The death of 46-year-old African American George Floyd in Minneapolis at the hands of law enforcement officers in the United States provoked a wave of mass protests And unrest, which the country has Not seen since the death of the iconic defender of the rights of blacks Martin Luther king in 1968.
The wave of popular anger And with it riots over Washington: if last Friday, the 1st Day of protests, rallies And pickets at the White house were peaceful, in the next two days, the bullies started throwing firecrackers And bottles at police officers, burning cars, smashing shop Windows. The results of the riots, was busted hundreds of people, including law enforcement officers was injured.
on the first Day of the weekend in the most popular And almost the most peaceful in the last days of the rally. Despite desired by organizers of the million participants took to the streets about 10 thousand people. How riots changed folk festivals, observed the journalist of Last news .
The day promised hot, about 30 degrees, which is the capital of the United States, by itself, is Not uncommon, But maybe it was the weather caused many to Not go To the White house, And on nature. In order Not to aggravate the situation Even more, Federal And municipal authorities, whose relationship is not ideal, decided to reduce to a minimum the presence of the police And military on the streets. Traffic was blocked off for several blocks from the White house: across the road put the "hammer" of the national guard And machines other special services, including car anti-drug Agency DEA, which is often engaged in the fight against drug trafficking.
For all of you who are Not moved by 4 wheels And 2 or on foot, the path was open. Every self-respecting party rally carried a homemade poster or was dressed in a t-shirt. The most common "black Lives matter "" No Justice, No peace ", " Justice For George Floyd ". But there were also the original phrase, For example "Conductor of truth" or just a portrait of Karl Marx. The General gist of the messages was the same: the fight against racism And violence from law enforcement.
Those who did Not have a suitable shirt or mask, could buy everything in place: both for $ 20. A few days ago, it was possible to take ten. The greatest demand for t-shirts with the image of George Floyd, which in the public mind the liberal American citizens is rapidly turning into a Martyr, the victim due to his skin color. In fairness, we note that there are t-shirts with the names of the victims And other African Americans.
adjacent To the Park near the White house, 16th street was renamed yesterday by the city authorities in the "black Lives have value Plaza" lined up. More precisely, at once two stages: One in the toilet cubicles installed specifically For the rally, And the second To the transformer box where all Interested were photographed on the background of the new signs with the street name. Another small queue lined up To the ice cream truck - still hot. Came to the rally with their parents the children were delighted.
"Tell me his name!" - was heard at his ear the scream into a megaphone." George Floyd!" - sounded answered hundreds of votes at the fence of the White house." Can't!" - " Breathe!" - continued roll call the last words of the deceased African-American. And so times ten. But peacefully, without throwing bottles And firecrackers. The feeling that even if there were such hot heads, they would have quickly cooled the other participants of the protest. Good there was clearly more than the radicals who attacked the city a week ago.
"Kneel!" - suddenly shouted into a megaphone sturdy colored guy. Citizens respectfully dropped to one knee And stood in silence in memory of all received damage from manifestations of racism in the United States. This position was at the center of public attention after the fact, How, in some cases, the knee began to stand up, law-enforcement officers in solidarity with the protesters.
By the way, before kneeling posture became the subject of heated disputes, correspondence between President Donald trump And players of the National football League. The head of the country didn't like that the black players instead of having to listen to the anthem standing up, down on a knee in protest against racism in the country.
on the first Day of the weekend none of the participants of the meeting of the dispute in question was Not. As there was No police, which was addressed to the most slogans. However, the lack of guards did Not save the protesters from the claims." No (police) badge - No authority! There, they stood on their roofs watching us, And on neighboring streets, too, And the majority without insignia " - outraged citizen of Virginia named Paul.
Participate in the protection of public order law enforcement officers without insignia became one of the reasons For public discontent in the U.S. capital, As difficult to attract to the responsibility of those guards who break the law During the dispersal of the protests. In General throughout the country, such cases already documented several hundred, which aggravates the problem of violence from law enforcement. About how many law enforcement officers were killed And buildings sustained damage during the protests, at a rally outside the White house chose Not to speak.
Just 100 meters from the demonstrators in the shade of the trees on the sidewalk sat a few young men And girls. Close to them were dying of heat four-legged Pets. The dog was small And short, But It helped them a bit - the language of each was " on the shoulder ".
"I always go to the protests with their own dog, she was used to. And believe me, she will gnaw out the racism in our country " - with a smile assured the girl named Alice.
behind her, two young men knitting mesh fence some writing with colored ribbons. I remembered the era of hippies And anti-war protests that were held Here in the days of Martin Luther king.
This fence has started to put in the first day of the week after the riots And after the famous trump walks To the burnt Church. About the President first told the media that He would be As if scared of the protests And hid in a bunker under the White house (this is now the protesters tease him "bunker boy" - bunker boy). And after he wrote that He was angry at these publications And decided to walk To the Church for which law enforcement authorities have dispersed a peaceful protest. And trump, And members of his administration such an interpretation of events deny, But For the demonstrators it does Not require any evidence. The liberal media they are, As a rule, believe without a doubt.
The fence installed around the entire residence. For fade-free fence reinforced with concrete blocks. And the main entrance of the White house And the adjacent administration block five powerful trucks. At the same time on the neighbouring transmission of such fortifications There. There is on duty a couple of employees of the Secret service, one of them with a smile, handing out passing the protesters bottled water.
A group of demonstrators continued to gather To the White house, replacing one another. One of the columns marched from the memorial to Abraham Lincoln U.S. President, In which And because of which the country abolished slavery. Incidentally, he also fell victim to violence, however, is Not law enforcement, And southerners-Confederate, who fought four years during the Civil war.
Some of the protesters walked a route through the University of George capital of the United States. Here at the intersection of 22nd And " H " streets 20 years ago, a monument to Alexander Pushkin. On the first Day weekend, the Day 221st anniversary of the birth of Pushkin, Russia's Ambassador to the U.S. Anatoly Antonov laid a bouquet of red carnations To the monument.
some of the protesters expressed interest, seeing the fresh flowers And the monument to the unknown person to them, And began to read the explanatory plaque in English.
"It's the poet? Russian?", - asked with surprise And the Americans were upset when they learned that Pushkin was forcibly deprived of his Life in a duel. Maybe citizens unwittingly conducted an Association with shooting And violence, which are Not uncommon on the streets of the United States.
However the biggest impression on participants, who were holding a banner reading "black Lives matter" were impressed by the fact that the great-grandfather of the great Russian poet was African. Even more surprised that in Russia He was freed from slavery And adopted the nobility, that is, became a privileged resident of the country in a time when USA As a country did Not exist.
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sections: Politics |