PROTESTS

Demonstrators backing rare street protests by thousands in communist Cuba have blocked a stretch of a major South Florida highway.

Thousands of people poured into the streets in Cuba on Sunday in what is becoming the largest anti-government protest in decades.

According to an internal FBI bulletin, nationwide protests at state capitols and courthouses are being planned from Jan. 16 until Jan. 20. Montiero said when law enforcement receives a warning like this one, it’s important for agencies to act quickly. So, the FBI has issued their information, you have the FDLE (Florida Department of Law Enforcement) that gathers their own and then the sheriff’s offices,” he said. “Of course, they share information and then they begin to put action to prevent anything from happening.”A likely part of the security plans would be to put officers in places where they can be seen. “You’re going to get an obvious response (and) there’s going to be visual deterrents” Montiero said.

The only charges were three counts of wanton endangerment against fired Officer Brett Hankison for shooting into a home next to Taylor's with people inside. Taylor, an emergency medical worker, was shot multiple times by white officers who entered her home during a narcotics investigation. State Attorney General Daniel Cameron said that while the officers had a no-knock warrant, the investigation showed they announced themselves before entering. "This justification bars us from pursuing criminal charges in Miss Breonna Taylor’s death.”Cameron said an FBI crime lab determined that Cosgrove fired the bullet that killed Taylor. ___This story has been updated to clarify that, according to the investigation, officers did not execute the warrant as a no-knock warrant, not that they didn’t use a no-knock warrant.

The Uncle Ben's rice brand is getting a new name: Ben's Original. (Mars via AP)NEW YORK – The Uncle Ben's rice brand is getting a new name: Ben's Original. Mars had announced in the summer that the Uncle Ben's brand would “evolve.”Since the 1940s, the rice boxes have featured a white-haired Black man, sometimes with a bow tie, an image critics say evokes servitude. In a short-lived 2007 marketing campaign, the company elevated Uncle Ben to chairman of a rice company. It also is planning a $2.5 million investment in nutritional and education programs for students in Greenville, Mississippi, the majority African-American city where the rice brand has been produced for more than 40 years.

The city of Louisville will pay several million dollars to the mother of Breonna Taylor and install police reforms as part of a settlement of a lawsuit from Taylors family, The Associated Press has learned. Taylor’s death sparked months of protests in Louisville and calls nationwide for the officers to be criminally charged. Crump said the $12 million payout is the largest such settlement given out for a Black woman killed by police. Palmer's lawsuit accuses three Louisville police officers of blindly firing into Taylor’s apartment the night of the raid, striking Taylor several times. The department has also fired Brett Hankison, one of the three officers who fired shots at Taylor's apartment that night.

Leon County jail records showed most were taken into custody for resisting officers and assembling unlawfully. They were met by a phalanx of law officers from the Tallahassee Police Department, Leon County Sheriff's Office, the Florida Highway Patrol, as well officers from the nearby Capitol and Florida State University. For months, activists have staged rallies in Tallahassee to bring attention to police killings they say were unjustified. The incident led Leon County to put in place a curfew from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. While the grand jury declined to hand down indictments against the police officers, it found areas of concern.

NEW YORK – A passenger in a car that drove through a group of Black Lives Matter protesters in New York's Times Square on Thursday says police have interviewed all six people who were in the car and are continuing to investigate the incident. That’s what happened.”One video of the incident posted on social media showed police officers fanning out to keep protesters away from Germanotta’s group as they got into the car. The video shows the car traveling down the one-way street toward an area where the demonstration is blocking the street. Gibson posted a video on his Facebook page indicating that he was at the Times Square protest Thursday night with Germanotta. The car in videos of the Times Square incident had a bull bar but appeared to be black, while the car featured in a Gibson social media post dated Aug. 5 is white.

WASHINGTON – ‎Both the suspect in the slaying of the right-wing protester in Portland, Oregon last weekend and the victim had handguns when their confrontation started after dueling street demonstrations, according to court documents made public Friday. Marshals Service task force opened fire at Reinoehl. Lt. Ray Brady of the Thurston County Sheriff’s Department said investigators have not concluded whether Reinoehl fired any shots. Marshals Service statement issued later said the fugitive task force had “attempted to peacefully arrest him." "Initial reports indicate the suspect produced a firearm, threatening the lives of law enforcement officers” the statement said.

But Prude's death is the second one involving spit hoods to surface since the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police sparked a national reckoning on racism and policing. Floyd's death did not involve a spit hood. Police handcuffed and placed a spit hood on the head of a naked man also in distress. In another similar episode, a 45-year-old man died in 2015 after police in Bernalillo, New Mexico, placed him in a spit hood, possibly incorrectly. Prison guards have also used spit hoods, sometimes to deadly effect.

There were three games on Thursdays schedule, and the league did not immediately say if they would be pushed back. NBA referees lead a march on the Disney campus in support of players and everyone else standing against racial injustice. NBA players didnt come to Disney solely for a restart to their season. While players and teams from baseball, the WNBA and MLS sat out their competitions Wednesday night, NBA players and coaches met for nearly three hours in a Disney hotel to determine next steps, including whether the season should continue. More talks took place in the early hours of Thursday, followed by the player meeting that morning to decide to continue the season.

He is recovering from being shot multiple times by Kenosha police on Aug. 23. The shooting was reported at about 11:45 p.m. in an area where protests have taken place, Kenosha police Lt. Joseph Nosalik said in a news release. Earlier Tuesday, Blake's father spoke alongside other family members and lawyers, telling reporters that police shot his son seven times, seven times, like he didn't matter." Hundreds of people again defied curfew Tuesday in Kenosha, where destruction marred protests the previous night as fires were set and businesses vandalized. I really ask you and encourage everyone in Wisconsin and abroad to take a moment and examine your hearts," Blake's mother said.

(AP Photo/David Goldman)KENOSHA, Wis. The father of a Black man who was shot, apparently in the back, by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin, says his son was left paralyzed from the waist down. The man who said he made the cellphone video, 22-year-old Raysean White, said he saw Blake scuffling with three officers and heard them yell, Drop the knife! White said he left the window for a few minutes, and when he came back, saw three officers wrestling with Blake. That man just literally grabbed him by his shirt and looked the other way and was just shooting him. The city is about 67% white, 11.5% Black and 17.6% Hispanic, according to 2019 Census data.

The McCloskey case drew Trump's attention, especially after Democratic St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner filed felony unlawful use of a weapon charges in July. A police probable cause statement said protesters feared being injured due to Patricia McCloskeys finger being on the trigger, coupled with her excited demeanor." They had weapons, they had fire material.Mark McCloskey said on the Fox News program that Democrat-controlled St. Louis is a very dangerous place, and the statistics back him up. The people of St. Louis expect me to pursue equal justice under the law without fear or favor, and that is what I intend to do.Gardner, St. Louis first Black circuit attorney, was elected in 2016 and appears headed to another term. Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt asked a judge to toss out the charges.

(Getty Images)Scenes from the Watts Riots in Los Angeles in 1965. (Getty Images)Scenes from the Watts Riots in Los Angeles in 1965. (Getty Images)Scenes from the Watts Riots in Los Angeles in 1965. (Getty Images)Scenes from the Watts Riots in Los Angeles in 1965. (Getty Images)Scenes from the Watts Riots in Los Angeles in 1965.

Earlier Wednesday, the City Council banned police from cooperating with federal agents or arresting reporters or legal observers. The state acknowledged that federal agents have the right to defend the courthouse but argued that they had overstepped. The Hatfield courthouse did not damage itself, he said, calling the protests dangerous and volatile.The lawsuit is one of several filed over authorities response to the Portland protests. It alleges that federal agents have used rubber bullets, tear gas, pepper spray, batons and stun grenades against medics in violation of federal protections for freedom of speech and freedom of movement. Police say protesters have tried repeatedly to break into the federal courthouse and set fires around it and that the federal agents drive them back with tear gas and stun grenades.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. A white Florida police officer was charged with battery Tuesday for allegedly shoving a kneeling Black woman to the ground during a protest march last month, prosecutors said. Broward State Attorney Mike Satz said Fort Lauderdale Officer Steven Pohorence, 29, was seen intentionally touching or striking the 19-year-old woman during a civil rights protest march on May 31. The charge is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail. Pohorence was previously suspended with pay by the Fort Lauderdale police chief but as a result of the battery charge decision, his status will be changed to administrative leave without pay. The union representing Fort Lauderdale officers has declined comment.

TAMPA, Fla. More than five dozen peaceful protesters in Florida who were arrested earlier this month for unlawful assembly while demonstrating against police abuse following the death of George Floyd in Minnesota won't be prosecuted, a state attorney said Monday. State Attorney Andrew Warren in Tampa said his office won't be filing charges against 67 protesters who were arrested two weeks ago in downtown Tampa. The prosecutor's office will also work to expunge the arrest records of the protesters who were taken into custody, he said. In these unlawful assembly cases, there is no value in filing charges," Warren said at a news conference. Prosecuting people for exercising their First Amendment rights creates problems rather than solving them.

"RIP Rayshard" is spray painted on a sign as as flames engulf a Wendy's restaurant during protests Saturday, June 13, 2020, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)ATLANTA An Atlanta police officer was fired following the fatal shooting of a black man and another officer was placed on administrative duty, the police department announced early Sunday. The officer draws his gun and fires as the man keeps running, then falls to the ground in the parking lot. The security camera video recorded Brooks running or fleeing from Atlanta police officers, Reynolds said. The shooting of Brooks two weeks later raised further questions about the Atlanta department.

Demonstrations have a rich history woven into America’s fabric with a certain amount of success in creating the change protesters demanded. Below is a timeline of some memorable demonstrations in American history. [Click here to expand timeline]Boston Tea PartyBefore the Bill of Rights even existed, Americans were protesting unjust treatment. One of the most famous protests is often outlined in American history books: The Boston Tea Party. According to the Associated Press, marches, rallies and demonstrations were held from Canberra to Kabul and Cape Town to New York.

HOUSTON – Here’s the latest on the death of George Floyd, a black man whose death has sparked protests around the world. HOUSTON -- Grammy-winning singer Ne-Yo said George Floyd’s death was a sacrifice that “changed the world” before performing during his memorial service. I would like to personally thank George Floyd for his sacrifice, so that my kids could be all right later on. I genuinely do.”HOUSTON -- The family of George Floyd gave him tearful tributes and made impassioned demands for justice at his funeral. George Floyd, who was 46 when he was killed, will be laid to rest next to his mother.

ORLANDO, Fla. As the U.S. enters its third week of protests following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, the national unrest has sparked change at the state and national level. Floyds brutal death was caught on video, footage showing Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on his neck until Floyd goes limp. Charges upgraded against Officer Derek ChauvinThe officer seen in the video kneeling on Floyds neck Derek Chauvin was fired from the department after the footage surfaced but not immediately charged. The decision comes as their jurisdictions have seen demonstrations demanding change after the death of Floyd. Though the city has seen protests for more than a week, they have been mostly peaceful according to the Orlando Police Department.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Here’s the latest on protests surrounding the death of George Floyd, a black man who died as a white police officer knelt on his neck. MINNEAPOLIS -- A man with George Floyd says his friend didn’t resist arrest and tried to diffuse the situation when officers began screaming at Floyd. MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minneapolis City Council is preparing to vote on changes to the city’s police department in response to the death of George Floyd. ORLANDO -- A group of pastors marched through Orlando on Friday morning to protest the death of George Floyd. NEW YORK -- Protesters stayed on the streets of New York City after curfew for another day Thursday, spurred by the death of George Floyd.

Meghan told graduates at the Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles that she wrestled with what to tell them given the days of protests after Floyds death. I realized the only wrong thing to say is to say nothing, because George Floyds life mattered, she said in a virtual address. TEHRAN, Iran -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has called George Floyds killing brutal and criticized President Donald Trump for posing for photos while holding a Bible. WASHINGTON -- Demonstrators marched to the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday night, protesting the death of George Floyd in Minnesota and demanding that laws be changed to prevent more like it. MINNEAPOLIS -- A full autopsy of George Floyd, the handcuffed black man who died after being restrained by Minneapolis police, provides several clinical details -- including that Floyd had tested positive for COVID-19.

(Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Walmart is moving firearms and ammunition out of some U.S. stores. The company issued a statement saying, "As a responsible seller of hunting and sporting firearms, we have temporarily removed firearms and ammunition from the sales floor in some stores out of an abundance of caution.The move comes after nationwide protests against the death of George Floyd. Many businesses, including major retailers such as Target, were damaged or looted during the unrest.

PALM COAST, Fla. – Strangers united in Palm Coast for one purpose on Wednesday: to fight against injustice and discrimination following the death of George Floyd. The crowd of more than 100 people gathered in the Kohl’s parking lot for prayer, pictures and powerful messages before starting their march through the streets of Palm Coast. The protesters chanted the name of George Floyd and yelled, “no justice, no peace” loud enough for drivers to hear and honk in support. When people who are unarmed that look like me, that want to go home, that don't get that opportunity," said Joseph. The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office said three stores in the area closed during the protest out of an abundance of caution.

Tuesday night brought more big protests over the death of George Floyd and sporadic reports of vandalism, but much less of the widespread plundering of stores amid a huge police presence. and “George Floyd" as cloudy skies threatened rain. MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minneapolis school board has voted to end its contract with the Minneapolis Police Department following the death last week of George Floyd. DALLAS -- Former President George W. Bush criticized any effort to squelch protests of George Floyd’s death while in Minneapolis police custody. Several new demonstrations in Los Angeles on Tuesday over the death of George Floyd have remained peaceful.

Demonstrations following the death of George Floyd took a dangerous turn in downtown Orlando. If you need help with the Public File, call 407-291-6000.

Protests became heated Tuesday evening in St. Petersburg, about two hours southwest of Orlando. The St. Petersburg Police Department said 23 people were arrested for various crimes during the demonstrations. The protest remained mostly peaceful and police allowed demonstrators to take over major intersections, stopping traffic for several minutes, according to the department. About two minutes after the crowd was told to disperse, police launched smoke bombs at protesters while several demonstrators threw large fireworks, or mortars, back toward the building, police said. [RELATED: Here’s how Central Florida law enforcement agencies use neck restraints]No injuries were reported.

BRANDON, Fla. A huge Confederate battle flag has been lowered from its towering pole near Interstates 4 and 75 outside Tampa after threats appeared on social media to set it on fire during protests of the killings of black people by white authorities. David R. McCallister, who leads the local chapter of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, wants people to know that removing the 30-foot by 60-foot battle flag wasnt a decision made in fear. The decision was we would (temporarily) take down the flag in the bests interests of preserving the park overall, he told the Tampa Bay Times. We dont want the flag to be an excuse for anyone to do illegal acts.The flag flies on a 139-foot flag pole, erected in Confederate Memorial Park in 2008 for the 200th birthday of Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederate States of America. McCallister posted on Facebook on Sunday that the flag was considered a high visibility target" for protests in response to the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. Daytona Beach community leaders have organized a demonstration dubbed the I Cant Breath Peaceful Protest to take place Thursday at 5:30 p.m. Daytona Beach Police Chief Craig Capri said the department is a partner in the event. I dont consider that officer a police officer, I consider him a murderer for what he did," Capri said. Lets work together peacefully like we do here in Daytona Beach, he said. People will be allowed to join the protest by foot or car to cross the ISB bridge in a peaceful demonstration.

Around 2,000 peaceful demonstrators outside Orlando City Hall chanted Black Lives Matter!" It has to be.Batiste, 39, who said she is a recently unemployed massage therapist in Orlando, described the nations leadership as nonexistent. When is it going to stop?Nearly 50 minutes after the city's 10 p.m. curfew went into effect, Orlando Police said officers deployed tear gas and smoke after "a few remaining participants" started throwing rocks and bottles at them. A demonstration in Miami grew to about 400 people as protesters marched from a courthouse to Overtown, a historically black neighborhood north of downtown. Several protesters then threw rocks and bottles at officers, the agency said.

The most recent Ask Trooper Steve question is: What should I do if I encounter a protest thats blocking a road or highway? Encountering any type of protest could become an uncomfortable situation, especially on the ever-changing I-4 with the culmination of construction and other drivers, Trooper Steve said. In addition, Trooper Steve said you should lock all the doors in your vehicle and have everyone in your car remain calm. I suggest immediately notifying law enforcement and if you have a dash camera make sure it is recording, Trooper Steve said. Making safe decisions is everyones responsibility, from drivers to protesters.If you have a question for Trooper Steve, submit it here.

About 1,000 demonstrators had gathered to protest the death of George Floyd in Minnesota. Governor Kristi Noem activated the National Guard after protests in Sioux Fall turned violent over the death of George Floyd. Before the chaos, hundreds of people on Sunday marched down historic Route 66, protesting the death of George Floyd. Thousands of people marched throughout Oregons largest city on Sunday, the third day of George Floyd protests in Portland. The demonstration over the death of George Floyd came after turbulent protests that led to the arrest of 83 people Saturday night.

ORLANDO, Fla. Orlando police officers deployed tear gas on Interstate 4 late Sunday after demonstrators blocked traffic in a protest over the killing of George Floyd, a black man who died after a Minneapolis police officer was captured on video pressing his kneed on Floyds neck for nearly nine minutes. The demonstration happened around 9 p.m. on I-4 between Ivanhoe Boulevard and Amelia Avenue. [LIVE UPDATES: Protests take place around the world | TROOPER STEVE: What drivers should do]"Unfortunately, because demonstrators are throwing rocks, bottles and construction equipment, police had to deploy tear gas," the Orlando Police Department tweeted. ALERT : Unfortunately, because demonstrators are throwing rocks, bottles and construction equipment, police had to deploy tear gas. Currently, I-4 is closed between Ivanhoe & Amelia Ave. pic.twitter.com/U3HswCUeKy Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) June 1, 2020The crowd dispersed within minutes of the tear gas deployment and the interstate reopened around 9:30 p.m.Police haven't said if any arrests were made during the demonstration.

It wasn't until Monday afternoon that DeSantis office issued a statement, which only made mention of law enforcement efforts. I am in constant contact with state and local leaders, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), the Florida National Guard and the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP). We have devoted significant resources, including the mobilization of 700 Florida National Guard soldiers who are specially trained to support law enforcement. I have also worked with FHP to coordinate more than 1,300 sworn Florida Highway Patrol troopers to support local law enforcement efforts. This is an AR-15 --- this will be a very common sight upon illegal entry at any Lake County business --- FYI! Sabatini tweeted on Sunday.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. Orange Countys mayor is warning the community of protesting during the pandemic, saying unsafe demonstrations could increase the spread of coronavirus. The mayors remarks follow an active weekend filled with community protests demanding justice for the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Law enforcement agencies responded to looting and break-in calls over the weekend after hours-long protests lasted well into the night. Ron DeSantis will move forward with the next stage of reopening the state amid the virus, Demings said it might be difficult. He says although the county has seen an increase in a number of cases, the increase has been slow and not dramatic.

If you need help with the Public File, call 407-291-6000. Copyright © 2020 ClickOrlando.com is managed by Graham Digital and pubished by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings.

ORLANDO, Fla. Its an incident that has started a national conversation-- the death of George Floyd. People can head to change.org and sign the Justice for George Floyd petition which, as of Saturday at 9:00 a.m., had nearly 7 million signatures and counting. To make sure your contributions are going to the right place, consider donating to the Official George Floyd Memorial Fund on GoFundMe. A man kneels on the street in front of police officers while chanting "I can't breathe" during a protest over the death of George Floyd, Friday, May 29, 2020, in Los Angeles. As a disclaimer, not everyone will be comfortable taking action nor is everyone comfortable taking action in the same ways.