May 31 George Floyd protest news

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12:06 p.m. ET, May 31, 2020

A cyberattack was carried out against Minnesota state computers, governor says

From CNN's Melissa Alonso

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz says state computers were attacked on Saturday. 

"Before our operation kicked off last night, a very sophisticated denial of service attack on all state computers was executed," Walz said this morning during a news briefing.

"That's not somebody sitting in their basement," Walz said.

According to Walz, the cyberattack was sophisticated but it's not clear who was responsible at this time.

 

3:03 p.m. ET, May 31, 2020

Minnesota extends curfew through Sunday night

From CNN's Melissa Alonso

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks during a news conference in St. Paul, Minnesota, on May 29.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks during a news conference in St. Paul, Minnesota, on May 29. Glenn Stubbe/Pool/Star Tribune/AP

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has extended the state's current curfew into Sunday evening.

Walz announced this morning that some of the "operational moves" will also continue Sunday, "like the closing of the major highways," Walz said. 

"We are not done yet," the governor said. 

The curfew is for all public places from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. CT in Minneapolis and St. Paul.

3:41 p.m. ET, May 31, 2020

More than 40 people arrested during protests and unrest in Tampa, Florida

From CNN's Chuck Johnson

A protester walks through smoke while filming Hillsborough County sheriff's deputies in Tampa, Florida, on May 30.
A protester walks through smoke while filming Hillsborough County sheriff's deputies in Tampa, Florida, on May 30. Octavio Jones/Tampa Bay Times

More than 40 people were arrested in Tampa, Florida, on Saturday night during protests.

Those arrested were charged with burglary and carrying concealed firearms, among other offenses, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said at a news conference on Sunday.

“Forty-one adults and juveniles were arrested by the end of the night,” Castor said.

Twenty seven police cars were damaged and 40 businesses were burglarized or looted, five of which were set on fire.

One officer sustained a minor burn when mortars were set off toward officers, Tampa Police Chief Brian Dugan said. 

“Chief Dugan and I marched alongside each of you yesterday afternoon because we share your anger over the death of George Floyd,” Castor said.

12:03 p.m. ET, May 31, 2020

"Large number" of arrests made Saturday for weapons violations, Minnesota official says

WCCO
WCCO

Minnesota Public Safety Commissioner John Harrington said a "large number" of the arrests made during protests Saturday night were for weapons violations.

Officers reported cars with no license plates or headlights driving through neighborhoods, Harrington said at a news briefing Sunday.

When officers approached the cars, they found rocks and other weapons that were being driven to protest sites so "more damage and more assaults could take place," he said.

"We took AR-15s off of people, we took guns off of people," Harrington said. 

Harrington said some of those cars were stolen locally.

He said authorities took a "new operational approach" to responding to violet protests in Minneapolis and St. Paul by creating a coordinated group of public safety and law enforcement entities.

Fast-moving teams were sent to targets deemed of "high value" and of "high probability of attack," he said. Harrington said the public safety group worked with the community to identify where some of those targets could be.

According to Harrington, the goal was to get to these targets fast and "stop the violence" right away.

"We took action to make sure people's safety was protected," he said.

By about 2 a.m. there were about 25 arrests on the Hennepin County side and "about 30 arrests on the Ramsey County side," Harrington said.

Since then, "another 40 or 50 arrests that were made," according to Harrington. Specific charges were not mentioned.  

11:02 a.m. ET, May 31, 2020

Rep. Ilhan Omar addresses Minneapolis protests and accuses Trump of "glorifying violence"

From CNN's Rebecca Grandahl and Nicky Robertson

Rep. Ilhan Omar speaks during a press conference on May 30.
Rep. Ilhan Omar speaks during a press conference on May 30. Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Democratic congresswoman who represents Minneapolis, said she thought the Minneapolis community felt safe last night knowing that their businesses and homes would not be burned in protests because of the National Guard presence.

However, she said there were many people who chose not to abide by the city's curfew last night and were “terrorized by the presence of tanks, by the presence of the National Guard and a militarized police.” 

"What we are trying to do is try to figure out something between extreme aggression and ways to figure out how to not get our city burned down,” Omar said in an interview on ABC.

Omar criticized people setting businesses and buildings on fire in Minneapolis, and said those people are “not interested in protecting black lives,” because, by setting fires, “you risk the community that you’re standing up for.”

Beyond Minnesota: Omar called for nationwide reforms to policing and for the other officers involved in the death of George Floyd to have charges brought against them.

She said President Trump has “failed in really understanding the kind of pain and anguish many of his citizens are feeling.”

Omar accused Trump of “really glorifying violence” in his tweets yesterday. She said that “we condemn other nations when their presidents make those kind of statements” and emphasized the need to “condemn our President at the highest sort of condemnation.”

11:06 a.m. ET, May 31, 2020

Chicago shuts down central business district to only business owners and residents

From CNN’s Brad Parks

A Chicago Police Department SUV burns near State and Lake in the Loop in Chicago on May 30.
A Chicago Police Department SUV burns near State and Lake in the Loop in Chicago on May 30. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Chicago Sun-Times via AP

The city of Chicago has announced it is closing the central business district and loop area to only employees whose businesses are located in the business and residents who live in the central business district due to demonstrations.

 "The City of Chicago today announced new precautionary measures to further ensure the health and safety of residents and the hundreds of peaceful protestors participating in rallies this Sunday," Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot's office said in a news release. "As part of these efforts, the city announced that multiple routes to the Central Business District will be temporarily reduced today following multiple public safety incidents and property damage that occurred overnight."
11:00 a.m. ET, May 31, 2020

Minnesota governor apologizes to journalists who were detained during protests

From CNN's Melissa Alonso

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks on May 29.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks on May 29. Glenn Stubbe/Star Tribune via AP

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz apologized to journalists everywhere after they were detained Saturday night. 

"I want to once again extend my deepest apologies, to the journalists who were once again in the middle of this situation were inadvertently, but nevertheless, detained, to them personally and in to the news organizations and to journalists everywhere," Walz said at a news briefing Sunday.

"It is unacceptable. I said when it happened the other day when I failed you. I have to do better, I continue to need to do and send that message. I take full responsibility for that," said Walz.

10:52 a.m. ET, May 31, 2020

Demonstrators rally in Europe in solidarity with US protesters

From CNN's Laura Smith-Spark

People gather in Trafalgar Square in London to take part in a Black Lives Matter protest on May 31.
People gather in Trafalgar Square in London to take part in a Black Lives Matter protest on May 31. Dominic Lipinski/PA Images via Getty Images

US protesters' anger and concern over the death of George Floyd has resonated in some countries in Europe.

Crowds gathered in central London's Trafalgar Square to protest against racism and police brutality, despite social distancing rules intended to limit the spread of coronavirus. People in England are not meant to meet with more than one person outside their household at a time until June 1.

Some demonstrators also marched to the US Embassy in the Nine Elms area of the UK capital.

London's Metropolitan Police Service tweeted that it was aware of protesters gathering there.

"Officers are on scene and engaging with those in attendance. An appropriate policing plan is in place," the service said.

Demonstrators wearing face masks also rallied in Germany's capital, Berlin, carrying signs saying "Justice can't wait" and "Black lives matter."

Demonstrators in Denmark chanted "No justice, no peace" as they marched through the streets of Copenhagen.

Some people rallied outside the US embassy carrying placards demanding justice for Floyd and showing solidarity with US protesters.

Some context: A former police officer, Derek Chauvin, was seen in a video with his knee on Floyd's neck on May 25 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Chauvin has been charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter — but protesters and critics believe the charge isn't harsh enough.

People participate in a protest in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin on May 31.
People participate in a protest in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin on May 31. Sean Gallup/Getty Images

People demonstrate in front of the US Embassy in Copenhagen, Denmark, on May 31.
People demonstrate in front of the US Embassy in Copenhagen, Denmark, on May 31. IDA GULDBAEK ARENTSEN Ida Guldbaek /Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images

10:25 a.m. ET, May 31, 2020

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo offers his "personal condolences" to George Floyd's family

From Jennifer Hansler

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks on May 20.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks on May 20. Nicholas Kamm/Pool Photo via AP

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has offered his “personal condolences to Mr. Floyd’s family and all the people too who have been impacted by this rioting and this violence.”

In an interview on Fox this morning, Pompeo called the actions by the police officers in George Floyd’s killing “abhorrent” and said the administration had moved “very quickly” in responding –– pointing to comments from President Trump and Attorney General Bill Barr.

Pompeo said that the violence at the protests came from “antifa-like violent protests,” but noted, “it still remains to be seen exactly how what began as peaceful protests by people who were clearly saddened and frustrated by the police action against George Floyd” turned violent.

“I don’t know precisely how it proceeded to get this way, but we’ve seen this pattern before” of outsiders coming in," Pompeo said.