"Great day for him": Trump outraged by making false claims about George Floyd and unemployment rate

Protests have been going on in the United States for days after George Floyd's death. Trump, meanwhile, confuses with a statement about Floyd's view of unemployment.

• After the death of the African American George Floyd *, demonstrations were held again in the state of New York on Thursday. 
• A video by WBFO shows police officers in Buffalo pushing a 75-year-old demonstrator until he falls to the ground and is seriously injured (see first report on June 5)
• Meanwhile, US President Trump has announced what he thinks Floyd would think of the current US unemployment rate (see June 5 update, 8:10 p.m.).

Update of June 6, 11:05 a.m .: After the death of George Floyd and the subsequent protests and clashes, the police are taking consequences in many cities and parts of the country. Reforms have been announced. Minneapolis itself has already responded: In the future, the police will no longer be able to use strangleholds and no longer fix suspects on the neck. Mayor Jacob Frey confirmed this according to the daily news. In addition, police officers are now obliged to report “unauthorized use of violence” by colleagues under the threat of punishment.

These reforms are intended to change the culture in the police force, it is said. 

George Floyd's service yesterday underscored that justice for George requires more than accountability for the man who killed him - it requires accountability from elected leadership to deep, structural reforms. https://t.co/zxmABnn4kB

Update of June 6, 8:40 am:  The death of African American George Floyd in a brutal police operation has triggered an "honest" debate about racism in the United States, according to former US President Barack Obama. The movement triggered by Floyd's death was "inspiring," the 58-year-old ex-president said in a video chat on Friday (local time). "There have been so many honest talks about racism in this country in the past week that I've never remembered," Obama said. Not just from a minority, but from "a large part of the country". 

It is also noteworthy that past presidents, company leaders, politicians, and many others since Floyd's death have called the problem by name and speak of "systematic racism" in the United States and call for change, he added.

Demonstrations against police violence are also taking place in Germany. Not without reason, as a shocking incident from Saarland shows: Federal police officers are said to have brutally attacked a 65-year-old at the border - a camera was filming. *

Update of June 5, 11:08 p.m .:  The opposition US Democrats have strongly condemned statements by President Donald Trump about the killed African American George Floyd and the US job market. Democratic nominee for the presidency, Joe Biden, wrote on Friday in the short message service Twitter that Floyd's last words "I can't breathe" had echoed in the US and around the world. "The fact that the President is trying to put other words in his mouth is truly contemptible."

Democratic Senator Kamala Harris also sharply criticized Trump: Trump should "not put Floyd's name in his mouth until he can say the phrase" Black Lives Matter ", Harris wrote on Twitter.

. @ realDonaldTrump, keep George Floyd's name out of your mouth until you can say Black Lives Matter.pic.twitter.com/YJ6wPw0Hto

Meanwhile, it became known that a controversial stranglehold on arrests should be banned in California . West Coast governor Gavin Newsom said on Friday that he was going to ban a police training program from a method that stops blood flow to the brain. He also wanted to set this up legally. Just before that, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo had already made a reform proposal to ban the stranglehold on police operations.

After US protests: New York governor submits reform proposal

Update of June 5, 10:41 p.m .: New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has made a reform proposal for his state after days of protests against police violence and racism after George Floyd's death . On Friday, Cuomo presented a draft law that, among other things, prohibits the stranglehold in police operations and is intended to make the files on past misconduct by police officers transparent. He hoped the News York state parliament would adopt the draft next week, Cuomo said.

"Great day for him": Trump outraged with false claim about George Floyd and unemployment rate

Update of June 5, 8:10 p.m .:  US President Donald Trump once again caused surprise with a statement. He said on Friday that African American George Floyd, killed in a brutal police operation, would be pleased with the good job market numbers. "Hopefully George is looking down right now and saying, 'A great thing is happening to our country,'" Trump said. Previously, the unemployment rate had surprisingly dropped amid the Corona crisis. 

Trump amazes with statements about Floyd's opinion about the US unemployment rate

"This is a great day for him, this is a great day for everyone," the president continued at a press conference in the Rose Garden of the White House. It was a "great, great day in terms of equality, " he added. 

US President Donald Trump has once again caused astonishment with a statement about George Floyd and US unemployment figures.

© AFP / MANDEL NGAN

In May, the US unemployment rate surprisingly dropped to 13.3 percent. Although this is still a very high figure, a decline can be seen compared to April (14.7 percent). However , African Americans did not benefit from this development : the unemployment rate for black people increased slightly in May to 16.6 percent. When a journalist confronted Trump, the president didn't respond.

Trump also launched a meaningful appeal when he appeared on Friday in the rose garden of the White House: he called on the police across the country to treat all citizens equally - regardless of their skin color. "This is what our constitution requires, and that is what our country is about," he said. 

Meanwhile,  New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has commented  on the incident at a demonstration against police violence in the city of Buffalo , New York. Two police officers violently bumped a 75-year-old demonstrator , causing the man to fall and to remain bleeding on his head. The scene was shown in a video published by the broadcaster WBFO. 

After scandal at Floyd protests: Cuomo describes video as "deeply offensive"

Cuomo announced at a press conference on Friday afternoon (local time) that he had spoken to the 75-year-old. "Thank God he's still alive," the governor said. He described the video as " deeply offensive and terrifying ". It violates the basic sense of humanity. 

Update of 5 June, 17:54: Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser , US President of the military to withdraw Donald Trump and other security forces of his government from the streets of the capital prompted . A letter to Trump released on Friday by Bowser said that she had lifted the state of emergency because of the protests after George Floyd's death. In Washington, the protests have now been peaceful. Bowser is concerned that federal security forces on the streets of the capital pose a risk because they could spark protests. 

While Washington's mayor Trump is calling for the military to be withdrawn from Washington, the US president is apparently planning to withdraw troops from Germany. The Wall Street Journal reported on this .

US protests: Civil rights activists announce "March on Washington"

Meanwhile, demonstrations against racism and police violence continue in the United States. Civil rights activist Al Sharpton announced a new "March on Washington" at a moving funeral service for Floyd in Minneapolis in August  to protest discrimination. Such a march had taken place in 1963 in the form of a legendary rally by Martin Luther King . According to Sharpton, this year's "March on Washington" is scheduled to take place on August 28th. This is the 57th anniversary of the rally in 1963, at which Martin Luther King called for equality between black and white people with the legendary words "I have a dream".

Update of June 5, 3:41 pm: New York police chief Dermot Shea has apologized for possible wrongdoing by police officers during the actions after protests against racism and police brutality lasting for days . “For relaxation to exist, there must be remorse. I'm so sorry. Sometimes even the best drop - and the NYPD is the best police agency in the country, ”Shea said on Friday night, according to media reports. “For our part in the lack of politeness, discriminatory prejudice, excessive violence, unacceptable language and many other mistakes, we are human beings. I am sorry."

US protests: New York City chief of police calls for more consideration 

At the same time, Shea also stressed that his police officers were repeatedly attacked and insulted in accompanying the protests and that this also had to stop . "Are you sorry too?" He asked the demonstrators. Again, thousands of people had taken to the streets in several neighborhoods in New York on Friday, demonstrating largely peacefully for an end to racism and for justice for George Floyd . Floyd had been killed in a brutal police operation in Minneapolis a week and a half ago. 

However, many demonstrators did not stick to the night curfew beginning at 8 p.m. on Thursday , which led to clashes with the police and arrests . The nighttime curfew has been in effect since Monday and for the time being until and including Sunday. As Mayor Bill de Blasio reiterated on his Twitter account, it does not apply to systemically relevant professionals. The reason for his tweet was probably that there had been reports of arrests, for example by food suppliers or journalists. 

Just got off the phone with @NYPDShea after seeing the troubling video of a delivery worker arrested by police while doing his job. This is NOT acceptable and must stop. Food delivery is essential work and is EXEMPTED from the curfew.

Protests in the United States: 75-year-old protester fell and injured

First report of June 5, 2020:  Buffalo / New York State - On Thursday evening, protests against police violence once again occurred in the US state of New York . At the demonstrations, triggered by the death of the African American George Floyd *, however, apparently there has been another assault by police officers. Two US police officers violently bumped an older protester in the city of Buffalo . The 75-year-old white protester then fell to the ground and apparently seriously injured his head. This shows a video released on Thursday evening by the broadcaster WBFO.

The roughly 40-second video clip shows the man approaching the police officers when they suddenly became loud and shouted: "Get back," "go back." The police pushed the man. The latter staggered backwards, fell and hit the back of his head on the floor, causing him to bleed. 

USA after Floyd's death: police officers knock down demonstrators - this seriously injures them

The video shows how the 75-year-old demonstrator lies on the floor and can hardly move. One of the policemen leaned down to check on the man, but his colleague stopped him. Then you can hear someone saying: "Call an ambulance".

The man remained motionless on the ground for the time being, the officials encircled him and fended off further isolated demonstrators, who are only partially visible in the video image. The officials were suspended, Mayor Byron W. Brown tweeted . The 75-year-old protester is in serious but stable condition. The city's police chief in the state of New York ordered an internal investigation.

pic.twitter.com/ofZCzm78mq

George Floyd protests in the US: police knock demonstrators down - "shameful"

There was harsh criticism from the governor of New York , Andrew Cuomo: "This incident is completely unjustified and extremely shameful." Police officers should enforce the law, not abuse it.

Just about an hour ago, police officers shove man in Niagara Square to the ground (WARNING: Graphic). Video from: @MikeDesmondWBFO pic.twitter.com/JBKQLvzfET

Demonstrations against racism, police violence and social injustice have been going on in many US cities for days . The trigger is the death of African American George Floyd after a brutal police operation in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 25. The protests degenerated into rioting and looting.

US escalation: Trump sued for tough behavior

Demonstrations have also taken place in the US capital Washington in the past few days. US President Donald Trump is criticized for his handling of the crisis. For example, he threatened to use the military in the demonstrations *. He also made Antifa responsible for the escalation *. 

A protest on Sunday evening in front of the White House was resolved by US President Donald Trump *. There were clashes with the police. The officers use tear gas and rubber bullets. US civil rights activists have sued President Donald Trump's government for tough police action. 

Also in Munich, after the violent death of George Floyd, people take to the streets against racism *. Top model Papis Loveday shares his experiences.

Video: 10th day of protest - civil rights activists sue government

nai with dpa and AFP

* Merkur.de and tz.de are part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network.