A part of a street leading to the White House was renamed ‘Black Lives Matter Plaza’ to support the movement against police violence and racism, Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser said, Trend reports citing TASS.
"The section of 16th street in front of the White House is now officially ‘Black Lives Matter Plaza,’ she said in a Twitter post.
Widespread unrest has engulfed many US states over the death of an African-American Minneapolis man named George Floyd, who died after a police officer kneeled on his neck and choked him to death during his arrest. On May 26, all officers involved in the deadly arrest were fired. On May 29, the policeman in question, Derek Chauvin, was arrested on third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter charges. However, on June 3, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison upped the charge against Chauvin to second-degree murder. The three other officers involved in the fatal incident were arrested as well and are now facing charges of aiding and abetting second-degree murder.
To counter the riots, local law enforcement is often supported by the National Guard. So far, 40 cities, including New York, have enacted a curfew.