U.S. Cities Burning As President Blames Radical Left for Riots
By Stefan J. Bos, Special Correspondent Worthy News
(Worthy News) – Shops were left looted and cars smoldering in many U.S. cities on Pentecost Sunday after violent protests against police abuse that President Donald Trump blamed on Antifa and other left-wing groups.
“It’s ANTIFA and the Radical Left. Don’t lay the blame on others!” Trump writes on the social networking site Twitter.
His comments came as Minnesota state officials claimed that white supremacists and even drug cartels were involved in stoking the ongoing violence.
The outrage began when video footage emerged of a police officer kneeling on the neck of George Floyd, the unarmed black man who died in custody on May 25.
Officer Derek Chauvin was fired following the incident in the city of Minneapolis in Minnesota, along with three other officers. Chauvin was later detained on charges of third-degree murder and manslaughter on May 29.
On Saturday, Demonstrators were seen kneeling before police in Minneapolis in reference to the way Floyd died after being restrained by Minneapolis police officers on Memorial Day.
Protestors said the killing underscored years of police abuse towards minorities. But peaceful protests over Floyd’s death turned soon into violent and widespread looting. People were seen carrying expensive iPhones and other priceless items from stores.
In Salt Lake City, a man aimed a bow and arrow at protesters and was attacked by the crowd. Fires burned in the streets of Los Angeles. Protesters ripped apart an American flag in Raleigh, North Carolina. Police fired rubber bullets and tore gas in many cities.
Violence spread overnight despite curfews in several significant cities rocked by civil unrest in recent days, including Atlanta, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Denver, Cincinnati, Portland, Oregon, and Louisville, Kentucky. Protests also flared in Dallas, Chicago, Seattle, Salt Lake City, and Cleveland.
The sight of protesters flooding streets fueled a sense of crisis among crowds in the United States after weeks of lockdowns due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has seen millions thrown out of work. Commentators say the unemployment has disproportionately affected minority communities.
Critics said the closely packed crowds and many demonstrators not wearing masks could spark fears a resurgence of COVID-19. Official statistics say more than 100,000 Americans died of the coronavirus disease. Bit some experts say that the death toll could be lower as hospitals reportedly get paid more if patients are listed as COVID-19 and on ventilators.
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