June 6 George Floyd protest news

By Helen Regan, Brett McKeehan, Rob Picheta, Peter Wilkinson, Fernando Alfonso III and Amir Vera, CNN

Updated 12:37 AM ET, Sun June 7, 2020
31 Posts
Sort byDropdown arrow
10:58 a.m. ET, June 6, 2020

Police officers must "do their job the right way," former Philadelphia police commissioner says

CNN
CNN

Charles Ramsey, former Philadelphia police commissioner, believes that no one, including police officers, should judge "anyone by the color of their skin."

Ramsey shared this insight Saturday morning during a CNN Sesame Street town hall aimed at discussing racism with families and children.

"People are out there demonstrating right now because there are a few police officers that don't always act the way we'd like them to act," Ramsey said. "Most officers do a good job every single day and will always be there to help you. But we have to make sure that regardless of the circumstances, police officers always do their job the right way and no one, especially police officers, but no one, should ever treat anyone differently based on the color of their skin."

Ramsey added: "Those young people, be proud of who you are. Your skin color is absolutely beautiful. Just like all the other skin colors we have in this world."

10:52 a.m. ET, June 6, 2020

Fighting racial injustice means white Americans "need to get all in," professor says

CNN
CNN

Religion professor Jennifer Harvey, of Drake University, said white Americans need to get "all in" on fighting against racial injustice and identify their white privilege.

"One of the most important things that we need to acknowledge right now is that the most dangerous kind of white privilege is to think we can sit this justice struggle out," Harvey said at a CNN town hall aimed at discussing racism with families and children today.

"This won't be over in two weeks and especially as African-American communities are leading the struggle for racial justice right now, white Americans need to get all in," Harvey added.

Harvey said "white communities are not negatively impacted by racism and sometimes we get unjust benefits and easier access to things because we're white, not because we deserve it."

HEAR PROFESSOR HARVEY:

10:40 a.m. ET, June 6, 2020

Teaching children about racism, while preserving their innocence, is possible, expert says

CNN
CNN

Psychologist Beverly Tatum believes there's a way to start discussions on racism early in a child's life without risking their innocence.

Tatum said many children may have already been exposed to the foundations of racism on the playground, she said during the CNN Sesame Street town hall Saturday morning.

"We, as parents, are going to take care of them and ensure their safety. But it is also the case that even very young children might have some experiences with name calling or someone saying you can't play. They might have learned something about racism, even if they're only 3 or 4-years-old. And so, talking about what's fair and unfair and how you stand up for yourself and other people is something that even young children can learn about, because even young children understand what it means to be fair and what it means to be unfair towards someone," Tatum said.
10:57 a.m. ET, June 6, 2020

It's important to start talking to children about racism early. Here's how to approach it.

CNN
CNN

Jeanette Betancourt, the senior vice president for US Social Impact at Sesame Workshop, said hard conversations about racism need to start early with children in order to build a foundation.

"We know young children, even in infancy start to recognize the different between race and identity," Betancourt said at a CNN Sesame Street town hall Saturday morning. "This is an opportunity to talk about those similarities and differences in your everyday moments, to take advantage of the diversity that surrounds you, but to have these conversations early on in a way that sets a foundation, but it lasts for a lifetime of awareness."

"Children see, and learn from what they see, so that our actions are more important than our words," she added.

Starting that conversation: Explaining racism to your kids can be a topic that is difficult to approach for many parents.

Dr. Nia Heard-Garris, the minority health, equity and inclusion chair at the American Academy of Pediatrics, suggested starting with history and giving context.

"You want to start with people were brought to the United States as workers, as slaves, that were unpaid and that was not fair. And they were treated really poorly and those people are black people, people that have come from countries in Africa," Heard-Garris said.

She said parents can then build on this conversation and explain that "this is something that's been going on for years and years, centuries, and that's why we're seeing what we're seeing now."

WATCH:

11:28 a.m. ET, June 6, 2020

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms on fighting racism: "Keep loving each other"

CNN
CNN

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said one of the most important ways to fight racism in America is to "keep loving each other."

"Make sure when your friends sometimes do things they shouldn't do that you say to them that's not right and you shouldn't do that. And say it with love and just lead by example," Bottoms said during a CNN Sesame Street town hall this morning aimed at starting the conversation about racism with children and families.

When asked why black people are treated so badly, Bottoms said "I don't know if we will ever have the answer to that."

"Dr. Martin Luther king had a dream for his four children that they would be judged by the content of their character and not by the color of their skin, we have to continue to dream and hope and work on that this country will live up to that," she said.

"Some people just don't know any better. Some people say that hurt people hurt people and I think that's what happens when you see black and brown people being treated unfairly," she added.

Bottoms said that sometimes when people are being mean and hateful, they are sometimes hurting inside and don't know how to express it.

"You can't treat people the way they treat you. You have to treat people the way you want to be treated," Bottoms said.

WATCH MAYOR BOTTOMS:

10:28 a.m. ET, June 6, 2020

The challenges of being a black law enforcement officer in the US

From CNN’s Danielle Gallagher, John Couwels and Artemis Moshtaghian

CNN
CNN

Hoke County Sheriff Hubert Peterkin, an 18-year veteran of the police force, told CNN how difficult the current situation in the US is for black men in law enforcement saying in part, “we’re [being] questioned from the black community: How can you be a part of all this mess?”

George Floyd’s family reached out to Peterkin asking for help in planning the upcoming funeral services for Floyd, an experience in which Peterkin says he feels like he’s been in the [Floyd] family for a long time and describes as an honor.

“I didn't know how Bridget, the sister, was going to receive me as a law enforcement person. There are people who are mad with law enforcement, who've never had an incident. Or they just don't like what's going on and they should not like what's going on. But when I walked in front of this woman, and that family, and they embraced me like they did, and hugged me and said thank you. It was tears. I can't express the feeling. I left there that day saying, wow, you know, that means there's some hope," Peterkin said.
10:16 a.m. ET, June 6, 2020

Atlanta mayor explains how parents can talk to their children about racism

CNN
CNN

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms shared some words of wisdom for parents on how they can talk to their young children about racism during CNN's Sesame Street town hall this morning.

Bottoms said to tell children that they "can't treat people the way they treat you, you have to treat people the way you want to be treated."

"That's what my mother always told me. So I try to encourage my children to recognize that when someone is being mean and when they're being hateful on that, sometimes they're hurting inside and they don't have any other way to express it. Now, I know that's easier said than done and I have to remind myself of that a lot because sometimes I get impatient too but I keep reminding myself of that, and sometimes I do something as simple as say a prayer for them," Bottoms said.
10:19 a.m. ET, June 6, 2020

Thousands attend Black Lives Matter demonstration in London

 From CNN’s Nic Robertson, Mick Krever and Nada Bashir

Protesters rally in Parliament Square in London on June 6.
Protesters rally in Parliament Square in London on June 6. Frank Augstein/AP

Thousands of peaceful protesters gathered at London’s Parliament Square on Saturday as part of a Black Lives Matter demonstration in solidarity with protests taking place across the United States.

The protest, which has so far proven to be entirely peaceful, was organized following unrest in the US over the killing of George Floyd by police officers in Minneapolis.  

Today, United Kingdom protesters joined together to chant Floyd’s name and “black lives matter." At one point, everyone took a knee in unison.  

“I feel that what happened in the US was just a spark, that sparked everywhere…I do think George Floyd’s death sparked it across the world and I think it’s amazing,” one protester told CNN on Saturday. 

“It’s a world-wide issue, no matter where you are. It’s an issue everywhere, we all need to rise up,” another protester added. 

Coronavirus concerns: The gathering has garnered a significant turnout, despite the government urging citizens not to demonstrate over fears that the protest could lead to the further spread of coronavirus. 

“I completely understand people’s desire to express their views and to have that right to protest, but the fact of the matter is, we are in a health pandemic across the United Kingdom,” UK Home Secretary Priti Patel said Saturday during an interview with Sky News. 

“I would say to those that want to protest, please don’t,” she added.  

While little social distancing has been observed at the demonstration, people have been seen handing out free masks and gloves to protect protesters from spreading the virus. 

According to the UK Metropolitan Police, roads into Parliament Square have been closed “to protect both protesters and vehicles” entering the area. While there is a substantial police presence, officers are not wearing protective riot equipment. 

9:02 a.m. ET, June 6, 2020

Buffalo Police Advisory Board calls for "urgent system-wide policing policy reforms"

From CNN’s Anna Sturla

Lindsay DeDario/Reuters
Lindsay DeDario/Reuters

The Buffalo Police Advisory Board in New York released a statement Friday calling for “urgent system-wide policing policy reforms" in response to ongoing police violence. 

The board is recommending the creation of an independent, investigatory body, and the codification of five use-of-force policy amendments.

The group also is calling for the adoption of a law enforcement assisted diversion program and the use of “stop tickets” to provide residents with basic information about stops and the officer. 

Here are some of the use-of-force policy amendments they suggested:

  • Requiring de-escalation prior to use of force
  • Requiring a warning before shooting
  • Requiring another present officer to intervene
  • Mandating a comprehensive report of other police officers’ actions or arrests  

Some background: The Police Advisory Board is an independent advisory committee created by the Buffalo Common Council to focus on policing and community-police relations in Buffalo. 

This comes after an elderly white man peacefully protesting was seen on video being pushed to the ground and seriously injured by Buffalo Police on Thursday. After having been pushed to the ground, police officers kept walking after the man was lying on the ground and bleeding.