https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/george-floyd-death-protests-unrest-disorder-2020-06-03/ “ Protests are continuing across the United States – and worldwide – more than a week after the death of George Floyd. Demonstrations on Tuesday were largely peaceful, with occasional but less intense clashes between protesters and law enforcement. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Wednesday he opposes invoking the centuries-old Insurrection Act to deploy active-duty troops to states to quell protests. His stance directly contradicts President Trump, who threatened on Monday to send the military to states that are unable to "dominate the streets" in response to large demonstrations. Overnight curfews aimed at containing violence and looting are in effect this week in cities across the country. ”
As protests continue, so does the coronavirus WASHINGTON — As the country turned its attention to one crisis, it turned away from another. In the last 24 hours, there were nearly 20,000 confirmed coronavirus cases inside the United States, as well as more than 1,000 reported deaths — bringing the total to nearly 107,000 Americans killed by the virus. And the question becomes: Is the lack of social distancing in cities across the country going to lead to a spike in new cases?
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/new-zealanders-perform-haka-in-front-of-us-consulate-for-black-lives-matter?fbclid=IwAR2Ztn6HElbht8YISVOLQURsrYoZPec6hf1NheOllbiMYci5ceVHAykFaJ8 New Zealanders perform haka in front of US consulate for Black Lives Matter
The city (and federal district) of Washington DC painted this on the city street. Here it is visible from space. Mayor Muriel Bower named the park opposite the White House “Black Lives Matter Square” and evicted the groups of prison guards and Utah National Guard from the city. They were involved with suppressing the protests and did not wear identification.
https://www.defenseone.com/threats/...nmarked-security-forces-dc-spark-fear/165892/ Who Are They? Unmarked Security Forces in DC Spark Fear The presence of unmarked federal law enforcement officers, dressed in paramilitary uniforms and wearing no identifying insignia, quickly spread among protesters marching through Washington, D.C.’s streets on Tuesday and Wednesday, causing concerned protesters and officials to ask: Who are they? In some locations, security personnel refused to identify themselves to journalists and protesters who asked which agency sent them, answering only that they worked for the federal government. In other places, they identified themselves as working for the Department of Justice. Some carried rifles, or were equipped with body armor, riot shields, and pepper spray canisters. Two such clad security members in Washington on Tuesday night identified themselves to Defense One as part of a specialized emergency response force run by the Bureau of Prisons — part of the Justice Department — to help maintain security at correctional facilities. They and others are part of what’s known as the bureau’s Special Operations Response Teams, or SORTs. NPRreported on Monday that Attorney General Bill Barr had ordered BOP to send its specialized riot response teams to assist with the local D.C. law enforcement with the civil unrest that has engulfed downtown Washington this week. On Wednesday, protesters, former national security officials, and legal analysts raised alarms about the refusal of these units to identify their specific agency, and the legal authority under which they are operating. Some critics compared the units to “little green men” — a reference to the unmarked Russian soldiers who appeared in Crimea, Ukraine, prior to its 2014 annexation by the Russian Federation and were compared to the classic plastic toy soldiers. A few of the personnel in Washington on Tuesday wore patches identifying them as BOP or SORTs, but many did not. “There is no generic DOJ police force, obviously. No badges, no identifying info, refusal to say who they represent — it’s like Russia’s little green men have taken over the nation’s capital,” tweeted Matt Miller, a former DOJ spokesman under President Barack Obama. .... Other analysts expressed concerns that tactical teams trained to deal with prison riots by inmates may not know how to cope with civilian unrest on city streets. ... BOP officers “are trained for specific missions in specific conditions quite different from working with U.S. civilians—convicted of no crime—exercising their protected 1st A rights,”
