Fears George Floyd could be forgotten fuels his family to keep his story alive
George Floyd's first cousin, Dr. Shareeduh McGee reflects on the state of police reform five years after Floyd's murder and says that fear Floyd could be forgotten keeps her fighting for change. As the president of the 929 Foundation, named after the 9 minutes and 29 seconds a police officer knelt on Floyd's neck, McGee says she mentors young people, speaks at schools, and engages in city council meetings to make sure Floyd is remembered.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
35 minutes ago
- New York Times
Live Updates: Tensions Flare Between Protesters and Law Enforcement in L.A.
News Analysis National Guard troops in Los Angeles on Sunday. Gov. Gavin Newsom of California has formally asked the Trump administration to remove them. It is the fight President Trump had been waiting for, a showdown with a top political rival in a deep blue state over an issue core to his political agenda. In bypassing the authority of Gov. Gavin Newsom of California, a Democrat, to call in the National Guard to quell protests in the Los Angeles area over his administration's efforts to deport more migrants, Mr. Trump is now pushing the boundaries of presidential authority and stoking criticism that he is inflaming the situation for political gain. Local and state authorities had not sought help in dealing with the scattered protests that erupted after an immigration raid on Friday in the garment district. But Mr. Trump and his top aides leaned into the confrontation with California leaders on Sunday, portraying the demonstrations as an existential threat to the country — setting in motion an aggressive federal response that in turn sparked new protests across the city. As more demonstrators took to the streets, the president wrote on social media that Los Angeles was being 'invaded and occupied' by 'violent, insurrectionist mobs,' and directed three of his top cabinet officials to take any actions necessary to 'liberate Los Angeles from the Migrant Invasion.' 'Nobody's going to spit on our police officers. Nobody's going to spit on our military,' Mr. Trump told reporters as he headed to Camp David on Sunday, although it was unclear whether any such incidents had occurred. 'That happens, they get hit very hard.' The president declined to say whether he planned to invoke the 1807 Insurrection Act, which allows for the use of federal troops on domestic soil to quell a rebellion. But either way, he added, 'we're going to have troops everywhere.' Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff, posted on social media that 'this is a fight to save civilization.' Mr. Trump's decision to deploy at least 2,000 members of the California National Guard is the latest example of his willingness and, at times, an eagerness to shatter norms to pursue his political goals and bypass limits on presidential power. The last president to send in the National Guard for a domestic operation without a request from the state's governor, Lyndon B. Johnson, did so in 1965, to protect civil rights demonstrators in Alabama. Image President Donald Trump in New Jersey on Sunday. On social media, he, his aides and allies have sought to frame the demonstrations against immigration officials on their own terms. Credit... Haiyun Jiang for The New York Times But aides and allies of the president say the events unfolding in Los Angeles provide an almost perfect distillation of why Mr. Trump was elected in November. 'It could not be clearer,' said Newt Gingrich, the former Republican House speaker and ally of the president who noted that Mr. Trump had been focused on immigration enforcement since 2015. 'One side is for enforcing the law and protecting Americans, and the other side is for defending illegals and being on the side of the people who break the law.' Sporadic protests have occurred across the country in recent days as federal agents have descended on Los Angeles and other cities searching workplaces for undocumented immigrants, part of an expanded effort by the administration to ramp up the number of daily deportations. On social media, Mr. Trump, his aides and allies have sought to frame the demonstrations against immigration officials on their own terms. They have shared images and videos of the most violent episodes — focusing particularly on examples of protesters lashing out at federal agents — even as many remained peaceful. Officials also zeroed in on demonstrators waving flags of other countries, including Mexico and El Salvador, as evidence of a foreign invasion. 'Illegal criminal aliens and violent mobs have been committing arson, throwing rocks at vehicles, and attacking federal law enforcement for days,' wrote Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary. Mr. Newsom, whom the president refers to as 'Newscum,' has long been a foil for Mr. Trump, who has repeatedly targeted California and its leader as emblematic of failures of the Democratic Party. 'We expected this, we prepared for this,' Mr. Newsom said in a statement to The New York Times. 'This is not surprising — for them to succeed, California must fail, and so they're going to try everything in their tired playbook despite the evidence against them.' Image Law enforcement officers and members of the California National Guard engaged protesters in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday. Credit... Gabriela Bhaskar/The New York Times On Sunday, the governor sent a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth formally requesting that Mr. Trump rescind the call-up of the National Guard, saying federal actions were inflaming the situation. He was echoed by other Democratic officials, who said the mounting demonstrations were the result of Mr. Trump's own actions. The president and his aides 'are masters of misinformation and disinformation,' Senator Alex Padilla of California, a Democrat, said in an interview. 'They create a crisis of their own making and come in with all the theatrics and cruelty of immigration enforcement. They should not be surprised in a community like Los Angeles they will be met by demonstrators who are very passionate about standing up for fundamental rights and due process.' Republicans defended Mr. Trump's moves, saying he was rightfully exercising his power to protect public safety. 'The president is extremely concerned about the safety of federal officials in L.A. right now who have been subject to acts of violence and harassment and obstruction,' Representative Kevin Kiley, Republican of California, said in an interview. He added: 'We are in this moment because of a series of reckless decisions by California's political leaders, the aiding and abetting the open-border policies of President Biden.' Trump officials said on Sunday that they were ready to escalate their response even more, if necessary. Tom Homan, the president's border czar, suggested in an interview with NBC News that the administration would arrest anyone, including public officials, who interfered with immigration enforcement activities, which he said would continue in California and across the country. Image Protesters in Pasadena, Calif., on Sunday. Credit... Alex Welsh for The New York Times Mr. Trump appears to be deploying against California a similar playbook that he has used to punish universities, law firms and other institutions and individuals that he views as political adversaries. Last month, he threatened to strip 'large scale' federal funding from California 'maybe permanently' over the inclusion of transgender athletes in women's sports. And in recent days, his administration said it would pull roughly $4 billion in federal funding for California's high-speed train, which would further delay a project that has long been plagued by delays and funding shortages. 'Everything he's done to attack California or anybody he fears isn't supportive of him is going to continue to be an obsession of his,' Mr. Padilla said. 'He may think it plays smart for his base, but it's actually been bad for the country.' White House officials said there was a different common denominator that explains Mr. Trump's actions both against institutions like Harvard and immigration protests in Los Angeles. 'For years Democrat-run cities and institutions have failed the American people, by both choice and incompetence,' Abigail Jackson, a White House spokeswoman, said in a statement. 'In each instance,' she added, 'the president took necessary action to protect Americans when Democrats refused.'
Washington Post
an hour ago
- Washington Post
Democratic Party chair lashes officer in leaked call, prompting more infighting
Months of infighting at the Democratic National Committee escalated into a new round of open warfare Sunday, with several top party officials accusing an embattled member of their leadership team of leaking a portion of a private and emotional meeting. During a May 15 Zoom meeting, DNC Chair Ken Martin said he had recently questioned whether he wanted to continue in his role and blamed Vice Chair David Hogg for destroying his ability to lead the party, according to a portion of the audio posted by Politico. After the leaked audio was published Sunday, five of the nine DNC leaders on the Zoom call at the time of the leaked clip closed ranks around Martin and accused Hogg, or people associated with him, of leaking it, in statements and interviews with The Washington Post. None provided evidence for their claims. Hogg denied leaking the audio. The DNC officials who pointed fingers at Hogg included fellow vice chair Malcolm Kenyatta, who said Hogg 'proves he has no relationship with integrity if he's willing to record and leak private conversations'; Association of State Democratic Committees President Jane Kleeb, who said 'the deliberate leaking of private conversations — by David Hogg and his allies must stop'; and DNC Secretary Jason Rae, who said 'there is no doubt in my mind that David Hogg leaked this recording.' 'Does David Hogg benefit from this? Yes,' said Washington Democratic Chair Shasti Conrad, who would face Hogg if the DNC votes to hold a new election this week. Martin declined to comment on the source of the leak, but said in a statement about the call that he is not going anywhere and that he took 'this job to fight Republicans, not Democrats.' Hogg, who is facing a possible ouster this week as part of a separate dispute, denied leaking the audio in a statement posted on X on Sunday afternoon. 'A lot of people are accusing me of leaking this recording. These are the messages from the reporter who wrote the story,' said Hogg, who in his post shared a screenshot showing he did not appear to respond to texts from the reporter who broke the story contacting him for comment. The open hostilities come as the party debates larger questions over rebuilding its reputation and winning back core voters following a disastrous 2024 election that saw Republicans win the presidency and both chambers of Congress. An April Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll found that Americans see the Democratic Party as somewhat more out of touch 'with the concerns of most people' than either President Donald Trump or the Republican Party. The skirmish over the meeting and the leak is the latest in an increasingly bitter fight over Hogg's April announcement that he would back primary challengers to incumbent House Democrats. Some DNC members are uneasy with Hogg serving as a party officer while doing so, concerned that it gives the appearance that the DNC is interfering in primary contests. Martin has said he is committed to introducing a pledge that 'will require all party officers — including myself — to remain neutral in primaries' to 'ensure no party official can abuse their position to tilt the outcome of an election.' In the May 15 Zoom meeting, Martin said 'I don't know if I want to do this anymore,' and told Hogg 'you essentially destroyed any chance I have to show the leadership that I need to.' Hogg, a 25-year-old gun-control activist who survived the deadly 2018 school shooting in Parkland, Florida, was elected to his DNC role in February and is the first Gen Z member to serve as a vice chair. In April, he announced a $20 million effort to challenge 'out-of-touch, ineffective' incumbent House Democrats in party primaries, which he has framed as a way to get Democrats into 'fighting shape.' Hogg has said he would only back challengers in safe Democratic districts. Critics of the effort have called it a distraction and argued that it will divert resources and distract from taking back control of the U.S. House. Last month a DNC panel found that Hogg and Kenyatta were not properly elected earlier this year, setting off a process that could lead to their ouster. The challenge that prompted those findings, involving the party's gender diversity rules, came before Hogg's announcement that he would get involved in primaries. It was filed by Kalyn Free, an Oklahoma activist who unsuccessfully sought one of the vice chair slots in the Feb. 1 election. But the primary debate has led some DNC members to view the vote as a convenient way to get rid of Hogg and the drama around him, while others have warned that his removal would send a bad message about the party's unity and outreach to young voters. Hogg, in a statement after the panel's decision, said it is 'impossible to ignore the broader context of my work to reform the party which loomed large over this vote.' On Monday, the DNC will begin an electronic vote on the committee's resolution. If the full body accepts it, new elections will be held for two vice chair positions; if it's rejected, Hogg and Kenyatta will maintain their positions. The new elections, which would begin later this week, would be limited to the same five candidates who ran in February: Hogg, Kenyatta, Free, Kansas Democratic Party Chair Jeanna Repass and Conrad.
CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
Los Angeles ICE protest crowds shut down 101 Freeway amid National Guard deployment after immigration operations
National Guard troops arrived in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday morning following a couple of days marked by violent clashes between law enforcement officers and protesters over President Trump's immigration enforcement operations conducted in the area. Protesters clashed with soldiers on Sunday afternoon after a crowd gathered near the Metropolitan Detention Center downtown. Images captured by CBS News Los Angeles showed members of the National Guard using what appeared to be tear gas and firing non-lethal rounds toward some groups of demonstrators. Large-scale protests have sprouted throughout L.A. County including in the Westlake District, downtown L.A. and Paramount, and have escalated to violence on several occasions. A federal law enforcement official tells CBS News that multiple federal law enforcement officers were injured during confrontations with protesters on Friday and Saturday. The amount of total arrests made is not yet clear, but a senior city official in L.A. told CBS News that at least 29 protesters were arrested Friday night. Mr. Trump announced Saturday night that he'd deploy the guard in response to the massive protests. In a post to his Truth Social late Saturday night local time, Trump called the events in L.A. "two days of violence, clashes and unrest." "These Radical Left protests, by instigators and often paid troublemakers, will NOT BE TOLERATED," he continued. Mr. Trump added that masks will no longer be allowed to be worn at protests, although he did not specify how or if this would be enforced. Members of the National Guard stand guard outside the Metropolitan Detention Center, MDC in downtown Los Angeles, California on June 8, 2025. US President Donald Trump deployed 2,000 troops on June 7 to handle escalating protests against immigration enforcement raids in the Los Angeles area, a move the state's governor termed "purposefully inflammatory." Federal agents clashed with angry crowds in a Los Angeles suburb as protests stretched into a second night Saturday, shooting flash-bang grenades and shutting part of a freeway amid raids on undocumented migrants, reports said. FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images A Presidential Memoranda issued Saturday stated that at least 2,000 National Guard troops were going to be deployed. The majority of the soldiers are from the California National Guard, a Defense Department official told CBS News. Gov. Gavin Newsom on Saturday criticized Mr. Trump's military deployment, calling it "purposefully inflammatory" in a post to X. "The federal government is taking over the California National Guard and deploying 2,000 soldiers in Los Angeles — not because there is a shortage of law enforcement, but because they want a spectacle," he said in another post. "Don't give them one." He formally requested that Mr. Trump rescind the deployment of troops to L.A. in a letter addressed to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, saying there was "no need" for the National Guard. "State and local authorities are the most appropriate ones to evaluate the need for resources to safeguard life and property," Newsom's letter said. "Indeed, the decision to deploy the National Guard, without appropriate training or orders, risks seriously escalating the situation." COMPTON, CA -JUNE 7, 2025: A protester carries a Mexican flag as LA County Sheriff deputies form a law enforcement line to keep demonstrators from advancing after ICE raids at a nearby Home Depot and the Garment District brought out resistance from Los Angeles residents on June 7, 2025 in Compton, California.(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) Gina Ferazzi Mayor Karen Bass called the deployment of the National Guard a "chaotic escalation" of the situation in a post to X. "The fear people are feeling in our city right now is very real – it's felt in our communities and within our families and it puts our neighborhoods at risk," she said in part. "This is the last thing that our city needs, and I urge protestors to remain peaceful." Former Vice President Kamala Harris took to X to share a statement on Sunday afternoon. "Los Angeles is my home. And like so many Americans, I am appalled at what we are witnessing on the streets of our city. Deploying the National Guard is a dangerous escalation meant to provoke chaos," her statement said. Standing outside of the Metropolitan Detention Center before violent clashes began on Sunday, Rep. Maxine Waters, who represents parts of South L.A., called Mr. Trump's deployment of the National Guard a "disruption." "People have to stand up for what is right," she said. In a statement to CBS News, an ICE spokesperson said immigration enforcement operations have resulted in the arrest of a "domestic abuser" and a "child rapist." "Irresponsible politicians continue to push dangerous and misleading rhetoric that puts communities and law enforcement at risk," the statement reads. "Even the Los Angeles Police Departments referred to violent riots yesterday as 'peaceful protests.' Americans can look at the videos and images and see with their own eyes that they are dangerous not 'peaceful.'" Protesters clash with law enforcement again A massive crowd of protesters in downtown Los Angeles on June 8, 2025, as demonstrations against immigration operations continue for third straight day. KCAL News For the third straight day, some protesters and activists gathered in downtown L.A. to protest the ongoing operations and presence of federal authorities in the city. The situation appeared calm to start on Sunday, with CBS News Los Angeles reporters at the scene reporting no signs of conflict until about 3 p.m., when a large group of demonstrators marched from the steps of L.A. City Hall to the federal building, where the detention center is located. They began to clash with the large group of federal agents located outside of the building, including some who looked to be members of the National Guard. In response to the escalation, which police said involved people throwing projectiles and concrete in their direction, the LAPD issued a Tactical Alert for the entire city. "An UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY has been declared for the area of Alameda between 2nd St and Aliso St. A DISPERSAL ORDER has been issued. Arrests are being made. To our media partners, please keep a safe distance from active operations," said a post on X by LAPD's Central Division. Two officers were injured when two motorcyclists tried to breach the LAPD skirmish line in front of the detention center, police said. Both of those people were detained. Several blocks away, CBS News Los Angeles reporters saw a smaller crowd of demonstrators vandalizing as many as six Waymo vehicles in the area. They were seen spray painting the cars, throwing objects and jumping on the windshields. A short time later one of those vehicles was set on fire as a large crowd looked on. The crowd moved into the city's Civic Center at around 5 p.m. Some demonstrators were seen setting fireworks from the CBS News Los Angeles helicopter as LAPD officers on horseback attempted to push the crowd back. Demonstrators flood the 101 Freeway as immigration operation protests continue for third day in Los Angeles. KCAL News Just before 4 p.m., demonstrators moved onto the 101 Freeway, blocking traffic on the busy thoroughfare. They blocked the Aliso Street offramp and several lanes while hundreds of others watched from the Main Street overpass. In response, the California Highway Patrol closed the entire stretch of freeway that runs through the downtown area. Dozens of CHP officers were seen as they also entered the freeway, stopping under the overpass in a line. They completely overtook southbound lanes, moving protesters back, though the majority of the crowd remained on the other side of the freeway. As they continued to push the crowd, several people were seen being taken into custody from SKYCAL's aerial view. In nearby Pasadena, a small gathering began Sunday afternoon after federal officers were spotted at a local hotel, a city spokesperson confirmed. Pasadena Mayor Victor M. Gordo said in a statement that no enforcement activity was confirmed. "We understand the anxiety and fear that these reports can create for many in our community," he said. "I urge our community to remain calm, united, and peaceful, and not be baited or provoked into violence. The right to peacefully assemble and express ourselves is a fundamental part of who we are—not just as Pasadenans, but as Americans." How this all started The new military presence in L.A. comes after days of escalation between protesters and law enforcement, notably Immigration and Customs Enforcement. On Friday evening, multiple immigration operations were conducted across L.A., primarily in the Westlake District, downtown and South L.A., ICE officials confirmed. A single operation at a job site Friday resulted in the arrest of 44 unauthorized immigrants, ICE told CBS News on Sunday. An additional 77 were arrested around the same time frame in the greater L.A. area. The exact charges of those arrests were not yet clear as of Sunday afternoon. ICE confirmed to CBS News Los Angeles that four federal search warrants were served at three locations in L.A. on Friday night. As news of those warrants spread, protests broke out. The most notable of which was Friday night, and took place outside the Federal Building in downtown L.A. after demonstrators learned that detainees were allegedly being held inside. As tensions escalated and some protesters threw objects toward law enforcement, the Los Angeles Police Department eventually issued an unlawful assembly declaration and a dispersal order. Dozens of officers sporting riot gear and shields formed a skirmish line. A federal law enforcement official with knowledge of the operations tells CBS News that ICE requested assistance from LAPD multiple times over the course of Friday night. That same official said it took local authorities more than 2 hours to honor that request, although a senior city official in L.A. told CBS News that it took LAPD 55 minutes to respond, not 2 hours. A car burns during a protest in Compton, Calif., Saturday, June 7, 2025, after federal immigration authorities conducted operations. Eric Thayer / AP On Saturday, protests centered in on the city of Paramount after ICE and other federal law enforcement officers were spotted. Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, said in a statement that there was no ICE "raid" on Saturday in Paramount, but instead the agents were staging at an office. The protests in Paramount eventually spilled over into Compton, where hundreds of demonstrators gathered around a car that was set on fire in the middle of the intersection of Alondra Boulevard and Atlantic Avenue, near Dale's Donuts, Images captured at the scene by CBS News Los Angeles showed law enforcement deploying what appeared to be tear gas to disperse crowds and shooting non-lethal munitions at some protesters. Going forward U.S. Rep. Nanette Barragán, who represents parts of L.A.'s South Bay, tells CBS News that ICE enforcement and removal operations are expected daily for the next 30 days in LA County. A federal law enforcement official tells CBS News that deputies with LA County Sheriff's Office are now assisting ICE officials with perimeter protection, although they will not be assisting with any immigration enforcement efforts. , and contributed to this report.
