Month: June 2020

An independent autopsy conducted regarding the killing of George Floyd found his death was a homicide and that he died of “asphyxiation from sustained pressure.” The autopsy said compression to Floyd’s neck and back as former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck and other officers knelt on his back led to a lack of blood flow to his brain and that he was “dead on the scene.”  A statement by the family’s lead attorney Ben Crump said, “The independent examiners found that weight on the back, handcuffs and positioning were contributory factors because they impaired the ability of Mr. Floyd’s diaphragm to function.”  Dr. Michael Baden, one of the pathologists who performed the independent autopsy said Floyd had no underlying medical problems that contributed to his death. “Police have this false impression that if you can talk, you can breathe. That’s not true,” said Baden.

An official autopsy released last week suggested that Floyd had underlying health conditions and “potential intoxicants in his system” that likely contributed to his death along with the police restraint.  Chauvin was charged with third-degree murder, with a criminal complaint stating that Chauvin had is knee on Floyd’s neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds in total and 2 minutes and 53 seconds after Floyd was unresponsive. Floyd’s family called for Chauvin to be charged with first-degree murder and for the other officers present to be charged in his death.

Blood and air cut off to George Floyd’s brain, causing death, according to independent autopsy

Via www.nbcnews.com

The independent autopsy commissioned by Floyd’s family contradicts a county examination.

06/01/2020 4:37 PM

 

Editorial credit: Matt Gush / Shutterstock.com

NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo and NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio issued a curfew for New York City on Monday night, following four days of protests in response to the killing of George Floyd.  The curfew began at 11 pm Monday, and will continue until 5 am Tuesday morning, Cuomo announced. Cuomo did not indicate if the curfew will extend beyond Monday.  The governor also announced that the NYPD will increase its police presence on Monday night, with the number of officers jumping from 4,000 to 8,000. 

“I stand behind the protestors and their message, but unfortunately there are people who are looking to distract and discredit this moment,” Cuomo said. “The violence and the looting has been bad for the city, the state, and this entire national movement, undermining and distracting from this righteous cause. While we encourage people to protest peacefully and make their voices heard, the safety of the general public is paramount and cannot be compromised.”

Mayor deBlasio said that while demonstrations have been “generally peaceful,” the incidents of violence that have accompanied them are undermining “the message of the moment.”

“It is too important and the message must be heard. Tonight, to protect against violence and property damage, the governor and I have decided to implement a citywide curfew,” said de Blasio. “The police commissioner and I have spoken at length about the incidents we’ve all seen in recent days where officers didn’t uphold the values of this city or the NYPD. We agree on the need for swift action.”

George Floyd protest live updates: NYC institutes curfew

Via abcnews.go.com

The death of George Floyd, a black man who died after he was seen in a video being pinned down…

06/01/2020 5:11 PM

 

Editorial credit: Steve Sanchez Photos / Shutterstock.com