United States of America
Tuesday 19.1.2021 United States of America - Latest Developments -
Democracy in peril in the United States as rioters storm Capitol
At least five people died, including a police officer, and over 50 people were arrested after thousands of pro-Trump rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol on 6th January 2020 to disrupt a joint session of Congress and attempt to overturn the recent presidential election. Read more
Monday 7.12.2020 United States of America - Latest Developments -
Election drives people to the streets in the US
Protests swept across the United States as people waited for the results of the 3rd November 2020 election, which had the highest voter turnout in over a hundred years. Read more
Thursday 15.10.2020 United States of America - Latest Developments -
Protests against systemic racism continue despite flagrant attacks on civil liberties
At the end of August 2020, the shooting of a Black man, Jacob Blake, by a white police officer sparked further outrage and led to several nights of protests in Kenosha, where the shooting took place, and other cities. Read more
Monday 31.8.2020 United States of America - Latest Developments -
Black Lives Matter protests continue despite escalating tensions as federal troops deployed
In July and August 2020, protests against police brutality and systemic racism that began after the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis continued across the country, often with violent clashes between militarised police and protesters. Read more
Monday 13.7.2020 United States of America - Latest Developments -
Militarised police continue to use excessive force against protesters
Massive protests to condemn police brutality, overwhelmingly peaceful, have continued across the U.S. Enduring pressure from demonstrations has brought important results, including charges brought against officers involved in George Floyd’s killing and commitment to reforming police practices from some authorities. Read more
Monday 22.6.2020 United States of America - Latest Developments -
Countrywide protests to end police brutality in the United States met by militarised law enforcement
Massive protests erupted in cities across the United States following the death of George Floyd, a Black man, by a Minneapolis police officer on 25th May 2020. A harrowing video filmed by witnesses shows the officer pressing his knee into the handcuffed man's neck for almost nine minutes while Floyd repeatedly said, “I can’t breathe.” Outrage brimmed over, bringing hundreds of thousands to the streets to protest entrenched racism and the US’s long history of killings of Black and Brown people by law enforcement agents. Read more
Monday 20.4.2020 United States of America - Latest Developments -
Spread of coronavirus and emergency safety measures put pressure on civic freedoms
Across the country, workers deemed essential during the coronavirus emergency staged walk-outs and other protests over insufficient personal protection equipment and to demand benefits such as paid sick leave or healthcare. Read more
Wednesday 18.3.2020 United States of America - Latest Developments -
Unprecedented executive action and rhetoric harm press freedom in the U.S.
On 27th January 2020, the State Department barred an NPR reporter from accompanying Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on an official trip, allegedly in retaliation for a dispute between Pompeo and another NPR reporter. NPR’s Michele Kelemen was removed from the list of reporters allowed to fly with Pompeo on a trip to Eastern Europe, only days after the secretary reportedly swore and yelled at another NPR reporter for asking questions about Ukraine. Read more
Monday 13.1.2020 United States of America - Latest Developments -
People in the US turn to protest to demand changes to the status quo
As part of a campaign against University of California (UC)’s outsourcing of jobs, thousands of the school’s service and patient care workers held a strike on 13th November 2019. Read more
Monday 25.11.2019 United States of America - Latest Developments -
Freedoms under attack with legislation restricting protests and hostility toward journalists
In September and October 2019, there were protests across the U.S. calling on leaders to address climate change while some states have been considering legislation that would criminalise protests near certain infrastructure sites, including oil pipelines - which are often contested by climate and indigenous rights activists. This update also details protests on refugee & immigration policy, education, police brutality and pro- and against President Trump. In the 'Expression' section, incidents of harassment of journalists show an increasingly hostile environment for the press in the U.S. Read more
