The view when the tear gas clears

THE BIG STORY

Unprecedented protests swept US cities and small towns for a second weekend

People across the US on Saturday marched in big cities and small towns, in sticky heat and pouring rain, protesting police brutality and systemic anti-Black racism for a second straight weekend with mostly peaceful demonstrations.

The scale of the protests, sparked by the death of George Floyd, who was killed in Minneapolis police custody, less than two weeks ago, was gargantuan. The demonstrations, which were also seen in Europe and Australia on Saturday, appear to be unparalleled in modern memory.

And we're starting to see the effects: City council members in Minneapolis said Sunday that they would commit to disbanding the city’s police department, which has a long history of accusations of racism and police brutality, and redirect the funds to a new public safety system..

Protesters gather along the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum in Philadelphia on Saturday. (Tyger Williams / AP)

STAYING ON TOP OF THIS

Peaceful protests have been met with violence by police

An entirely peaceful protest in Manhattan ended in chaos, panic, and violence when a mass of police officers in riot gear confronted protesters near Grand Army Plaza, at the entrance to Central Park. The rapid escalation of Thursday night’s demonstration illustrates just how quickly a peaceful march can turn into mayhem. In the end, police shoved, hit, and arrested dozens of people, and BuzzFeed News reporters were caught up in the clash. And viral videos of police violence continue to circulate as some officers in cities across the US are being charged:

• Los Angeles police have launched a personnel investigation after witnesses said a man who is homeless and using a wheelchair was shot in the face by police with a rubber bullet.

• Viral videos showed police swarming a Brooklyn barbecue on Thursday and hitting people with batons.

• Two police officers who knocked over a 75-year-old man at a protest in Buffalo, New York, were charged Saturday morning with second-degree assault.

• Two New York police officers were suspended without pay on Friday after viral videos showed them being violent with protesters.

• A Philadelphia police officer is facing aggravated assault charges after widely shared videos caught him striking a college student on the head with a metal baton.

SNAPSHOTS

Tinder will stop banning users for fundraising for Black Lives Matter and bail funds. The move comes after a wave of users raised thousands of dollars encouraging their matches to donate.

Contract workers for Facebook in Austin say they have been retaliated against for union organizing, resulting in two workers’ departures in recent weeks.

BTS fans have raised $1 million and counting for Black Lives Matter after vowing to match the group's donation.

A Virginia man who appeared to be planning an incel bomb attack on "hot cheerleaders" accidentally blew off his hand with explosives, authorities say.

Two lawmakers have called for the Drug Enforcement Administration to stop conducting covert surveillance on civilians as part of the government’s plan to confront the widespread protests.

FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF WE REGRET TO INFORM YOU

The first vaccines probably won't stop the pandemic

The first COVID-19 vaccine likely won’t be effective enough to end the global pandemic, vaccine experts say. Instead, we may live with the virus for years before a winning one emerges.

The first vaccines to emerge from the 10 candidates now being tested in people worldwide are likely to resemble the seasonal flu shot. These vaccines need to be administered year after year and are sometimes only around 30% effective at blocking an infection, while at the same time promising milder symptoms to people who do get sick.

"ALL IT TAKES IS ONE"

An angry woman and cops showed up to a one-person protest, so days later dozens more protesters turned out

Shane Meyers was holding a solo protest in Wellington, Florida, on May 31, waving a sign that said "Black Lives F****** Matter." The first video of his demonstration to go viral was delightful: Phyllis Kahn and her daughter, indie rapper AngieOnMars, honk their horns and thank him, saying "All it takes is one!"

And indeed, all it takes IS one — to get the cops called on you. The next video to go viral from his protest features an angry woman telling him and police, "I'm just upset because I don't want to get caught if there starts rioting because of your sign."

Meyers packed up a bit after that, but that wasn't the end of it: The videos prompted dozens of people to make plans and turn up for a larger demonstration on Friday.

It wouldn't be going forward if you didn't meet resistance,

Brandon

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📝 This letter was edited and brought to you by Brandon Hardin and BuzzFeed News. You can always reach us here.
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