The former Atlanta officer who shot and killed Rayshard Brooks faces 11 charges, including felony murder, the Fulton County district attorney announced.
Following the charges, the Atlanta Police Department said an unusual number of officers working the late shift had called out sick. Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said that she doesn’t know exactly how many officers are calling out, but that the city has enough police officers.
Our live coverage of the anti-racism protests has moved here.
58 Posts
Crowd watches as Confederate monument in Georgia removed
From CNN's From Devon Sayers
A crane removes a confederate monument from Decatur square in Georgia on Friday, June 19.
Brook Joyner/CNN
A crowd of several hundred people gathered Thursday night in Decatur, Georgia to watch the removal of a Confederate monument.
A large crane was moved into place and by 11:15 p.m. ET authorities were securing lines to the statue at the old DeKalb County Courthouse.
As workers readied the monument for removal the crowd could be heard applauding.
A light police presence was on the scene during the event.
The statue came down just before 11:30 p.m. as the crowd chanted “Take it down! Take it down!”
A crowd gathers near Deactur square in Georgia to watch a confederate monument be removed.
Brook Joyner/CNN
Link Copied!
Oregon's governor says she'll introduce bill to make Juneteenth a state holiday
From CNN's Pierre Meilhan
Oregon Governor Kate Brown said she plans to introduce a bill next year to make Juneteenth a state holiday.
She took to Twitter to proclaim June 19 as Juneteenth in Oregon.
“Celebrating Black freedom this year is fiercely important as people around the world protest systemic racism and undeniably show that Black Lives Matter,” Brown said as she replied to a tweet from Pharrell Williams asking her to “please join Virginia and New York and make Juneteenth a paid holiday in Oregon for state employees.”
Fulton County DA says charges were "based upon the facts" in Brooks case
Paul Howard, Fulton County District Attorney, told CNN’s Don Lemon that the charges brought against the former officer who shot and killed Rayshard Brooks were “based upon the evidence.”
Garrett Rolfe is facing 11 charges including felony murder in the death of Brooks, Howard said during a news conference Wednesday. Brosnan, who is currently on administrative duty, faces three charges including aggravated assault.
Howard denied that the charges go too far, or that they were a response to the protests.
“I charged based upon the facts. I’m aware that people were very much on edge. This was a horrendous incident, particularly after what had happened to George Floyd and then to have it happen here in Atlanta, and I realize that,” Howard said.
“But you can’t charge someone based upon those conditions. You’ve got to stick to the facts. That’s what we did and that’s the reason that I charged it.”
Watch:
Link Copied!
Six Virginia residents sue to keep Robert E. Lee statue aloft
From CNN's Taylor Romine and Evan Simko-Bednarski
After dropping a lawsuit to block the removal of a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, a group of Richmond, Virginia, residents filed a second suit with adjusted arguments, according to court documents.
The new lawsuit, filed by six residents who own property on Richmond’s Monument Avenue, claims that the statue’s removal would adversely affect the plaintiffs by nullifying the neighborhood’s status as a National Historic Landmark district, resulting in “the loss of favorable tax treatment and reduction in property values.”
“Plaintiffs will also suffer injury as a result of the loss of a priceless work of art from their neighborhood and the degradation of the internationally recognized avenue on which they reside,” the suit reads.
A sheriff's deputy saved a baby from choking during a Black Lives Matter protest
From CNN's Lauren M. Johnson
A video surveillance camera recorded a Los Angeles sheriff’s deputy saving an unresponsive baby from choking during a Black Lives Matter protest last month.
The 11-month-old boy’s mother and another woman were attending the protest on May 31 in Palmdale, California, when the baby became ill, lost consciousness and stopped breathing, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
The women ran across a supermarket parking lot to a group of sheriff’s deputies who were monitoring the protest from across the street.
In the video, Deputy Cameron Kinsey runs toward the women when he realized they were in distress. The mother handed the limp child to Kinsey and after assessing the baby, the sheriff’s department said he “administered a mouth sweep with his finger and dislodged vomit.”
The baby began to breathe again to the relief of everyone there.
Facebook takes down Trump ads "for violating our policy against organized hate"
From CNN's Donie O'Sullivan
Facebook said it had taken action against ads run by President Donald Trump’s re-election campaign for breaching its policies on hate. The ads, which attacked what the Trump campaign described as “Dangerous MOBS of far-left groups,” featured an upside-down triangle.
The Anti-Defamation League said Thursday the triangle “is practically identical to that used by the Nazi regime to classify political prisoners in concentration camps.”
The hate group to which Facebook was referring in its statement is Nazis, the company confirmed.
Responding to criticism of the ad, the Trump campaign claimed the red triangle was “a symbol widely used by Antifa.”
The ADL said Thursday that some antifa activists have used the symbol, but it is not particularly common.
Grand jury indicts officer Eric DeValkenaere in fatal shooting of Cameron Lamb in 2019
From CNN's Raja Razek
Jackson County grand jury indicted Kansas City police officer Eric DeValkenaere in the fatal shooting of Cameron Lamb in December 2019, according to Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office news release on Thursday.
The grand jury’s indictment, signed today by the foreperson, charges officer Eric DeValkenaere with involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action for recklessly causing the death of Lamb, who was shot while sitting in his pickup truck as he was backing into his garage.
CNN has reached out to Eric DeValkenaere for comment.
Relatives of Lamb were among several families of black Americans who have been killed by police to meet with President Donald Trump earlier this week.
Link Copied!
Former Atlanta Police Officer Garrett Rolfe moved for security reasons
From CNN's Ryan Young and Devon Sayers
Former Atlanta police officer Garrett Rolfe.
Fulton County Sheriff's Office
Former Atlanta Police officer Garrett Rolfe has been moved from the Fulton County Jail to another metro-Atlanta facility for security reasons, according to three law enforcement sources.
Rolfe, who faces 11 charges related to the death of Rayshard Brooks, turned himself in to the Fulton County Jail earlier on Thursday.
Link Copied!
Senior State Department official resigns over Trump's response to nationwide unrest: Washington Post
From CNN's Paul LeBlanc
A top State Department official is resigning from her post over President Donald Trump’s response to the surge of protests against racial injustice and police brutality across the nation, The Washington Post reported Thursday.
Mary Elizabeth Taylor, assistant secretary of state for legislative affairs, wrote in a resignation letter obtained by the Post that “The President’s comments and actions surrounding racial injustice and Black Americans cut sharply against my core values and convictions.”
“I must follow the dictates of my conscience and resign as Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs,” she said.
Reached for comment, a State Department spokesperson told CNN, “We do not comment on personnel matters.”
Taylor’s resignation comes as Trump continues to lean into his forceful approach to the ongoing demonstrations sparked by the death of George Floyd at the hands of police. The gruesome video of Floyd’s killing while in Minneapolis police custody has prompted the kind of soul searching about the role of police in society and systemic racism that many advocates have urged for decades.
Former Atlanta police officer expected in court Friday
From CNN's Jennifer Henderson and Devon Sayers
Former Atlanta police officer Garrett Rolfe is expected to be in court on Friday at noon, according to emails sent to CNN from his attorney’s spokesperson and the Fulton County Clerk’s office.
The Fulton County Sheriff’s Department said earlier today that Rolfe had waived his first appearance. The Fulton County Clerk of Court also said earlier this afternoon no court appearance had been scheduled.
Atlanta officer Devin Brosnan says he's "looking forward" to cooperating with investigators
From CNN's Hollie Silverman
Former Atlanta Police officer Devin Brosnan is surrounded by media following his release from the Fulton County Jail on Thursday, June 18, in Atlanta.
Brynn Anderson/AP
In an interview with MSNBC following his release on bond Thursday, Atlanta police officer Devin Brosnan said he’s “looking forward to cooperating with any investigators who are interested in having a conversation about what happened that night.”
Brosnan was booked and released Thursday before the interview.
“I have full faith in the criminal justice system,” Brosnan said, adding that the booking process was quickly completed.
Brosnan’s attorney Don Samuel told MSNBC that there “seems to be misunderstanding on the prosecutors’ part.”
“He’s a defendant, he’s not going to answer the DA’s questions while they bring false charges against him,” Samuel said.
Samuel said Brosnan has been fully cooperative with all investigators and plans on meeting with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation next week.
Asked if Brosnan had anything he wanted to say to the family of Rayshard Brooks, he said, “I think this is a tragic event.”
“It’s a total tragedy that a man had to lose his life that night,” he added.
Brosnan said during his initial encounter with Brooks, he thought he was “friendly, respectful.”
“I felt like he was potentially someone that needed my help. And I was really just there to see what I could do to make sure that he was safe,” Brosnan said.
Link Copied!
Southeastern Conference calls for state of Mississippi to change its flag
In this April 25 photograph, a small Mississippi state flag is held by a participant during a drive-by "re-open Mississippi" protest past the Governor's Mansion, in the background, in Jackson, Mississippi.
Rogelio V. Scolis/AP
The Southeastern Conference (SEC) is calling for the state of Mississippi to change its flag saying it wants student-athletes to be able to compete in an inclusive environment.
“It is past time for change to be made to the flag of the State of Mississippi. Our students deserve an opportunity to learn and compete in environment that are inclusive and welcoming to all,” Southeastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey said in a statement.
The University of Mississippi and Mississippi State are both members of the Southeastern Conference.
Link Copied!
Oakland mayor calls effigy "a deliberate and vile attempt to traumatize and divide"
From CNN's Sarah Moon and Amanda Jackson
Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf called the effigy found near Lake Merritt “a deliberate and vile attempt to traumatize and divide Oaklanders.”
The effigy was found hanging in a tree near Lake Merritt on Thursday morning by a resident, according to a statement from the Oakland Police Department. The resident removed the effigy from the tree and called police, the statement said.
Police officers found “material stuffed in the shape of a human body with a rope tied around the torso and neck, laying on the ground next to a tree with an American flag lying next to it,” the statement said.
Some context: The effigy was found a day after a hate crime investigation was opened into nooses found on trees in Oakland, California, according to police.
The FBI is investigating the effigy as a hate crime, Schaaf said.
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra weighed in on the incident, calling it “chilling.”
“I’ve got to tell you it doesn’t help circumstances. Everyone’s on edge. There are a lot of people who are very frightened. A lot of people are courageous and peacefully protesting. To see these things just doesn’t help,” he told CNN on Thursday.
The California Attorney General’s office is investigating the death of a 24-year-old black man who was found hanging from a tree in northern Los Angeles County.
Link Copied!
Former Atlanta officer charged in Brooks shooting waives first court appearance
From CNN's Ryan Young and Devon M. Sayers
Former Atlanta police officer Garrett Rolfe.
Fulton County Sheriff's Office
Former Atlanta police officer Garrett Rolfe has waived his first court appearance, Tracy Flanagan, a spokesperson for the Fulton County Sheriff Office, told CNN.
The Fulton County Court of Clerks office said at this point, no court proceedings have been scheduled for the case.
Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard said Wednesday that it is unlikely the case would be presented to a grand jury before January.
DA says he is "mystified" over comments from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation
From CNN’s Jennifer Henderson
Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard expressed surprise that the Georgia Bureau of Investigation released a statement Wednesday saying the agency wasn’t informed ahead of his announcement to charge former Atlanta police officer Garrett Rolfe and officer Devin Brosnan.
Rolfe is facing 11 charges including felony murder in the death of Rayshard Brooks, Howard said during a news conference Wednesday. Brosnan, who is currently on administrative duty, faces three charges including aggravated assault.
Howard said he was “mystified that they released the statement about us not consulting with them.”
“I really don’t see the purpose of it, and the district attorney is the person who makes the decision as to whether or not the case goes forward, and that’s what we did on yesterday,” Howard added.
Watch:
Link Copied!
Rayshard Brooks' viewing will be open to the public
From CNN's Erica Henry
Rayshard Brooks.
Courtesy Stewart Trial Attorneys
Rayshard Brooks’ viewing will be held on June 22 at Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church.
The viewing will be from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. ET, according to information from the office of L. Chris Stewart Trial Attorneys.
The viewing is open to the public, however no cameras will be allowed inside. Social distancing guidelines will be followed and masks will be required.
Brooks’ funeral will be held June 23 at 1 p.m. at Ebenezer Baptist Church. Seating will be by invitation only. The funeral is not open to the public or media. The funeral will be live streamed by pool video.
Social distancing guidelines will be followed and masks will be required.
Link Copied!
Fulton County DA: "We're not seeking the death penalty" in Brooks case
From CNN’s Jennifer Henderson
Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer today that they are “not asking for the death penalty” in the case against a former Atlanta police officer who is charged in the fatal shooting of Rayshard Brooks.
“We simply cited that because statutorily, that is one of the possible sentences, but we’re not seeking the death penalty. I don’t think anyone rationally expected that we would ask for the death penalty in this case,” he said.
Asked about critics saying he overcharged the officers at the center of Brooks’ death, Howard said, “That’s just not true. What we did is we charged based up on the facts.”
Watch:
Link Copied!
Atlanta police union has received death threats
From CNN's Dianne Gallagher
Vince Champion, the Southeast regional director of the International Brotherhood of Police Officers, told CNN that “the union specifically” has received death threats over the past couple of days.
One of the threats warned that to be “very careful because we know where your office is,” Champion said while describing the threats.
Champion said he’s been in law enforcement for “30 years, so I’m used to getting death threats but my employees are not.”
“Some of my employees who are law enforcement, you know, dealt with some kind of similar stuff, but others are just, you know, everyday people trying to do a job. They shouldn’t have to go through this,” Champion added.
Link Copied!
Fulton County DA says he's "received some threats" in Brooks case
Fulton County District Attorney Paul L. Howard Jr. speaks at a news conference on Wednesday, June 17, in Atlanta.
Brynn Anderson/AP
Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard says he’s “received some threats” following charges he made Wednesday against the two Atlanta police officers at the center of the Rayshard Brooks case.
Howard said he and his office will “continue to do what we think is right.”
“If a police officer is involved with misconduct, we’re going to go forward with it. But if the police officer is not involved in misconduct, we want to, with the same attitude, tell the community that the officers were right,” Howard added.
On Wednesday: Howard announced the charges filed against the police officers involved in the shooting of Brooks in a Wendy’s parking lot in Atlanta.
Former officer Garrett Rolfe is facing 11 charges including felony murder. Officer Devin Brosnan, who is currently on administrative duty, faces three charges including aggravated assault.
Watch:
Link Copied!
Here are the latest developments in the Rayshard Brooks case
Former Atlanta police officer Garrett Rolfe.
Fulton County Sherrif's
The two officers at the heart of the investigation into the death of Rayshard Brooks turned themselves into authorities after being charged Wednesday by Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard.
Catch up on the other big developments in the Brooks case:
Former officer turns himself in: Former Atlanta police officer Garrett Rolfe has turned himself in to authorities, according to the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department. Rolfe, 27, the former officer who shot Brooks, is facing a total of 11 counts. He faces a felony murder charge for Brooks’ death.
Atlanta officer out on bond: Atlanta police officer Devin Brosnan, one of the officers at the scene of Brooks’ death, bonded out of jail on Thursday afternoon. He made no comments as he left the Fulton County Jail. He is charged with aggravated assault and violation of oath by a public officer in the death of Brooks.
Brosnan’s attorney speaks out: Brosnan’s attorney said the charges against his client go “way too far.” “Officer Brosnan is not charged at all with anything to do with the actual shooting. He’s not at fault at all with regard to the shooting,” attorney Don Samuel told CNN.
Eyewitness accounts: An attorney representing Melvin Evans and Michael Perkins, who were both witnesses to Brooks’ death, said “What our clients witnessed was a murder.” Evans and Perkins, both musicians, were visiting Atlanta from Memphis, Tennessee.
Brooks’ family attorney seeks justice: The attorney for Brooks said he was surprised but pleased by the felony murder charge announced against the now-fired police officer that shot and killed Brooks. “I can’t say the family was surprised. I know I was surprised, but I was happy, because that’s a good first step towards justice,” attorney Justin Miller told CNN today.
Link Copied!
San Francisco removes Christopher Columbus statue near famed Coit Tower
From CNN’s Jenn Selva
The statue of Christopher Columbus that has stood near San Francisco’s famed Coit Tower was removed early Thursday after it was vandalized and protesters planned a rally to take it down.
The statue is just one of many coming down in cities across the US amid widespread protests decrying racism and oppression. Many say the statues — often of Confederate leaders — are considered racist symbols of America’s legacy of slavery.
San Francisco’s action came on the eve of a planned protest to forcibly take the Columbus statue down.
“A protest flyer circulating online advertised for citizens to remove the statue themselves at an action on Friday, June 19,” a spokesperson for the city’s Arts Commission said. “A 2-ton statue falling from its pedestal presented a grave risk to citizens.”
The statue, she continued, “was removed because it doesn’t align with San Francisco’s values or our commitment to racial justice. Doing it quickly was also a matter of public safety. The statue was vandalized three times last week and similar statues across the country have been brought down by citizens during protests.”
San Francisco Supervisor Aaron Peskin confirmed to CNN that the statue of Columbus had been vandalized three times last week.
The city’s Arts and Recreation and Park Commissions will now lead a public process to decide what art will replace the statue of Columbus.
CNN’s Braden Walker contributed to this post.
Link Copied!
New York City Council passes sweeping police reform bills
From CNN's Sonia Moghe
A sweeping package of bills that aims to reform the New York City Police Department passed the New York City Council Thursday, after a years-long battle for the bills to be voted on, some which have been in the works since the death of Eric Garner in 2014.
The six bills include one that requires officers’ badge numbers to be visible, an official ban on chokeholds or any other maneuver that restricts blood or air flow and one requiring the NYPD to disclose how they use surveillance technology. Also included are bills that create a penalty system for police officers with disciplinary issues, a way to intervene with training for officers who are deemed “problematic,” and a bill that puts into law the right to record police interactions.
Some of the bills have been in the works for years, including the city’s ban on chokeholds, which council members began working on in 2014, shortly after Garner’s death.
In a news conference before the vote, New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson apologized for the bills not having moved more quickly.
Johnson became speaker of the City Council in 2018, but in 2015, he voted in support of a city budget that would expand the NYPD by 1,300 officers, a move that he and other council members have come under fire for recently.
“I want to apologize for that,” Johnson said. “And not make up excuses and not sit here today and give you a list of reasons why. This moment is a reckoning. It’s a reckoning for America, it’s a reckoning for our city.”
Link Copied!
University of Florida to end "Gator Bait" cheer because of racist history associated with it
From CNN's Jill Martin
In this September 26, 2015 file photos, Florida Gators fans cheer during a game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida.
Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
University of Florida President Kent Fuchs announced Thursday that the school will no longer use the “Gator Bait” cheer at sporting events because of “horrific historic racist imagery” associated with it, he said.
At sporting events, the band often performs a tune associated with that specific chant, to which fans would use their arms to do the Gator chomp while yelling, “Gator Bait!”
Link Copied!
Kentucky attorney general says the law and facts will "lead to truth" in Breonna Taylor case
From CNN’s Rebekah Riess
Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron speaks during a roundtable discussion with US President Donald Trump and law enforcement officials on Monday, June 8, at the White House in Washington.
Patrick Semansky/AP
Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron held a news conference this afternoon, asking for people to be patient as his office works “to find the truth, and allow the law and the facts to lead to truth,” in the investigation into the death of Breonna Taylor.
The attorney general said a few weeks after being asked to serve as special prosecutor, his office began to receive material from the Louisville Metro Police Department’s Public Integrity Unit (PIU), which was already in the process of conducting an investigation into the events involving Taylor’s death.
According to Cameron, his office has continued to receive information from the PIU, and reviews the materials immediately each time.
Additionally, Cameron said his office is undertaking their own independent investigation to determine the truth, “we believe that the independent steps we are taking are crucial for the findings to be accepted, both by the community, and by those directly involved in the case. An investigation of this magnitude, when done correctly, requires time and patience.”
Watch:
Link Copied!
Ex-Atlanta police officer who killed Rayshard Brooks turns himself in
From CNN’s Ryan Young and Devon Sayers
Former Atlanta police officer Garrett Rolfe
Atlanta Police Department
Former Atlanta police officer Garrett Rolfe has turned himself in to authorities, according to the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department.
He faces a felony murder charge for Brooks’ death and if convicted of that charge, he could face life in prison or the death penalty.
“The demeanor of the officers immediately after the shooting did not reflect any fear or danger of Mr. Brooks,” District Attorney Paul Howard said Wednesday.
Arrest warrants were issued yesterday for Rolfe and Devin Brosnan, the other officer at the shooting, and they were asked to surrender by Thursday evening. Brosnan turned himself in earlier today. He faces an aggravated assault charge for standing on Brooks in the parking lot.
Hear more:
Link Copied!
Atlanta Police Foundation plans to give $500 bonus to every officer
From CNN’s Dianne Gallagher and Ryan Young
A police officer wearing a body cam is seen during a demonstration on May 31 in Atlanta.
Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images
The Atlanta Police Foundation is giving every police officer a $500 bonus. Officers are expected to receive the money on Friday.
When asked about receiving the bonus on Friday, one Atlanta police officer told CNN’s Dianne Gallagher, “I’ll believe it when I see it”.
The officer went on to say, “this is the first time anything like this has been done and the foundation are good people as well, but it’s for APD only and it’s definitely about morale.”
Link Copied!
Pennsylvania Avenue in DC reopens to pedestrians for the first time since protests began
From CNN's Jason Hoffman
For the first time since the last weekend of May when protesters clashed with the Secret Service in front of the White House, Pennsylvania Avenue has been reopened to pedestrian traffic as fences and barricades continue to come down surrounding the White House Complex.
As recently as this morning, you still needed to walk past a checkpoint to get onto that stretch of street, but now Pennsylvania Avenue is open to foot traffic to the east and west of Lafayette Square between 15th and 17th streets — the stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue directly in front of the White House remains closed.
The monuments in Lafayette Square are still behind fences and streets surrounding St. John’s Church and Black Lives Matter Plaza are still closed to vehicles.
The high fencing running the length of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building along 17th street has also been removed.
Link Copied!
Lawyer for Atlanta officer says charges in Brooks shooting go "way too far"
From CNN’s Ryan Young, Devon Sayers and Pamela Kirkland
The attorney for Atlanta police officer Devin Brosnan, who was charged on Wednesday in the fatal shooting of Rashard Brooks, said the charges against his client go “way too far.”
Samuel went on to say that Brosnan put his foot on Brooks’ arm after he was shot “for a matter of seconds, to stabilize.” Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard said in a news conference on Wednesday that Brosnan stood on Brooks’ shoulders “while he struggled for his life.”
Samuel said the charges regarding a failure to render timely first aid is a dispute over a matter of seconds. He denied that Brosnan was acting as a state witness in the case, as Howard indicated during Wednesday’s announcement.
“He’s cooperating. He’s not a witness for the state. He’s not a witness for the defense. He’s a witness. He is simply going to tell the truth about what happened,” Samuel said.
Brosnan was released on bond after turning himself in to the Fulton County Jail on Thursday.
WATCH BROSNAN’S LAWYER HERE:
Link Copied!
Juneteenth named a university holiday at growing number of schools
From CNN's Elizabeth Stuart
The Juneteenth flag, commemorating the day that slavery ended in the U.S., flies in Omaha, Nebraska, on June 17.
Nati Harnik/AP
A growing number of colleges and universities nationwide say they will be closed Friday in honor of Juneteenth, the June 19 holiday which commemorates the end of slavery in the United States in 1865.
Georgetown and Drake announced that Juneteenth will continue to be acknowledged as a holiday annually.
“As we confront the challenges of this moment, I hope that this day will be a moment for reflection and renewed commitment to the work of racial justice,” wrote Georgetown President John J. DeGioia.
The announcements come as some universities are also considering removing statues, renaming buildings and swapping mascots as part of the country’s larger call for changes to systemic racism and injustice.
“As I have said many times before, Columbia University is not innocent of the structures of racism that have afflicted America,” said Columbia President Lee C. Bollinger in an email Wednesday. “There is still much more to do.”
University of Pennsylvania President Amy Gutmann and other university leaders wrote in an email Tuesday that they ask the campus community to take the day to contemplate how to learn from the past in order to chart a more equitable path forward.
“At a moment when our country is reckoning with the racism and discrimination that permeated the history of our country and universities for centuries, we are called to reflect on what we can do individually and collectively to dismantle systemic and structural barriers to equality,” Gutmann wrote.
Link Copied!
Senate Democrats try to pass bill by unanimous consent to remove Confederate statues from Capitol
From CNN's Ted Barrett
A statue of Alexander Hamilton Stephens (L), vice president of the Confederate States, by artist Gutzon Borglum is seen in Statuary Hall of the US Capitol in Washington on June 11.
Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Cory Booker, a Democrat from New Jersey, tried to pass their bill by unanimous consent to remove Confederate statues from the US Capitol.
Booker said the statues represent “hurt” and “pain” and don’t belong in the Capitol. Schumer said they honor men who are traitors and fought against the US to advance slavery.
Rules Committee Chair Roy Blunt, a Republican from Missouri, objected to their request arguing that the current law allows states to decide who they want to honor in the Statuary Hall collection and therefore it’s up the states to decide to replace them not Congress.
Statuary Hall is a chamber near the House floor filled with statues of American historical figures. Each state is allowed to keep two statues of historical figures in the hall.
Blunt noted that several states already have removed Confederate statues and others are moving to remove them. He also said he supports changing the names of military bases named for Confederates and said that is up to the Congress to decide, not the states where the bases are located.
Link Copied!
Polls show widespread support of Black Lives Matters protests
From CNN's Grace Sparks
Protesters march on June 15 in New York.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
About two-thirds support the recent Black Lives Matter protests over police brutality and discrimination in the US, and there’s agreement on a wide variety of proposals on how to reform the nation’s police departments, recent polls show.
A Kaiser Family Foundation poll out Thursday found 64% of Americans supported the recent protests against police violence, including 86% of Democrats, 67% of independents and 36% of Republicans. Support for the protests is seen across racial lines, with 84% of blacks, 64% of Hispanics and 61% of whites in support.
A Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday found 67% of registered voters supported the protests as a response to “the death of George Floyd at the hands of police.”
The killing of George Floyd last month sparked protests nationwide over police brutality and racism against black Americans. A Pew Research poll from last week found 67% of Americans support the Black Lives Matter movement.
According to the Quinnipiac University poll, a clear majority — 55% — thinks the protests will lead to meaningful reform. That includes 76% of Democrats, 53% of independents and 34% of Republicans.
Atlanta officer charged in Brooks case released from custody
From CNN’s Devon Sayers and Ryan Young
Atlanta Police officer Devin Brosnan is surrounded by media following his release from the Fulton County Jail on June 18 in Atlanta.
Brynn Anderson/AP
Atlanta police officer Devin Brosnan, one of the officers at the scene of Rayshard Brooks’ death, bonded out of jail on Thursday afternoon. He made no comments as he left the Fulton County Jail.
He is charged with aggravated assault and violation of oath by a public officer in the death of Brooks.
Link Copied!
Attorney for Atlanta officer in Brooks case says his client is "disappointed in the system"
From CNN's Tina Burnside
Devin Brosnan
Fulton County Sheriff's Office
The attorney for Atlanta police officer Devin Brosnan said his client is “disappointed in the system” after turning himself in on charges for the death of Rayshard Brooks.
During a media gaggle, attorney Don Samuel said the Fulton County district attorney had “other things in mind” when charging his client with a felony. Samuel said he “has never seen a case like this” and believes the Georgia Bureau of Investigation will not support the charges against him.
Brosnan is charged with aggravated assault and violation of oath by a public officer in the death of Brooks.
He is expected to be released from jail today on a signature bond, Samuel said.
Link Copied!
"What I witnessed was real horrific," says Brooks shooting witness
From CNN’s Maria Cartaya
This image, presented by the office of the Fulton County District Attorney, shows Officer Devin Brosnan standing on Rayshard Brooks. Brosnan faces an aggravated assault charge.
Fulton County District Attorney
“What our clients witnessed was a murder,” said Shean Williams from The Cochran Firm who is representing Melvin Evans and Michael Perkins. Both men witnessed Rayshard Brooks’ killing in a Wendy’s drive-thru in Atlanta last week.
Evans and Perkins, both musicians, were visiting Atlanta from Memphis, Tennessee.
Evans was the driver and Perkins was a passenger sitting in the back of the car. “We were the last car in line,” said Perkins.
Williams said each of his clients has confirmed that at the time Brooks was shot, he was running away and his back was turned to the officers. One of the shots fired “barely missed Mr. Perkins,” Williams said.
He said his instinct was to duck. “We didn’t know there was a bullet in the car until we left,” added Perkins.
“We could be here talking about more deaths,” added Williams.
“What I think is important is that he did this action in a crowded Wendy’s parking lot with innocent bystanders,” said Williams about the shooting.
Williams said his clients have provided statements to the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. “Mr. Evans has provided his vehicle for full inspection,” added Williams.
Williams said his clients didn’t shoot video of the incident. “They took video afterward and that video has been provided to GBI,” said Williams.
Link Copied!
Officer Devin Brosnan turns himself into custody
From CNN’s Devon Sayers
Don Samuel, attorney for Devin Brosnan, confirms that his client turned himself into the Fulton County Jail. He is being processed in now.
The now-fired Atlanta Police officer Garrett Rolfe, who faces a felony murder charge for fatally shooting Rayshard Brooks last week, has until this evening to turn himself in.
Brosnan faces an aggravated assault charge for standing on Brooks in the parking lot.
Arrest warrants were issued for both Rolfe and Brosnan yesterday.
Link Copied!
Police union leader says he expects more Atlanta officers to call out today
From CNN’s Dianna Gallagher and Pamela Kirkland
Sources within the Atlanta Police Department told CNN on Wednesday evening police officers were not responding to calls in at least three zones in a response to the Fulton County District Attorney bringing charges against former Officer Garrett Rolfe and Officer Devin Brosnan.
Vince Champion, Southeast Regional Director of the International Brotherhood of Police officers, said he received calls throughout the night saying officers were calling out of work and walking off their shifts.
“Some were just refusing to leave the precincts unless an officer needed help. So it was different things,” Champion told CNN.
Champion said he expects to see more officers to call off their shifts today. “I can’t confirm the numbers or anything right now, but I have heard of officers calling in sick for today,” Champion told CNN.
Champion says the call outs are not organized, nor would he consider this to be a strike. The union had no knowledge of this beforehand.
On Wednesday, Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard announced 11 charges including felony murder against Rolfe and three charges including aggravated assault against Officer Devin Brosnan in the death of Rayshard Brooks.
The Atlanta Police Department responded to reports about the officers in a statement on Wednesday night saying, “Earlier suggestions that multiple officers from each zone had walked off the job were inaccurate. However, department is experiencing a higher than usual number of call outs with the incoming shift. We have enough resources to maintain operations and remain able to respond to incidents throughout the city. “
Link Copied!
Rayshard Brooks’ family attorney: Felony murder charge against officer is “first step towards justice”
From CNN's Adrienne Vogt
Justin Miller, the attorney for the family of Rayshard Brooks, on CNN's "New Day" on June 18.
CNN
The attorney for the family of Rayshard Brooks, the man fatally shot by police in an Atlanta Wendy’s parking lot, said he was surprised but pleased by the felony murder charge announced against the now-fired police officer that shot and killed Brooks.
An attorney for the fired police officer involved in the shooting said that prosecutors are misrepresenting what happened during the incident, saying that former officer Garrett Rolfe never kicked Brooks.
“At some point, we’re going to see the video and we’ll know exactly what happened. I think that the DA’s office wouldn’t have charged something that they knew they couldn’t prove,” Miller said.
Miller also commented on video obtained by CNN that shows an interview Brooks had with a criminal justice organization in February. “I have to have my guard up because the world is cruel … It just makes you hardened to a point,” Brooks said in the video.
Watch more:
Link Copied!
It's just past 8 a.m. in New York and 5 a.m. in San Francisco. Here's the latest on the worldwide protests
Protests against systemic racism and police brutality have been held worldwide in the wake of George Floyd’s death. Here’s what you need to know:
Arrest warrants issued for officers over Rayshard Brooks’ death: Garrett Rolfe faces felony murder and 10 other charges. Devin Brosnan, faces an aggravated assault charge for allegedly standing on Brooks’ shoulders during the incident at a Wendy’s drive-through in Atlanta last week.
Polls show widespread support for protests: About two-thirds of respondents support the recent Black Lives Matter protests over police brutality and discrimination in the US, recent polls show.
Major UK firms apologize for past slavery links: Insurance market Lloyd’s of London and pub retailer Greene King apologized for their historic links to the slave trade.
UK minister says he has “full respect” for Black Lives Matter movement: Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab initially said in an interview Thursday that taking a knee felt like a symbol of subjugation. He later said he had full respect for the movement.
Link Copied!
UK foreign secretary says he has "full respect" for Black Lives Matter movement
From Simon Cullen
UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab walks in central London on April 21.
Isabel Infantes/AFP/Getty Images
UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab says he has “full respect” for the Black Lives Matter movement, after earlier saying that “taking the knee” felt more like a symbol of subjugation than liberation.
“I have full respect for the Black Lives Matter movement, and the issues driving them,” Raab said on Twitter.
“If people wish to take a knee, that’s their choice and I respect it. We all need to come together to tackle any discrimination and social injustice.”
Earlier on Thursday Raab told UK radio station TalkRadio that “taking the knee” seemed to have its origin in the “Game of Thrones” television series.
The gesture is associated with the Black Lives Matter movement and US football player Colin Kaepernick. Kaepernick knelt during the US national anthem before NFL games in 2016, as a protest against police brutality and racial injustice.
Protesters around the world have been “taking the knee” at demonstrations against racism and police brutality, sparked by the death of George Floyd.
Raab was responding to the decision of Premier League players and match officials to kneel ahead of Wednesday night’s match marking the return of the football season.
“I understand this sense of frustration and restlessness which is driving the Black Lives Matter movement,” Raab told TalkRadio.
Raab added that he would only take the knee for two people: “The Queen and the missus when I asked her to marry me.”
Opposition lawmaker David Lammy strongly criticized Raab’s initial comments.
“This is not just insulting to the #BlackLivesMatter movement, it is deeply embarrassing for Dominic Raab,” Lammy wrote on Twitter.
“He is supposed to be the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom.”
Link Copied!
Two major UK firms apologize for slave trade historical links
From CNN's Hanna Ziady and Chris Liakos
British insurance market Lloyd’s of London and pub retailer Greene King have issued apologies over their historical links to the slave trade.
Lloyd’s of London, the world’s largest insurance market, said there were “some aspects of our history that we are not proud of.”
The firm said the slave trade occurred in “an appalling and shameful” period of English history.
Lloyd’s said it was committed to a number of initiatives including investing in positive programs to attract, retain and develop ethnic minority talent in the Lloyd’s market and donating to charities and organisations promoting opportunity and inclusion for Black and Minority Ethnic groups.
UK pub chain and brewer Greene King also issued an apology regarding one of their founder’s links to slavery.
“It is inexcusable that one of our founders profited from slavery and argued against its abolition in the 1800s. While that is a part of our history, we are now focused on the present and the future,”said Nick Mackenzie, Greene King’s Chief Executive Officer.
“Today, I am proud that we employ 38,000 people across the UK from all backgrounds and that racism and discrimination have no place at Greene King. We don’t have all the answers so that is why we are taking time to listen and learn from all the voices, including our team members and charity partners as we strengthen our diversity and inclusion work.”
The retailer plans to make a substantial investment to benefit Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities as well as to support diversity in its business.
Link Copied!
Arrest warrants issued for officers facing charges in death of Rayshard Brooks
From CNN's Faith Karimi and Steve Almasy
Garrett Rolfe, left, and Devin Brosnan.
Atlanta Police Department
The charging of two Atlanta officers in the death of Rayshard Brooks is only the first step in a long and uncertain road toward a conviction, a family attorney said.
“That officer … actually kicked Mr. Brooks while he laid on the ground, while he was there fighting for his life,” said Paul Howard, the district attorney for Fulton County.
The second officer at the scene, Devin Brosnan, faces an aggravated assault charge for allegedly standing on Brooks’ shoulders in the parking lot. Arrest warrants have been issued for both officers and they have until Thursday evening to turn themselves in.
Brooks’ widow said the details of her husband’s final moments left her appalled.
Philadelphia City Council preliminarily approves budget that reduces police funding by $33 million
From CNN's Joe Sutton
The Philadelphia City Council has approved a preliminary operating budget for the 2021 fiscal year that would cut funding for its police department.
“[The] City Council committee today gave preliminary approval to a fiscal year 2021 city budget that reduces funding to the Police Department by $33 million, funds important reforms in policing, invests $20 million in affordable housing, another $25 million to reduce poverty and address disparities, and restores funding to the arts and culture community,” the council said in a statement released Wednesday.
The reduction is $14 million more than the amount agreed between the council and the city’s mayor last week.
The council also put forward suggested reforms for the city’s police department. These reforms include providing implicit bias training for officers and having them wear body cameras.
Link Copied!
Polls show widespread support for Black Lives Matters protests
From CNN's Grace Sparks
About two-thirds of respondents support the recent Black Lives Matter protests over police brutality and discrimination in the US, and there’s agreement on a wide variety of proposals on how to reform the nation’s police departments, recent polls show.
Support for the protests: A Kaiser Family Foundation poll out today found 64% of Americans supported the recent protests against police violence.
That includes:
86% of Democrats
67% of independents
36% of Republicans
Support for the protests is seen across racial lines, with 84% of blacks, 64% of Hispanics and 61% of whites in support.
A Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday found 67% of registered voters supported the protests as a response to “the death of George Floyd at the hands of police.”
Support for Black Lives Matter: The killing of George Floyd last month sparked protests nationwide over police brutality and racism against black Americans. A Pew Research poll from last week found 67% of Americans support the Black Lives Matter movement.
Reform: According to the Quinnipiac University poll, a clear majority – 55% – thinks the protests will lead to meaningful reform. That includes 76% of Democrats, 53% of independents and 34% of Republicans.
English Premier League players take a knee -- and make a stand
From CNN's Glen Levy
Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, right, takes a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement prior to a match against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, on June 17.
Peter Powell/Pool/Getty Images
With the eyes of the world on the English Premier League’s long-awaited resumption, players in both Wednesday’s games took a knee in a powerful and symbolic show of solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.
The headline act on the day the Premier League returned after a 100-day absence was supposed to be Manchester City’s blockbuster encounter against Arsenal, featuring some of the finest players in world football.
But the most memorable moment of action in both games – Aston Villa and Sheffield United literally got things rolling earlier in the day – took place before a ball was kicked in anger.
Refereeing officials and coaching members of staff of the four teams involved in Wednesday’s games also took a knee, while all the players wore shirts with their names replaced by the words “Black Lives Matter,” a tribute to the movement which has grown in prominence since George Floyd’s death.
2 promising lawyers face life in prison for alleged Molotov cocktail attack during New York protests
From CNN's Erica Orden
Brooklyn attorneys Colinford Mattis, left, and Urooj Rahman, were charged in a Molotov cocktail attack on a New York Police Department vehicle during police brutality protests in the city.
US Attorney's Office via AP
Colinford Mattis, 32, and Urooj Rahman, 31, are in jail, facing federal charges alleging they participated in a Molotov cocktail attack on an empty New York Police Department vehicle during protests sparked by the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
The promising young lawyers with enviable educational pedigrees and significant familial responsibilities – he is raising three foster children; she is the primary caretaker for her elderly mother – suddenly find themselves detainees indicted on seven federal felony charges for which they face life in prison.
Their predicament has puzzled not only family and friends, but also prosecutors.
According to their friends and lawyers and a review of their professional experiences and personal lives, Mattis and Rahman are lifelong social justice advocates with deep interests in civil rights and police reform, but neither displayed signs that they might engage in the sort of violent outburst of which they are accused.
Here's the latest developments on the anti-racism protests
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) and Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) greet by bumping elbows at a House Judiciary Committee markup of H.R. 7120, the "Justice in Policing Act of 2020," on Capitol Hill on June 17.
Charges in Rayshard Brooks shooting: Former Atlanta officer Garrett Rolfe, who shot and killed Brooks, faces 11 charges, including felony murder, the Fulton County district attorney announced. Devin Brosnan, the other officer at the shooting, faces an aggravated assault charge for standing on Brooks in the parking lot. Here’s a rundown of the charges.
Officers call out: Following the announcement of the charges, the Atlanta Police Department said an unusual number of officers working the late shift had called out sick. Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said that she doesn’t know exactly how many officers are calling out, but that the city has enough police officers for the night.
George Floyd’s death: Officer Derek Chauvin had his knee on Floyd’s neck for 7 minutes and 46 seconds, not 8 minutes and 46 seconds, as was originally stated in the complaint, according to the Hennepin County Attorney’s office. The error “made no difference in the decision to charge,” it said.
Democrats advance policing reform package: Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee advanced their policing reform package late Wednesday night, setting up a full House vote on the legislation scheduled for next week. The bill would ban chokeholds and end the qualified immunity doctrine, among other items.
Honoring Juneteenth: Numerous cities and states around the United States have issued various proclamations for Juneteenth. The June 19 holiday commemorates the end of slavery in the US. In New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed an executive order designating Juneteenth as a holiday for all state employees, and in Philadelphia, Mayor Jim Kenney designated Juneteenth as an official holiday.
Link Copied!
A major highway in downtown Seattle has reopened after being shut down by protesters
From CNN’s Mitch McCluskey
Protesters shut down part of a major interstate highway in Seattle, Washington State Patrol Public Information Officer Rick Johnson said in a tweet.
All lanes of the I-5 between I-90 and SR 520 were shut down at one point.
The lanes are now reopened, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation.
Link Copied!
Robert Fuller's half-brother killed in deputy-involved shooting, attorney says
From CNN's Sarah Moon
Robert Fuller was found dead hanging from a tree in Palmdale, California on June 10.
Courtesy of Robert Fuller Family/AP
The half-brother of Robert Fuller, the 24-year-old black man who was found hanging in the city of Palmdale last week, was killed in a deputy-involved shooting on Wednesday, Fuller’s family attorney Jamon Hicks confirmed.
At approximately 4:39 p.m. local time on Wednesday, detectives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) responded to assist deputies with a deputy-involved shooting in Kern County’s Rosamond, LASD said in a statement.
A public information officer for the department was not able to provide details of the incident.
“At this time, until we receive all of the information, the family and their legal team doesn’t have any further comment on this incident. The family respectfully asks that their privacy be respected,” said Hicks.
CNN has reached out to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office for more details.
Link Copied!
Rayshard Brooks opened up about the struggles of life after incarceration in an interview before his death
From CNN's Randi Kaye
“You get treated like an animal.”
Those were the words of 27-year-old Rayshard Brooks who was shot and killed by an Atlanta police officer this month. Brooks spoke those words in February, just a few months before his death, during an interview he gave to a company called Reconnect, which focuses on fighting incarceration.
The company had posted an ad on Craigslist, looking for people to share their stories about navigating the criminal justice system, and Brooks answered the call.
CNN obtained the 40-minute interview with the help of CNN’s Political Commentator Van Jones, who said a colleague in the criminal justice field entrusted it to him.
In the video, it’s clear Brooks is searching for redemption and a better life.
He reflects on life behind bars and speaks openly about the struggles he faced after making the “mistake” that put him there.
Brooks described being locked up 23 hours a day and told when to wake up and where to go. He said it “messed” with his mental state.
“Going through that process, it hardened me at a point, you know to like, hey, you know, I have to have my, my guard up because the world is cruel, you know, it took me through seeing different things and, you know, in the system you know it just, just makes you harden to a point,” he recalled.
Hennepin County: Chauvin had his knee on George Floyd's neck for 7 minutes, 46 seconds
From CNN's Brad Parks
A family takes pictures in front of a mural of George Floyd on June 10, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Brandon Bell/Getty Images
Officer Derek Chauvin had his knee on George Floyd’s neck for 7 minutes and 46 seconds, not 8 minutes and 46 seconds, as was originally stated in the complaint, according to the Hennepin County Attorney’s office.
Hennepin County emailed the following statement, saying the one-minute error “made no difference in the decision to charge nor in the continuing legal hearings.”
Link Copied!
Protesters begin dispersing after standoff in Atlanta's Zone 3 police precinct
From CNN's Ryan Young
Protesters standing outside of Atlanta's Zone 3 police precinct.
CNN
Protesters are now dispersing after a standoff with police in front of Atlanta’s Zone 3 police precinct.
CNN correspondent Ryan Young on the scene said a group of 75 protesters had gathered there.
He said that police gave a dispersal order to the crowd and several officers were on standby nearby.
Young said that the precinct is one where some officers have decided to call out.
“This is a very affluent neighborhood, but these folks have shown up in the neighborhood to have their voices heard,” Young said.
Link Copied!
Atlanta mayor says they have enough officers to cover the city through the night
CNN's Chris Cuomo and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.
CNN
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms told CNN’s Chris Cuomo that she doesn’t know exactly how many officers are calling out, but that the city has enough police officers.
“Our streets won’t be any less safe because of the number of officers who called out. But it is just my hope again that our officers will remember the commitment that they made when they held up their hand and they were sworn in as police officers.”
It comes as the Atlanta Police Department tweeted that it was experiencing “higher than usual number of call outs” this evening just hours after charges were brought against former officer Garrett Rolfe and officer Devin Brosnan in the case of Rayshard Brooks.
Bottoms said that some officers are staying on shift to make up the difference and the city could call on partners in other across the metropolitan area and in other jurisdictions if needed.
“We’ve already notified many of our other partners just in case we need to call others in. But we’re fine,” she said. “I think our true test will be likely tomorrow but I don’t have any concerns about where we are this evening.”
Bottoms said that morale is down in police departments across the country, “and I think ours is down tenfold.”
“This has been a very tough few weeks in Atlanta,” she said.
Link Copied!
Here's what you need to know about the Rayshard Brooks case
Atlanta Police Department Officer Garrett Rolfe, left and Officer Devin Brosnan. Rolfe, who fatally shot Rayshard Brooks in the back after the fleeing man pointed a stun gun in his direction, was charged with felony murder and 10 other charges.
A lot happened during Howard’s news conference; here are the biggest developments:
Charges filed: Former officer Garrett Rolfe faces 11 charges, including felony murder. If convicted, Rolfe faces life in prison without parole or the death penalty, Howard said. Officer Devin Brosnan is on administrative duty and also faces three charges, including aggravated assault.
Graphic photo: At the news conference, Howard displayed a photo he said shows Rolfe kicking Brooks after he had been shot. There were audible gasps in the room as Howard revealed the image.
State witness: Howard said that Brosnan, the other officer on the scene during the killing of Brooks, “has now become a state’s witness.” “He has decided to testify on behalf of the state in this case. What he has said to us that is within a matter of days he plans to make a statement regarding the culpability of officer Rolfe,” Howard said.
Bond: Since Brosnan is now a cooperating witness for the state, Howard said prosecutors “are asking the court to grant a bond of $50,000” and allow him to sign the bond. Howard recommended that Rolfe be denied bond.
Surrendering to authorities: Rolfe and Brosnan must surrender by 6 p.m. ET Thursday, Howard said.
Historical perspective: Wednesday marked the 40th time Fulton County has prosecuted police officers for misconduct, Howard said. This is also the ninth time the county has prosecuted a homicide case committed by a police officer, he said.
Link Copied!
Attorney for officer charged in death of Rayshard Brooks: "No agreement our client will testify"
From CNN’s Mitchell McCluskey
Attorney Amanda Clark Palmer.
CNN
Attorneys for Devin Brosnan, one of two Atlanta police officers charged in the death of Rayshard Brooks, says there is no agreement Brosnan will testify.
“To be clear, there is no agreement that our client will testify at any hearing,” Brosnan’s attorney Amanda Clark Palmer told CNN’s Chris Cuomo on Wednesday night.
When asked by Cuomo if Brosnan might take a deal to work as a state’s witness, Palmer denied this.
Brosnan is not accused of shooting Brooks but faces an aggravated assault charge for standing on Brooks after he was shot in the parking lot.
Don Samuel, Brosnan’s other attorney, claimed Brosnan had suffered a concussion and was confused and not aware that Brooks had been shot when he stood on his shoulder.
Link Copied!
Trump says shooting of Rayshard Brooks a "terrible situation, but you can't resist a police officer"
From CNN's Nikki Carvajal and Jasmine Wright
US President Donald Trump speaks during an East Room event to announce the “PREVENTS Task Force” at the White House in Washington, DC, on Wednesday, June 17.
Alex Wong/Getty Images
US President Donald Trump called the police shooting of Rayshard Brooks in Atlanta a “terrible situation,” but added that “you can’t resist a police officer,” in his most extensive comments about the shooting that led to murder charges for one police officer.
Trump said that he “just got a report” that “the police officer’s lawyer said that he heard a sound like a gun like a gun shot, and he saw a flash in front of him.”
Trump continued: “You know, I don’t know that I wouldn’t necessarily believe that, but I will tell you that’s, that’s a very interesting thing and maybe that’s so. They’re going to have to find out.”
“I hope he gets a fair shake because police have not been treated fairly in our country,” the President added.
Link Copied!
Democrats advance policing reform package
From CNN's Haley Byrd
Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee advanced their policing reform package late Wednesday night, setting up a full House vote on the legislation scheduled for next week.
The bill would ban chokeholds and end the qualified immunity doctrine, among other items.
Democrats on the committee rejected amendments Republicans offered to the measure throughout the day on a party-line basis, as members clashed over issues of Antifa, race, and abortion.
Near the end of the markup, Democrats approved an amendment naming the bill after George Floyd.
Link Copied!
A protester pulled a gun on the driver of a speeding car in Louisville, Kentucky, police say
From CNN’s Rebekah Riess
Protesters engage with a car in Louisville, Kentucky.
Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD)
A protester pulled a gun on a car driver during anti-racism protests in Louisville, Kentucky on Wednesday after the vehicle hit a demonstrator and sped off, the Louisville Metro Police Department said.
A video provided by the LMPD shows protesters engaging with the car. As the car sped off, a protester was hit and then demonstrators chased the vehicle down the street, with one protester pulling a gun on the driver, according to the LMPD.
A total of 17 arrests were made during the demonstrations for charges including inciting a riot, disorderly conduct, obstructing a highway, harassment with contact, fleeing, and assault.
Protesters began blocking streets around Jefferson Square at about 7 a.m. ET, forcing vehicles trying to travel in that area to turn around, according to the LMPD.
LMPD officers tried to intervene and asked them to stop blocking streets, but the protesters did not comply, police said. Special response team officers then responded to the area to try to clear it and arrested 17 people.
Police also confiscated one gun and towed five cars.
Link Copied!
Brooks’ widow left courtroom when DA talked about how officers treated him after he was shot, attorney says
The widow of Rayshard Brooks, Tomika Miller, had to leave the room as Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard, Jr. described Officers Garrett Rolfe and Devin Brosnan kicking and standing on her husband after he was shot, her attorney Chris Stewart told CNN’s Anderson Cooper.
Even though attorneys for Officer Brosnan have said he has not agreed to be a state witness, Stewart still said it gave him hope.
“It gave me a lot of hope,” he said. “It gave me hope that time is really changing where officers are going to step forward and say ‘no, no more.”
“I just see it all too often where I’ve had officers want to testify or have to give me information secretly or privately because they’re scared of the repercussions of publicly supporting something that they know is wrong,” Stewart said.
