Anti-racism protests continue to spread following the death of George Floyd, leading to calls to defund police departments and take down historic statues.
If you’re just joining us, here’s the latest:
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.
