June 3 George Floyd protest news

In New York City, protestors and police clashed on Wednesday night, with several were taken into custody and at least one police officer injured. 

The scuffles broke out in downtown Brooklyn, where several hundred protesters were marching to Cadman Plaza, where the Brooklyn Courthouse is located.

They reached a stand-off with police, who stopped them from advancing any further. Some protesters began to turn around -- but "unfortunately what happened is, you saw a small group of them break off, surround a police car, and that's when officers were called in for backup and the situation turned ugly," said CNN Correspondent Jason Carroll, reporting from the scene. He added that "dozens of people" were seen being arrested.

Police tactics: Police in New York have taken more of a back seat in the past two days, marking a shift in tactics since the weekend protests, said Carroll. For instance, they allowed most demonstrators to continue marching past curfew, which went into effect at 8 p.m. local time.

"It was once (protesters) got to that one point at Cadman plaza, this is where police said, 'We're drawing the line.'"

In Washington, DC, large numbers of protesters are still on the streets even as the evening curfew approaches.

Crowds are lingering near Lafayette Park, though they have been pushed farther back from the White House than previous days, said CNN Correspondent Alex Marquadt on the scene.

Protests have been peaceful all day, he said -- earlier today, crowds were singing and cheering together, and the mood was light. But as night falls, "the mood is changing," Marquadt said.

Though things are still peaceful, there is a sense of tension with protesters facing a line of troops in camouflage.

"We're trying to determine whether they are active duty or National Guard," Marquadt said. "We know that around 2,000 to 3,000 National Guard (members) have been called up. Not just from D.C., but around the country. There are 250 soldiers who have been sent up here from Fort Drum and Fort Brag in North Carolina."

George Floyd’s death was due cardiopulmonary arrest – or the stopping of his heart – according to the final autopsy results released by the Hennepin County medical examiner. 

The report from Dr. Andrew Baker says Floyd’s neck was compressed when former officer Derek Chauvin’s knee was on it for more than eight minutes, but does not conclude that it was the direct cause of his death.

The new report does indicate that Floyd had a number of bruises and cuts on his head, face, mouth, shoulders, arms and legs. But it found no evidence that any of those injuries directly would have killed him. 

An independent autopsy commissioned by the Floyd family disagreed with the conclusion of the county, saying that Floyd died of “asphyxiation from sustained pressure.”

The autopsy says Floyd had heart disease and a history of high blood pressure. A preliminary toxicology report found moderate levels of fentanyl and methamphetamine. The family’s independent autopsy did not include a toxicology report.

The county autopsy also indicates that Floyd had recently tested positive for coronavirus, although there is no indication that it was a factor in his death.

Peaceful protesters took to the streets around the US today to demand justice for George Floyd and other black Americans who have recently died following police violence.

Protesters cheered Wednesday by news that four Minneapolis officers are now charged in Floyd's death.

Earlier in the day, three former Minneapolis police officers on the scene when Floyd was killed were charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced today.

Ellison said he's upgrading the charge against Derek Chauvin, the officer who had his knee pressed into Floyd's neck for nearly nine minutes, from third- to second-degree murder.

Here's what the protests look like around the US:

Philadelphia

Washington, DC

St. Charles, Missouri

Seattle

Fort Worth

Los Angeles

This post has been updated with more details about the protests.

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam will announce plans to remove the controversial Robert E. Lee Monument from Richmond’s historic Monument Avenue during a press event in Richmond tomorrow, a source told CNN.

Lee was a confederate soldier in the American Civil War.

CNN reported on Monday that police had deployed tear gas against peaceful protesters near the monument. 

Police warned protesters that they were placing themselves and others “in grave jeopardy” by attempting to pull down statues on Monument Avenue.

“They are extremely heavy and would crush anyone standing too close. Please be aware of the danger. Stand down!” the Richmond Police Department (RPD) tweeted.

Former President Barack Obama closed his event on Wednesday with a veiled message to those Americans who have criticized or are worried about the ongoing protests: “Just remember, this country was founded on protest. It is called the American revolution.”

The line was the closest Obama got to criticizing those who question the protests and he framed it as those “who have been talking about protests.”

To young people, Obama kept up his hopeful message and cheered on the protests in the streets.

“Keep working. And stay hopeful,” he told them. “This is a moment and we have had moments like this before where people are paying attention. And that doesn’t mean that everything will get solved, so don’t get disheartened because this is a marathon not a sprint. But the fact that people are paying attention provides an opportunity to educate, activate, mobilize and act. And I hope we are able to seize this moment.”

He added: “I hope all the young people who have been inspired and engaged an involved, they keep at it.”

Watch:

Six Atlanta police officers have been booked after charges were filed against them related to a tasing incident in Atlanta on Saturday night.

The officers were filmed in downtown Atlanta breaking windows of a vehicle, yanking a woman out of the car and tasing a man. Both were later identified as students from Spelman College and Morehouse College.

District Attorney Paul Howard announced charges against the officers on Tuesday.

CNN has reached out to the police union for comment.

The US Park Police said on Twitter Wednesday it is investigating an incident involving Australian journalists covering protests in Washington, DC, on Monday.

The tweeted statement attributed to acting Chief Gregory Monahan said two officers have been placed on administrative duties while the investigation takes place.

CNN has previously reported that Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison called for an investigation after two of the country's journalists were attacked Monday.

During a live morning newscast on the program "Sunrise" on Tuesday in Australia, police were seen using their shields to clear Channel 7 News US correspondent Amelia Brace and photojournalist Tim Myers from the scene. The Australian outlet is a CNN affiliate. 

The video showed police hitting Myers and punching his camera. Another officer then directs the pair, who were trapped against a wall, to move on, before appearing to smack Brace in the back with a baton.

Hear more:

All of the former Minneapolis Police officers charged in connection with the death of George Floyd are now in custody. 

Thomas Lane and Tou Thao both were processed into the Hennepin County jail around 5 p.m. local time Wednesday, according to jail records.

Former officer J. Alexander Kueng turned himself in earlier in the afternoon, his attorney Thomas Plunkett told CNN. 

Derek Chauvin – whose knee was on Floyd’s neck and is accused of second-degree murder – has been in custody since last week. All four are being held on $1 million bail.