Protests continue in United States' cities against reckless white police brutality and racism

Demonstrators denouncing systemic racism in law enforcement march through the New York City borough of Brooklyn on June 4, 2020. (AFP photo)
Protests continued into their tenth night in dozens of American cities following a private memorial service in Minneapolis for Gorge Floyd, a black man whose death by white police has sparked widespread protests against police violence and systemic racism.

In New York City, thousands marched over Brooklyn Bridge on Thursday. Police clashed with protesters who stayed out past curfew.

In the city of Buffalo in New York state, two officers were suspended after a video showed them shoving a 75-year-old man to the ground, causing blood to trickle from the man’s ears. The incident drew widespread condemnation on social media.

In Washington, DC, the streets surrounding the White House were the scenes of more demonstrations. Hundreds of people knelt on the pavement and bowed their heads in silence around the Martin Luther King Jr Memorial.

Protesters in America’s capital held a “die-in” at the White House and a march to Washington National Cathedral.

In Richmond, Virginia, protesters gathered around a statue of Confederate leader Robert E. Lee, after Virginia Governor Ralph Northam announced plans to remove the monument.

Floyd died in Minneapolis on May 25 after former police officer Derek Chauvin put his knee on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes during an arrest.

Hundreds of mourners attended an emotional memorial service in Minneapolis on Thursday for Floyd

Floyd's attorney told mourners he would find justice for the 46-year-old. "It was not the coronavirus pandemic that killed George Floyd," said Benjamin Crump, who is representing Floyd's family. "It was that other pandemic. The pandemic of racism and discrimination."

Floyd's death has reignited long-felt anger over police killings of African-Americans and unleashed a nationwide wave of civil unrest unlike any seen in the US since Martin Luther King Jr's 1968 assassination.

US civil rights groups filed a lawsuit Thursday against President Donald Trump, after police fired tear gas to clear peaceful demonstrators outside the White House before the president walked to a church for a photo op earlier this week.
A memorial service began on Thursday for George Floyd in Minneapolis where the unarmed black man was brutally killed by a white police officer late last month.

Family members, friends, political and religious leaders as well as hundreds of people of all ages — African American, white, Latino, Asian and Native American — gathered to show support for Floyd’s family, while people around the globed watched on television and online.

People stand outside during George Floyd's memorial service in Minneapolis. (Reuters photo)

The ceremony began 1 p.m. CT in a sanctuary at North Central University in Minneapolis, which seats nearly 1,000 people.

Floyd, 46, died on May 25 after officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee on Floyd’s neck until he suffocated. His death has reignited long-felt anger over police brutal killings of African-Americans and unleashed a nationwide wave of civil unrest unlike any seen in the US since King's 1968 assassination.

Speaking at the service, Ben Crump, the lawyer for Floyd's family, said, "It's going to take a united effort inside the courtroom and outside the courtroom to get justice for George Floyd."

He went on to say that there should be only one justice system for both black and white people.

"We don’t want two justice systems in America. One for black and one for white. What we endeavor to achieve is equal gestures for the United States of America and George Floyd is the moment to give us the best opportunity I’ve seen in a long time of reaching that high idea that this country was founded on."

Rev. Al Sharpton speaks at George Floyd's memorial service in Minneapolis, on June 4. (Photo via CNN)
Meanwhile, American civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton said the service is "not a normal funeral," adding but such services are a far too common happening.

"I want us to not sit here and act like we had a funeral on the schedule. George Floyd should not be among the deceased. He did not die of common health conditions. He died of a common American criminal justice malfunction," Sharpton said.

"So it is not a normal funeral. It is not a normal circumstance. But it is too common. And we need to deal with it."

George Floyd's brother Philonise also spoke at the service, reiterating his brother “will get justice.”

"You know, I'm just staying strong as I can cause I need to get it out, I need to get it out. Everybody wants justice, we want justice for George. He's going to get it. He's going to get it."

Philonise Floyd speaks at a memorial service for his brother, George Floyd at North Central University Thursday, June 4, 2020, in Minneapolis. (AP photo)
The service comes a day after new charges were announced against Chauvin, who kneeled on Floyd's neck for nearly 9 minutes as well as three other officers who were on the scene.

Chauvin, who was jailed Friday on charges of third-degree murder and manslaughter, was newly charged with second-degree murder.

The other three officers fired from the Minneapolis police department along with Chauvin were charged on Wednesday, each with aiding and abetting both second-degree murder and manslaughter.