it’s a terrible thing. We all saw what we saw and it’s very hard to even conceive of anything other than what we did see,” Trump remarked, adding it “should never be allowed to happen, a thing like that.”

“I spoke to members of the family — terrific people. And we’ll be reporting as time goes by,” he continued.

Watch here:

5:07 p.m. ET, May 29, 2020

Los Angeles Police Department to take enforcement action on violent protesters

From CNN's Sarah Moon

 LAPD officers stand guard outside the Police Headquarters  in Los Angeles on Thursday, May 28.
LAPD officers stand guard outside the Police Headquarters in Los Angeles on Thursday, May 28. Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images

The Los Angeles Police Department will take enforcement action on anyone who endangers fellow peaceful protesters, police officers, and the general public, the department said Friday.

Since the death of George Floyd, large crowds of protesters have been gathering in Los Angeles, particularly near downtown Los Angeles where the LAPD headquarters is located.

“While the vast majority of individuals in Los Angeles have expressed those views in a peaceful manner, we have witnessed an increasing level of violence and property damage committed by small number of detractors,” LAPD said. “The violence involved dangerous projectiles directed at our people as well as some property damage to businesses in the area."

Demonstrators were seen on the 101 freeway blocking roads and attacking California Highway Patrol cruiser vehicles on Wednesday. The protests continued for a second night in front of the LAPD headquarters on Thursday.

“We stand with our communities and rebuke any instance of police brutality as well as acts of violence or property damage,” LAPD Chief Michael Moore said.

4:59 p.m. ET, May 29, 2020

Illinois governor says Trump's failure to address racism in America is "stoking the flames"

From CNN’s Jennifer Henderson

Illinois Office of the Governor
Illinois Office of the Governor

During his daily news briefing today, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker was asked by a reporter if he had a message for the President following his tweets concerning Minneapolis, the devastation that happened there and the arrest of the officer.

“Well, I have a lot, I'd like to say, but let me begin by saying that from the very moment that I announced my decision to run for governor, three plus years ago, I said that this President was a racist, a misogynist, a homophobe, a xenophobe, and I was right then and I'm right now,” Pritzker said.

He continued: “His tweets, his reaction, his failure to address the racism that exists in America, his stoking the flames in sometimes subtle and sometimes not so subtle ways is completely unacceptable. It's reprehensible in fact, and I'm, I'm, you know, I'm outraged by what he does in response to these situations.”

He added that there is "so much that we need to accomplish in this country but especially we need to address the underlying racism that clearly exists."

4:49 p.m. ET, May 29, 2020

FBI asks public for photos or videos surrounding George Floyd’s death

The FBI requested the public's help today for photos and videos surrounding the death of George Floyd.

Floyd's death this week sparked protests across the country after video emerged that shows the 46-year-old black man handcuffed and on the ground saying, "I can't breathe," as a police officer holds him down with a knee on his neck.

 

4:49 p.m. ET, May 29, 2020

Minneapolis mayor imposes 8 p.m. curfew through the weekend

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey is imposing a nighttime curfew throughout the city beginning at 8 p.m. CDT tonight that will extend through the weekend and last until 6 a.m., according to a proclamation from the mayor’s office.

The resolution forbids anyone besides specified public safety personnel and other essential workers from being in public places from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. CDT (9 p.m. to 7 a.m. EDT) Friday and Saturday nights.

The announcement follows days of protests that have gripped the city over the death of George Floyd.

4:01 p.m. ET, May 29, 2020

Ohio governor says protests are "not only understandable, but they are also appropriate"

From CNN's Sonia Moghe

The Ohio Channel
The Ohio Channel

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said he regrets not addressing the George Floyd death at a news conference, saying he was focused on Covid-19 updates. 

“I regret I didn’t make a comment yesterday when we had a regularly scheduled press conference,” DeWine said. “Candidly I was focused on Covid-19 and testing. Which has been occupying pretty much all my waking hours. Its not an excuse it’s a fact.” 

DeWine called the Floyd video “horrific,” and said that he cannot begin to imagine what African American families feel about the video. DeWine said he supports protesters’ right to assemble but asks Ohioans to do it peacefully. 

“Protests expressing outrage are not only understandable, but they are also appropriate,” he said at a news conference Friday. “I ask my fellow Ohio citizens today as you gather in protest in the coming days regardless of the issue please do so peacefully. We must not fight violence with more violence. When protests turn violent lives are put at stake.”

DeWine said he did not have an estimate for damage caused to the Ohio Statehouse during the Floyd protests Thursday night.  

DeWine said he anticipates more protests in the coming days in cities throughout the state. 

3:33 p.m. ET, May 29, 2020

Floyd was "non-responsive" for nearly 3 minutes before officer took knee off his neck, complaint says

From CNN's Hollie Silverman

The combined effect of George Floyd being restrained by the police, along with his underlying health conditions and any potential intoxicants in his system, "likely contributed to his death," according to the criminal complaint for former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin.

Floyd had underlying health conditions, including coronary artery disease and hypertensive heart disease, the complaint said, citing a preliminary autopsy conducted by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner.

Chauvin had his knee on Floyd's neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds in total, and 2 minutes and 53 seconds after Floyd was unresponsive, the complaint said.

The complaint noted that police are trained that this type of restraint with a subject in a "prone position is inherently dangerous."

Floyd's autopsy also found "no physical findings that support a diagnosis of traumatic asphyxia or strangulation."

The autopsy was included in the criminal complaint released by the Hennepin County Attorney's Office in the arrest of Chauvin.

Chauvin has been charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter, according to Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman.

4:42 p.m. ET, May 29, 2020

Trump didn't say anything about Minneapolis during his afternoon news conference

Alex Brandon
Alex Brandon

President Trump didn't mention the protests happening in Minneapolis and across the US during his news conference at the White House this afternoon.

Instead, Trump announced that he's terminating US relations with the World Health Organization.

Trump did not take questions from reporters.

The news conference comes hours after Twitter flagged Trump's tweets about the protests– that suggested shooting looters — saying it violated the platform's rules.

Twitter affixed a warning label to tweets, marking the first time such action has been taken against the accounts. The tweet is now hidden by a notice from Twitter –– but is still viewable.

CNN's Jim Acosta reports from the White House: 

2:52 p.m. ET, May 29, 2020

Attorney general says he is confident "justice will be served" in George Floyd death

From CNN's Evan Perez

Doug Mills-Pool/Getty Images/FILE
Doug Mills-Pool/Getty Images/FILE

In his first comments on the death of George Floyd, Attorney General William Barr said, “The video images of the incident that ended with death of Mr. Floyd, while in custody of Minneapolis police officers, were harrowing to watch and deeply disturbing.”

Barr noted that the state prosecutor has been conducting an investigation looking into whether criminal charges under state law are appropriate, according to a statement.

Barr noted that “on a separate and parallel” track, the Justice Department, including the FBI, “are conducting an independent investigation to determine whether any federal civil rights laws were violated. Both state and federal officers are working diligently and collaboratively to ensure that any available evidence relevant to these decisions is obtained as quickly as possible.”

Officials have said the Justice Department is conducting the investigation.

“This process is proceeding quickly. As is the typical practice, the state’s charging decisions will be made first. I am confident justice will be served,” Barr said.