George Floyd protests: thousands march peacefully in New York, defying curfew – live | US news

The District of Colombia National Guard is investigating the use of helicopters that flew over protesters in Washington, DC yesterday in what appeared to be an attempt to disperse the crowds.

The DCNG announced in a statement on its website:

DCNG is conducting an investigation into the June 1 low-flying maneuvers by its helicopters to ensure all involved complied with applicable procedures and safety regulations.

…

As part of the investigation, the DCNG is looking into the use of the medical evacuation helicopter as part of the Joint Task Force DC operation.

In the announcement, DCNG commanding general William J Walker is quoted as saying, “I hold all members of the District of Columbia National Guard to the highest of standards. We live and work in the District, and we are dedicated to the service of our nation,”

“I have directed an immediate investigation into the June 1 incident.”

New York City police officers surrounded, shoved and yelled expletives at two Associated Press journalists covering protests Tuesday in the latest aggression against members of the media during a week of unrest around the country, AP reports.

Portions of the incident were captured on video by videojournalist Robert Bumsted, who was working with photographer Maye-E Wong to document the protests in lower Manhattan over the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

The video shows more than a half-dozen officers confronting the journalists as they filmed and took photographs of police ordering protesters to leave the area near Fulton and Broadway shortly after an 8pm curfew took effect.

Both journalists were wearing AP identification and identified themselves as media.

NYPD officials said they would review the incident as soon as possible.

Journalists have faced aggressive police and protesters during demonstrations across the US over the killing of Floyd, a handcuffed black man who died after a white officer pressed his knee on Floyd’s neck.

Here is the full story on the Paris protests inspired by demonstrations in the US:

Clashes broke out between police and protesters in Paris on Tuesday after around 20,000 people defied a ban to rally over the 2016 death of a black man in police custody, galvanised by US demonstrations against racism and deadly police violence, AP reports.

The protesters used slogans from the American protest movement to call for justice for Adama Traore, whose death four years ago has been a rallying cause against police brutality in France.

The demonstration, which came after the release of two differing medical reports into the cause of Traore’s death, had been prohibited by police citing a coronavirus ban on gatherings of more than 10 people.

The Huffington Post reports that Native American democrat Paulette Jordan has won the Idaho Senate Primary. Should she win in November, she will be the state’s first female and first indigenous US senator:

It’s a long-shot effort by Jordan in deep red Idaho, but if anything, the race will be a fascinating study in contrasts between her and Risch, who could not be more different.

Jordan, 40, is a Native American progressive Democrat who would be the state’s first female and first indigenous U.S. senator if she pulls off a win in November. Her priorities are strengthening health care and protecting public lands, and she is a forceful advocate of LGBTQ rights and women’s reproductive rights. She was previously a two-term state legislator ― she defeated a Republican for the seat ― and the Democratic gubernatorial nominee in 2018. She is not rich. She believes in science.

The Washington Post’s Rebecca Tan reports that, after a relatively peaceful day of demonstrations, law enforcement “have started firing pepper balls and chemical agents at the small group of remaining protestors” near the White House:

Protests in memory of George Floyd’s death, and against police brutality in the US as well as other countries, have sprung up around the world. Here are just a few.

In Paris, France, clashes broke out between police and protesters in Paris on Tuesday after around 20,000 people defied a ban to rally over the 2016 death of Adama Traore while in police custody in Paris, galvanised by the US demonstrations:

Liverpool, UK:

Sydney, Australia:

Nairobi, Kenya:

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil:

The fence surrounding the White House, erected in the wake of the protests, has been decorated, New York Magazine’s White House Correspondent Olivia Nuzzi reports:

Other protestors have tried to tear down the fence, Nuzzi tweeted:

Hi, Helen Sullivan joining you now. I’ll be bringing you the latest news from across the country for the next few hours – please do get in touch on Twitter with questions, feedback, and, of course, news from wherever you are.

I’m @helenrsullivan.

Alternatively, send me an email: helen.sullivan[at]theguardian.com

From my colleague Daniel Strauss:

The controversial Iowa Republican congressman Steve King has been ousted in Tuesday’s primary, losing his re-election race to the state senator Randy Feenstra.

King had faced the re-election fight of his life. The nine-term conservative congressman, who was repeatedly reprimanded by leaders in his own party for racist rhetoric and interactions with white nationalists, found himself in a nightmare situation for an incumbent congressman.

He had been stripped of his committee assignments, abandoned by more mainstream Republicans and chastised by party leadership. He had even lost support from prominent conservatives in Iowa.

Feenstra declared victory on Tuesday evening, promising he’d deliver “results for the families, farmers and communities of Iowa”.

Thousands in Portland marched onto the Burnside Bridge. Once there, they lay face down with their hands behind their backs — symbolizing the restraint that officers used on George Floyd before he was killed, the Oregonian reports.

Medical students in lab coats, carrying signs that read “White Coats for Black Lives” assembled in Portland’s Pioneer Square and Caesar The No Drama Llama also reportedly turned up in solidarity.

More election results:

Steny Hoyer, the House majority leader, won an easy nomination in the Democratic primary of Maryland’s 5th district. He’s held the seat for 40 years.

Yvette Herrell won the Republican primary in New Mexico’s 2nd District — she’ll take on on Xochitl Torres Small in November.

Joe Biden handily won the primaries in Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Montana, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and South Dakota. With all his Democratic opponents out of the race, no surprise there.

The Guardian’s Ankita Rao reports from Brooklyn:

Thousands of people were blockaded on Manhattan Bridge, as the protests against police brutality led past the 8 pm curfew. With police on both ends of the bridge, protestors from Brooklyn said they waited at the barricades for more than two hours to try to enter Manhattan.

“They [the NYPD] promised to let us through and told us 10 minutes,” said one Brooklyn resident who asked not to be identified. “But then time passed and all they did was get lots of NYPD trucks. Their promise was not to let us through but to manipulate citizens for no reason.” As protestors waited, wondering if they would be arrested and how they would get home, posts on social media started to appear online.

The Brooklyn Bridge, which also connects the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn, was barricaded as well.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted that the situation was unsafe, and that she was coming to the scene. Mayor De Blasio also visited the Barclays Center, where many of the week’s protests have originated, and said it was a calm situation. At around 11 pm the protestors from Brooklyn decided to turn around and walk back.

“It was an incredibly peaceful protest, no one did anything divisive or provocative,” said Hannah Jayanti, a Brooklyn resident who had taken her bicycle to the protest to help create a barrier between the police and protestors. At midnight, there were still protestors stuck in either borough attempting to get home.