From New York to Los Angeles, via Minneapolis and Houston, protests continued Tuesday and Wednesday in more than 100 cities across the United States. For the second week, these crowds denounce the death of George Floyd, this 46-year-old African-American killed during his arrest by a white police officer, on May 27 in Minneapolis, as well as police and racial violence in general. But in his hometown of Houston, Texas, where some 60,000 people paid tribute to him on Tuesday evening, as in the rest of the country, the protest marches were mostly peaceful, albeit violating curfews. As a snub to President Trump who threatens to deploy the army, in addition to the National Guard, in the event of violence.
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In New York, thousands of protesters crossed the bridge singing the Brooklyn Bridge, as police flew over them by helicopter, after the curfew came into effect at 8 p.m. Tuesday. "Very calm situation" , confirmed on the spot the mayor Bill de Blasio, contrasting with the looting on Monday. Same calm on the side of Minneapolis, where the widow of George Floyd spoke with their 6 year old daughter. "I want everyone to know what these police officers took from me ," she said moved.
With the exception of Washington, where these marches degenerated into riots, lootings and clashes, hundreds of demonstrators gathered in calm, Tuesday nightfall, in Philadelphia, Chicago, Milwaukee, Denver and Seattle.
Opinion support
In Los Angeles, where memories of Watts' racial riots in 1965 and 1992, after the acquittal of white police officers for the beating of Rodney King remains painful, Mayor Eric Garcetti kneeled with police, to denounce the violence of the police. Thousands of people also crisscrossed Hollywood Boulevard, when others protested outside police headquarters, resulting in hugs and handshakes with police.
Protesters, mobilized for the eighth consecutive day, can claim public support: 64% of Americans polled support them, according to an opinion poll published Tuesday by Reuters / Ipsos. Donald Trump cannot say the same: more than 55% of those questioned disapprove of his response to this historic protest movement.
