Black Lives Matter Protesters Take Over Seattle Neighbourhood

Earlier, US President Donald Trump said that the White House was finalising an executive order that will encourage law enforcement departments across the United States to meet the most current professional standards with respect to the use of force.

Black Lives Matter protesters have occupied several blocks of central Seattle's artsy Capitol Hill neighbourhood and were camping outside the City Hall building. Law enforcement officers have been ordered not to use tear gas and other violent tactics to disperse the crowds.

After the Seattle Police Department abandoned the East Precinct building on Monday, protesters took control of the surrounding six-block area and reworked with spray paint the sign above the station’s door to read “Seattle People’s Department East Precinct”.

A video of George Floyd's arrest showed a white police officer, George Chauvin, asphyxiating and killing him by shoving his knee into Floyd's neck for almost nine minutes after he had been restrained, despite Floyd saying that he could not breathe. The clip sparked protests which soon turned into riots, as cities across the US descended into chaos characterised by looting, arson attacks and the destruction of property.