A street in each NYC borough will be named "Black Lives Matter," mayor says
From CNN's Kristina Sgueglia
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio speaks during a press conference in New York on June 9. NYC Media
In each borough at a “crucial” location, a street will be named “Black Lives Matter,” New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today.
"What will be clear — the street name and on the streets of our city — is that message that now this city must fully, fully deeply feel and this nation must as well, that Black Lives Matter," de Blasio said.
This follows a Sunday meeting with activists, including Gwen Carr, the mother of Eric Garner, who died after an NYPD officer used a chokehold on him.
One of the locations will be near city hall, and the other locations will be decided with participants activists and city leaders, de Blasio said.
10:45 a.m. ET, June 9, 2020
Lawyer for Buffalo man pushed by officers says she's "at a loss to understand" Trump's tweet
From CNN’s Mirna Alsharif
The attorney for Martin Gugino, the 75-year-old protester who was pushed by two Buffalo, New York police officers – says she’s “at a loss to understand” President Trump’s questioning in a tweet whether the entire incident was a “set up.”
“No one from law enforcement has even suggested anything otherwise so we are at a loss to understand why the President of the United States would make such dark, dangerous, and untrue accusations against him,” attorney Kelly V. Zarcone said in a statement, when asked to respond to the President’s tweet.
“Martin has always been a PEACEFUL protestor because he cares about today’s society,” she said in the statement.
Buffalo's mayor also responded to the President's tweet, saying the city is "laser focused on healing, taking action against racial injustice." The mayor reiterated that the two officers "deserve due process."
Gugino is still hospitalized, but out of the ICU, Zarcone said.
Video of the demonstration Thursday showed a row of officers walking toward the man and two pushing him. His head bled onto the sidewalk as officers walked past him, some looking down at him.
An investigation is underway, and Gov. Andrew Cuomo called the incident "wholly unjustified and utterly disgraceful."
10:29 a.m. ET, June 9, 2020
City council member: "The Minneapolis Police Department cannot be reformed"
From CNN's Gregory Lemos
Police stand guard at the 3rd precinct on May 27 during the second day of protests over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Jordan Strowder/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Minneapolis City Council member Alondra Cano told CNN Monday that “the Minneapolis Police Department cannot be reformed" and that the council aims to create a "new safety system with our community."
"We have budgetary power, so anytime we have seven or more votes, we can approve a significant budgetary measure to change the moral directive of the city. We have nine people on board, which is a veto-proof majority," Cano said on CNN's New Day on Monday. "All agree that the Minneapolis Police Department cannot be reformed, that all agree that we are on a path to end that current policing system, and that we are going to create a new safety system with our community."
When pressed on what this "new safety system" might look like, Cano said the police department is still in place, and the council's new direction is about moving in partnership with the community when "they are ready for it," "to come up with the answers together."
"We still have a $193 million dollar police budget that the people in Minneapolis can lean on for help. Now, tomorrow, meaning perhaps in six months, nine months, in a year, we will have a structure present in our community that we have co-created together about the future of safety in policing our city," Cano said.
Cano also said she has "deep relationships" with the police department and this system isn't working for them either.
"They don't want to be in a position where one week after they graduate from our police cadet class they are now in court being charged for murder. No officer wants to be in that position," Cano said. "We're going to keep safety, we're going to keep help, but toss broken and outdated systems that don't let us respond to our community in a way that protects people's lives."
Some context: Nine members of the Minneapolis City Council made a commitment to start the process of defunding and “dismantling” the police department, Minneapolis City Council President Lisa Bender told CNN on Sunday.
Bender said she and other council members are hearing from their constituents that "right now, our police department is not making our community feel safe."
When pressed for details on what the dismantling might look like, Bender told CNN’s Josh Campbell they would shift police funding for other needs and start a discussion of how to replace the current police department.
“The idea of having no police department is certainly not in the short term,” Bender said.
WATCH:
10:24 a.m. ET, June 9, 2020
George Floyd's casket arrives at the church ahead of private memorial service
From CNN's Gregory Lemos
CNN
The hearse carrying George Floyd's golden casket has arrived at the Fountain of Praise Church in Houston, Texas.
The casket was carried into the church by six men wearing masks as a row of police officers stood at attention.
Minnesota governor orders 8 minute and 46 second moment of silence to honor George Floyd
From CNN's Hollie Silverman
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz speaks to the press on June 3 in St. Paul, Minnesota. Scott Olson/Getty Images
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz issued a proclamation for a moment of silence for George Floyd today, according to a press release from his office.
The moment will run 8 minutes and 46 seconds, from noon ET until 12:08:46 p.m. ET.
This is meant to mark the start of Floyd's funeral which will be taking place in Houston, according to the release.
“The world watched in horror as George Floyd’s humanity was taken away from him,” Gov. Walz’s proclamation said. “We will not wake up one day and have the disease of systemic racism cured. We must do everything in our power to come together to deconstruct generations of systemic racism in our state so that every Minnesotan – Black, Indigenous, Brown, or White – can be safe and thrive.”
10:16 a.m. ET, June 9, 2020
House Democrats demand federal agencies end alleged surveillance of peaceful protestors
From CNN's Sam Fossum and Ross Levitt
Members of the D.C. National Guard stand on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial monitoring demonstrators during a peaceful protest against police brutality and the death of George Floyd, on June 2 in Washington. Win McNamee/Getty Images
Thirty five members of the House of Representatives sent a letter to several federal agencies demanding an end to alleged surveillance of peaceful protesters as people across the country continue to demonstrate against police brutality following the killing of George Floyd.
The letter, which was sent to the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the National Guard, the Drug Enforcement Agency and US Customs and Border Protection, cites several news reports and comes days after the House Oversight Committee launched an investigation into the administration's use of CBP resources to monitor peaceful demonstrations. The letter lists several alleged surveillance flights.
"We demand that you cease any and all surveilling of Americans engaged in peaceful protests,” wrote the lawmakers, led by Reps. Anna Eshoo and Bobby Rush. “Americans should not have to take proactive measures to protect themselves from government surveillance before engaging in peaceful demonstration.”
Parts of Lafayette Park near the White House will reopen by tomorrow
From CNN's Betsy Klein and Ellie Kaufman
A worker reinforces fencing around Lafayette Square near the White House in Washington on June 1. Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images
Parts of Lafayette Park are expected to reopen Wednesday, one week after fencing went up around the White House ahead of expected protests.
The following ares will reopen, according to a US Park Police statement:
The Ellipse and its side panels, roadways and sidewalks
E Street and its sidewalks between 15th and 17th streets
First Division Monument and State Place
Sherman Park and Hamilton Place
The statement also said that some areas of Lafayette Park will remain closed “to allow the park to address damages and safety hazards.”
It remains unclear if the fencing perimeter built around the White House will come down in full or in part.
US Secret Service told CNN last week that the park would remain closed until Wednesday, citing “necessary security measures.”
“The U.S. Secret Service, in coordination with the U.S. Park Police, is announcing the closure of the areas in and around the White House complex. These closures are in an effort to maintain the necessary security measures surrounding the White House complex, while also allowing for peaceful demonstration. Security fencing has been erected and the areas are clearly marked,” a US Secret Service spokesperson said in a statement.
Protesters have turned the the newly constructed White House fence into a living memorial to racial justice, affixing the signs they've carried during demonstrations to the temporary fence.
9:27 a.m. ET, June 9, 2020
Trump questions if shoved Buffalo protester was a "set up"
From CNN's Betsy Klein
President Donald Trump holds a news conference at the White House on June 5. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
President Trump has weighed in on a stunning video of a 75-year-old protester who was seriously injured after being shoved by police officers in Buffalo, New York, last week, questioning whether it was a “set up.”
Video of the demonstration Thursday showed a row of officers walking toward the man and two pushing him. His head bled onto the sidewalk as officers walked past him, some looking down at him.
Trump claimed in his tweet that the man, Martin Gugino, “fell harder than he was pushed.”
CNN has reported 57 police officers in Buffalo have resigned from the force's emergency response team following the suspension of two officers.
An investigation is underway, and Gov. Andrew Cuomo called the incident "wholly unjustified and utterly disgraceful."
Trump's tweet:
9:12 a.m. ET, June 9, 2020
George Floyd will be taken to his gravesite in a horse-drawn carriage
From CNN's Eric Fiegel and Gregory Lemos
The casket of George Floyd is removed after a public visitation at the Fountain of Praise church in Houston on June 8. David J. Phillip/Pool/Getty Images
George Floyd will travel the last mile of his journey to buried Tuesday in a horse-drawn carriage, according to a release from the City of Pearland from Monday.
A private memorial service for Floyd will be held Tuesday at noon ET at the Fountain of Praise Church in Houston, Texas, according to a release from the Floyd family and attorney Ben Crump.
According to the City of Pearland, Floyd's body will then be escorted by the Houston Police Department into Pearland's Houston Memorial Gardens. The city said that his body will arrive at the site after 2 p.m. ET.
"We do know Mr. Floyd will travel the last mile of the funeral procession in a horse drawn carriage," the statement added.
The carriage carrying Floyd's body is expected to travel down Cullen Boulevard where barricades will be set up to allow spectators to view the procession safely, the statement from Pearland said. The city has also requested spectators practice social distancing and wear masks.
The city said it has no idea how many people will turn out to watch Floyd's body be carried to its final resting place.
