George Floyd’s coffin put on view for public as Democrats introduce federal police reform legislation

Chauvin to appear in court two weeks after Floyd killing

Two weeks after George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis police custody sparked worldwide protests against systemic racism, the man charged with his murder, Derek Chauvin, will appear in court.

Chauvin is expected to make a virtual appearance on Monday afternoon before judges at Hennepin County Court in Minneapolis, who have charged the ex-cop with second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

The 44-year-old's face has now become synonymous with both institutionalised racism and excessive policing in the US, after he was videoed pinning George Floyd to the ground for almost 9 minutes whilst the unarmed black man pleaded “I can’t breathe”, and later died.

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Officer charged in death of George Floyd claims he 'did not stand by and watch'

The attorney for one of the former Minneapolis Police Department's officer's has defended his client by stating the man did not "stand by and watch" George Floyd die at the hand of his colleagues. 

Earl Gray, who represents Thomas Lane, explained his client's defence when appearing on NBC's Today Show. 

"He did not stand by and watch. He was holding the legs because they guy was resisting at first. Now, when he’s holding his legs he says to Chauvin, well should we roll him over? Because he says he can’t breathe. Chauvin says no," the attorney said. 

Derek Chauvin was the officer who was videoed with his knee on Mr Floyd's neck for nearly nine minutes. It was believed the man held seniority over the other officers in the situation. 

Lane had been on the job for four days when the death happened. He now faces charges of aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter along with the other two officers. 

Chauvin faces second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter and will appear in court later today. 

Minneapolis mayor says he is not for 'completely abolishing the police department'

Jacob Frey appeared on ABC's Good Morning America to discuss the unrest in his city following the death of George Floyd. 

Calls to disband the Minneapolis Police Department, and others across the United States, have heightened in recent days from protesters. 

The Minneapolis City Council voted towards dismantling the police department and creating police reform in the community. But Mr Frey was not in favour of the abolishment of the department. 

"Let me be clear, I am for massive structural and transformational reform to an entire system that has not for generations worked for black and brown people." Mr Frey said. " We have failed them and we need to entirely reshape the system. We need a full on cultural shift in how our police department and departments throughout the country function. Am I for entirely abolishing the police department? No, I'm not."

Mr Frey said he would be working with the city council to come up with a solution that would provide police reform for the city and protect citizens. 

George Floyd's family asks UN to intervene in his case

George Floyd's family has appealed to the United Nations to intervene in his case and investigate his death at the hand of four former Minneapolis police officers, according to lawyer Benjamin Crump. 

A letter dated 3 June was sent to UN Working Group on the Rights of People of African Descent. It urged to investigate Mr Floyd's death and encouraged the US government to press federal charges against the officers. The letter also had recommendations for police reforms the family was pushing for the UN to put its weight behind. 

"Among the reforms requested were deescalating techniques, independent prosecutions and autopsies for every extrajudicial police killing in an effort to stop further human rights abuses including torture and extrajudicial killings of African Americans to protect their inherent and fundamental human right to life," the statement read.

The letter and full statement from the family here: 

Nancy Pelosi and other top Democrats lead a moment of silence for George Floyd

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and other top Democrats in Congress went to Emancipation Hall in Washington DC on Monday to lead a moment of silence following the death of George Floyd. 

The moment of silence lasted 8 minutes and 53 seconds to symbolise how long an officer placed his knee on Mr Floyd's neck, and involved the politicians all taking a knee in the building.  

The Democrats organised this moment before Ms Pelosi announced a House bill to address police reform across the US.

Democrats introduce sweeping federal police reform legislation

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Black lives only seem to matter to Borris Johnson when they're censored

Tom Peck with his latest: 

France to abandon police chokeholds following protests

France's interior minster announced the country will no longer allow police to use chokeholds against civilians following the global unrest of police brutality tactics. 

The use of chokeholds by officers have come under review after George Floyd's death at the hands of four former Minneapolis Police officers. The hold has caused asphyxiation in many cases across the world. 

Interior Minister Christophe Castaner announced Monday that "the method of seizing the neck via strangling will be abandoned and will no longer be taught in police schools". 

Other immobilisation techniques, such as placing a knee on a civilian while they're prone against a surface, have also drawn criticism. France lawmakers are pushing for these practices to be banned. 

How do Siri, Google, and Alexa respond to Black Lies Matter questions? 

Apple's Siri and Google's voice assistant have both been updated to respond to questions about Black Lives Matter, and rebuff the sentiment behind the response "All Lives Matter."

As spotted by sports blogger David Gardner, when asked "Do black lives matter?", Google's Assistant will respond: "Black Lives Matter. Black people deserve the same freedoms afforded to everyone in this country, and recognising the injustice they face is the first step towards fixing it."

When asked "Do all lives matter", the Assistant will respond: "Saying 'Black Lives Matter' doesn't mean that all lives don't. It means Black lives are at risk in ways others are not."

Adam Smith reports:  

Piers Morgan calls for Trump to take a knee in the Oval Office

Piers Morgan has been a vocal critic of the US president in recent months amid the coronavirus pandemic and Black Lives Matter protests erupting across the country. 

He has now implored the preside to take a knee in the Oval Office in an effort to unite the country.

"From the start of the protests, the President has done nothing but pour 'when the looting starts, the shooting starts' fuel onto the flames, acting as a divisive lightening rod with his incendiary rhetoric," Mr Morgan wrote in his column for Daily Mail. "Yet the more he rages, and the more he vows to 'dominate' the protestors, the more tone-deaf and out-of-touch he looks – as his crashing approval ratings indicate. Now we're told he's so unsettled by this reaction that he is planning to make an address to the nation this week on 'race and unity."

He added: "If President Trump really wants to make a statement about race and unity, one that rocks the entire world, then with the American people watching live on TV, he should simply take the knee in the Oval Office. In one stunning moment, Trump could heal so many wounds, unify so much of the country, and quite probably get himself re-elected."