June 1 George Floyd protest news

By Jessie Yeung, Steve George, Nick Thompson, Melissa Macaya, Meg Wagner, Mike Hayes and Daniella Diaz, CNN

Updated 2:10 a.m. ET, June 2, 2020

What you need to know

Protests erupted for a seventh day across the US over the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
At least 40 cities imposed curfews and National Guard members have been activated in at least 23 states and Washington, DC.
An independent autopsy found Floyd died from "asphyxiation from sustained pressure," while the Hennepin County Medical Examiner found "no physical findings" to "support a diagnosis of traumatic asphyxia or strangulation."
One former officer who was seen with his knee on Floyd's neck was charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter — but protesters say the charge doesn't go far enough, and are demanding charges for the other officers involved.
President Trump declared himself "your president of law and order" during remarks from the Rose Garden Monday night.

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8:51 p.m. ET, June 1, 2020

Trump was angry at coverage of him in bunker and wanted to be seen outside gates

From CNN's Kevin Liptak

U.S. Secret Service Agents positioned atop of the White House as U.S. President Donald Trump returns from St. John's Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C., on Monday, June 1. Shawn Thew/EPA/Bloomberg/Getty Images

President Trump was angered by coverage depicting him holed up in his bunker during protests near the White House and told aides on Monday he wanted to be seen outside the White House gates, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Trump's desire to be seen where the protests had occurred partly drove the decision to stage a photo-op at St. John's Church, which was preceded by police using tear gas and flash grenades to clear the area of peaceful protesters.

Trump and his family were rushed to the underground bunker as protests raged outside the White House on Friday evening. Trump wasn't seen on Sunday and spent most of Monday behind closed doors — leading to concern even from his allies that he was absent at a moment of national crisis.

Trump expressed frustration that he was being depicted as alarmed by the protests outside his home and hunkered underground, believing he appeared weak.

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8:38 p.m. ET, June 1, 2020

CBP officers and agents are headed to the Washington monument

From CNN's Priscilla Alvarez

Demonstrators march past the Washington Monument as they protest the death of George Floyd, on Sunday, May 31. Evan Vucci/AP

More than 350 Customs and Border Protection officers and agents from the National Capital Region have been deployed in DC in order to support federal, state, and local partners to protect life, safety, and property, a CBP official tells CNN.

One of the first places they’ll be is the Washington monument, the official said. They are expected to protect the monument.

8:14 p.m. ET, June 1, 2020

New York governor to President Trump: "Thank you, but no thank you"

From CNN's Leinz Vales

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said "no thank you" to President Trump's threat to mobilize US troops to deal with the widespread unrest followed by the death of George Floyd, the unarmed black man who died after a white police officer knelt on his neck as he was being arrested.

"The President wants to re-create reality here," Cuomo told CNN's Erin Burnett. "Even the pictures from Washington, DC, you had a number of protesters. They were peaceful protesters. They were young people, largely a white crowd in Washington, DC, who are offended at what they saw with the Floyd murder, which they should be."

Trump said from the Rose Garden Monday that he was committed to upholding laws and mobilizing military resources to end nationwide looting.

Cuomo insisted that they are individuals who are "destructive," but are a "small minority" of the demonstrators.

"The looting, the criminal activity is intolerable, and from a law enforcement point of view you need to weed them out, but they are intermingled with protesters," Cuomo said. "But what the President today did was he called out the American military against American citizens."

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7:36 p.m. ET, June 1, 2020

Illinois governor rejects Trump's mobilization of troops

From CNN's Leinz Vales

In response to President Trump threatening to invoke the 1807 law to mobilize the military around the country, Illinois Gov. J. B. Pritzker said Monday that he rejects "that the federal government can send troops into the state of Illinois."

"The fact is that the President has created an incendiary moment here," Pritzker told CNN's Erin Burnett. "He wants to change the subject from his failure over coronavirus, a miserable failure and now seeing a moment when there's unrest because of the injustice that was done to George Floyd that he now wants to create another topic and something where he can be the law and order president."

Trump declared himself "your president of law and order" during remarks as peaceful protesters just outside the White House gates were dispersed with tear gas and flash bangs.

The Illinois governor added that Trump's approach to dealing with protesters outside the White House was wrong.

"Peaceful protesters have a right to be there," Pritzker said. "I saw what happened. I was watching CNN when all of a sudden the troops move forward, and then they started pushing the protesters, throwing tear gas canisters. This is not the way we behave in the United States. Our law enforcement are out there on streets trying to protect people. They're not at least here in Chicago, we're not in the business of trying to put down peaceful protests."

7:41 p.m. ET, June 1, 2020

Los Angeles curfew is harshest since 1992 riots, police chief says

From CNN's Cheri Mossburg

Pedestrians walk past boarded up storefronts on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles on June 1. Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images

The 12-hour overnight curfew in Los Angeles is the harshest the city has seen since the riots of 1992, following the acquittal of officers accused of using excessive force in the beating of Rodney King, according to Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore.

While Moore welcomed the protests, he made clear: “No violence will be supported. There is no place for those who wish to do harm.”

To the owners of 88 businesses along Melrose Avenue whose stores were destroyed, Moore said, “We’re sorry.”

“Our efforts were to balance expression of public discord in a lawful, peaceful manner,” Moore explained. “Unfortunately, the powers and forces of those who wished to exact violence in the community overwhelmed us.”

The California National Guard has deployed 1,000 members to Southern California to assist with law enforcement. Moore said he expects 2,000 members in the city by tomorrow morning and they will be posted at businesses that have been destroyed and at other vulnerable businesses.

L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said law enforcement will be prevalent throughout the county. “We will be out there, not to intimidate, not to use any excessive force,” he said, “but to establish that the rule of law is present throughout Los Angeles County.”

7:31 p.m. ET, June 1, 2020

Oregon governor says she's resisted Portland's calls for National Guard

From CNN's Konstantin Toropin

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown said she has resisted calls from Portland's mayor to activate the National Guard in response to the protests in the city over the last several days.

"Mayor (Ted) Wheeler asked me over the weekend to mobilize the National Guard and put them in direct confrontation with protesters," Brown said at a news conference. "This wasn't the first time that the mayor asked to mobilize the National Guard, and not the first time I have declined."

Instead, Brown said she directed the Oregon State Police to deploy additional officers to support Portland's police.

Brown said she is sending 100 state police officers to the city today. She is also calling in 50 Oregon National Guard members "to provide a support function only."

Brown reiterated several times that those troops will not be armed.

"Having soldiers on the streets across America is exactly what President Trump wants," Brown said. "He's made that very clear on a call this very morning with governors across the entire United States."

"I want to ensure that the public can safely raise their voices in this much needed call for reform," Brown said.

7:48 p.m. ET, June 1, 2020

Trump stops by St. John's church and takes photo with bible

From CNN's Nikki Carjaval

President Trump posed with a bible outside St. John’s Church and held it up for several moments.

“We’re the greatest country in the world,” he said.

Trump walked over to Lafayette park after delivering a speech at the White House.

7:30 p.m. ET, June 1, 2020

Trump headed to St. John's church

From CNN's Jake Tapper

President Trump is reportedly headed to St. John’s Episcopal Church across Lafayette park from the White House, a source tell CNN.

Trump delivered remarks moment ago from the Rose Garden.

"Now I am going to pay my respects to a very, very special place,” Trump said in the Rose Garden after declaring himself a law and order president.

He announced that he was taking new measures to quell riots across the United States.

Before Trump's remarks, police released tear gas and fired rubber bullets at protesters in an effort to disperse the crowd for Trump's visit to the church.

8:10 p.m. ET, June 1, 2020

Trump threatens to mobilize military in US

President Trump threatened to invoking an 1807 law to mobilize the military around the country and "quickly solve the problem."

"I will deploy the United States military and quickly solve the problem for them. I am also taking swift and decisive action to protect our great capitol, Washington, DC. What happened in this city last night was a total disgrace," he said.

He continued: "Those who threaten innocent life and property will be arrested, detained and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. I want the organizers of this terror to be on notice that you will face severe criminal penalties and lengthy sentences in jail."

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