June 2 George Floyd protest news

The Iranian government has criticized the reactions of the US administration and US police to the protests which have broken out following the death of George Floyd, according to governmental statements published on Iran’s state news agency IRNA. 

On Tuesday, Iran’s judiciary chief, Hojjatoleslam Raeesi, said "US leaders should stand trial before the international courts on charge of deliberate homicide and racial discrimination."

Iranian government spokesman, Abbas Mousavi held a news conference in English on Monday to "urge" the US to "stop oppression and aggressive conducts against its people and let them breathe."

Iran's foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, posted a photo of people paying respect at a Floyd mural and an Iranian stamp showing Malcom X on Twitter, writing: "The 'knee-on-neck' technique is nothing new: Same cabal—who've admitted to habitually 'lie, cheat, steal' — have been employing it on 80M Iranians for 2 yrs (sic), calling it 'maximum pressure.'"

US officials have previously criticized Iran’s violent handling of civilian protests against the Iranian government, with US President Donald Trump repeatedly tweeting in support of Iranian demonstrators protesting against the government in 2019 and 2020. 

The police chief in Fort Worth, Texas, talked to protesters and took a knee with them on Monday night.

About 125 people gathered to protest George Floyd's death despite the city's curfew, according to CNN affiliate KTVT.

Officers climbed off their bikes and took a knee before Police Chief Ed Kraus and the assistant chief walked into the crowd and talked to the protesters, then got down on a knee and prayed with them.

Kraus then told his officers to leave.

More protests are planned this week.

The UK government has denied British media reports that its review into how the coronavirus has affected BAME (Black and Minority Ethnic) communities has been delayed because of the ongoing protests in the United States.

The report, analyzing how factors including ethnicity, gender and obesity can impact on people’s health outcomes from Covid-19, had been due to be published by the end of May, according to Public Health England.

It was commissioned by England’s Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty in April, amid fears that the coronavirus pandemic is "disproportionately" affecting black and ethnic minority communities.

In response to CNN questions about why the report has been delayed, a Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said in a statement: "Ministers received initial findings yesterday [Monday]. They are being rapidly considered and a report will be published this week."

The UK's opposition leader, Keir Starmer, on Tuesday called on the government to "stop the excuses" and "publish the review," in a post on Twitter.

Covid-19 has also magnified systemic inequalities in the US.

As of May 11, 17,155 black Americans were known to have died due to Covid-19, according to an analysis from the American Public Media (APM) Research Lab of 65,000 deaths for which race and ethnicity data was available.

African Americans make up about 13% of the population in those places, but 27% of Covid-19 deaths for which race and ethnicity is known, APM research shows.

Health experts and leaders have expressed concern about the impact the mass protests could have on a community that is already being hit harder by the virus.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of intentionally driving his car into three Denver police officers during protests on Saturday nights.

The officers were seriously injured after they were struck by a fast-moving vehicle, according to Denver Police. 

Anthony Knapp, 37, was arrested the following day and is being held for first-degree assault and attempted first-degree assault. He was tracked down by detectives tracing scattered pieces of his car and posting a Crime Stoppers bulletin. 

The ongoing investigation is among the first to be opened involving attacks against police during protests across the US.

The Denver Police sent CNN their Statement of Probable Cause saying the officers were in full uniform standing next to a fully marked Denver Police vehicle, when a dark sedan traveling at a "high rate of speed, swerved toward the officers and as a result, struck three of the officers with the car." 

The officers were transported to the Denver Health Medical Center in an ambulance, according to the statement. One sustained a fractured leg and the other two sustained "substantial risk of protracted loss or impairment of the function of any part or organ of the body." 

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Tuesday said President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin did not discuss the unrest sweeping the US in a phone call Monday. 

Asked in a conference call with reporters if the issue was raised during the conversation, Peskov said: "No, this is not a question of bilateral Russian-American relations."

Pressed on whether protests over police violence in the US might bring attention to similar incidents in Russia, Peskov said he saw no parallels between the two countries. 

George Floyd's death was an abuse of power and must be renounced, a top EU diplomat said at a briefing in Belgium.

Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union, said all societies should remain vigilant against the use of excess force and deal with such incidents quickly.

"We here in Europe, like the people of the United States, we are shocked and appalled by the death of George Floyd. And I think all societies must remain vigilant against the excess of use of force and ensure that all such incidents are addressed swiftly, effectively and in full respect of the rule of law and human rights," Borrell said.

He added: "We support the right to peaceful protest, and also we condemn violence and racism of any kind, and for sure we call for a de-escalation of tensions.” 

The Manhattan District Attorney's Office is investigating the alleged assault of a Wall Street Journal reporter covering the George Floyd protests by members of the New York Police Department, a spokesman for the office told CNN.

"We are actively monitoring social media and other sources to identify investigative leads into claims of excessive force and we strongly encourage New Yorkers to share them with us."

WSJ reporter Tyler Blint-Welsh tweeted Sunday evening that NYPD officers "hit me in the face multiple times with riot shields and pushed me to the ground. I was backing away as request, with my hands up. My NYPD-issued press badge was clearly visible. I'm just sitting here crying. This sucks."

CNN has reached out to the NYPD, Blint-Welsh, The Wall Street Journal and the New York Attorney General's office for comment regarding the alleged assault.

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District attorney to investigate alleged assault of WSJ reporter by NYPD officers during protests

Hours after George Floyd's brother asked protesters to abstain from violence, the Minneapolis site where Floyd died last week was being treated as a sacred memorial.

The subdued scene was in a sharp contrast with what was taking place in other cities across the country overnight where protesters were undeterred by curfews, enforced in an effort to curb the unrest that has erupted in the week since Floyd's death in police custody. 

Floyd's family as well as many mayors and governors support the protests but have condemned the looting and violence that has led to hundreds of arrests nationwide.

Protesters have also been met with tear gas and rubber bullets by some police departments, though there have been examples of police joining demonstrators.

Floyd's brother, Terrence Floyd, spoke to those gathered in support of his brother Monday, delivering a simple message for those committing violence.

"He would not want y'all to be doing this," he said.

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George Floyd's family calls for calm as protesters undeterred by curfews

"We ... deserve the chance to grow and to learn and to love others. And to be a person with a heartbeat, with a breath to take," says 17-year-old Ajani Carr.

He is one of four men from three generations who have shared their experience of different stages of the civil rights movement in America in a powerful video for CNN. They explain what they think has changed, and what progress still needs to be made.

"I don't feel afraid, I don't live my life with fear, but I do live my life with caution," says Peniel Joseph, 47.

Ed Whitfield, 70, recalls the activists involved in the civil rights movement in the 60s, such as Sammy Younge Jr, who was murdered in Selma, Alabama for using the "whites-only" restroom.

"Shot and killed, nothing was done," says Whitfield. "So there's nothing new about this part."

Mike Mosby, 32, adds: “You would think it’s 1965, you know, like we just got out of segregation and now we’re trying for civil rights ... That’s what it feels like.”

“I swear it’s like we’re stuck in a time capsule.”

Watch the video here: