Valerie Richardson
Articles by Valerie Richardson
George Floyd family autopsy: Asphyxiation cause of death
Independent autopsy results released Monday by the family of George Floyd found that he died of asphyxiation as one Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee into his neck and two others pushed on his back. Published June 1, 2020
Donald Trump slams ‘Radical Left’ Biden staffers for donating to protester bailout fund
President Trump accused Democratic presidential rival Joseph R. Biden of employing "Radical Left" campaign workers over a report that they donated to a bail fund aimed at springing arrested Minneapolis protesters. Published June 1, 2020
George Floyd’s family to announce results of independent autopsy
The family of George Floyd, the black man who died last week in Minneapolis police custody, plans to announce Monday the results of an independent autopsy challenging the county medical examiner's preliminary findings. Published June 1, 2020
Portland officials beg Oregon Gov. Kate Brown to deploy National Guard after denials
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler and U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams pleaded Monday for Oregon Gov. Kate Brown to call up the National Guard, saying she has been asked repeatedly but has so far refused to send troops to help "desperate" officers besieged by rioting. Published June 1, 2020
Lincoln Memorial, WWII Memorial defaced by vandals in rioting
Some of the nation's most iconic monuments were defaced over the weekend as roving rioters spread to the National Mall, leaving a trail of vandalism in their wake. Published June 1, 2020
Univ. of Alabama Birmingham professor instructs rioters on how to tear down monuments on Twitter
A professor at the University of Alabama Birmingham used Twitter to tell protesters how to successfully pull down monuments, as rioters vandalized the Lincoln Memorial, the World War II Memorial and other iconic sites in the nation's capital over the weekend. Published June 1, 2020
J.R. Smith beats up car window-breaker in Los Angeles riot
Former Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith beat up a man who allegedly broke the window on his parked vehicle amid protests over the death of George Floyd, as shown on video released Sunday by TMZ. Published May 31, 2020
Jeremiah Ellison declares antifa support as Keith Ellison to lead George Floyd case
Jeremiah Ellison, son of Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and a Minneapolis city council member, declared Sunday his support for antifa, the secretive left-wing anarchist group accused of driving the violent protests sweeping the nation. Published May 31, 2020
Dave Patrick Underwood named as black FPS officer killed in Oakland George Floyd protest
A protest over the death of George Floyd, a black man killed last week in Minneapolis police custody, was the stage for the killing of another black man Friday in California. Published May 31, 2020
Donald Trump: U.S. to designate Antifa as terrorist organization
The U.S. will designate the "Antifa" group as a terrorist organization, President Trump said Sunday, as his administration blames the leftist organization for much of the violence at police-brutality protests across the country. Published May 31, 2020
Target closes 100 stores temporarily amid George Floyd protests, riots
The novel coronavirus pandemic couldn't shut down Target, but the rioting ripping apart major U.S. cities has. Published May 31, 2020
Joe Lockhart, Ex-NFL, Bill Clinton spokesman: Vikings should sign Colin Kaepernick amid protests
Joe Lockhart, a former NFL and Clinton White House spokesman, had a suggestion for addressing the violent rioting taking over the streets of Minneapolis: The Minnesota Vikings should sign Colin Kaepernick. Published May 31, 2020
Celebrities called out for donating to protester bail fund as rioting escalates
Celebrities such as comedic actor Steve Carell ("Space Force", "The Office"), are coming under fire for donating to a bail fund aimed at springing protesters even as police struggle to stop the escalating violence in Minneapolis and other U.S. cities. Published May 30, 2020
Trump administration blames rioting on antifa, leftists as Democrats eye white supremacists
The Trump administration blamed on Saturday far-left groups using antifa tactics for fomenting the violent protests upending Minneapolis and other major cities, even as Minnesota Democrats say they're looking at white supremacists and far-right extremists. Published May 30, 2020
Minnesota Gov. Walz seeks help from Pentagon as protest violence spreads nationwide
An overwhelmed Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said Saturday that he has reached out to the Pentagon for help in controlling the growing mobs of out-of-state agitators seeking to "break the back of civil society" in the wake of George Floyd's death. Published May 30, 2020
Angry mob storms CNN headquarters as protests roil Atlanta over George Floyd death
An angry mob outraged at the death of George Floyd stormed CNN's world headquarters Friday night in Atlanta, vandalizing the building's facade, breaking windows, and tossing a firecracker or smoke bomb at officers blocking the entrance. Published May 29, 2020
Family of George Floyd wants charges against officer upped to first-degree murder
The family of George Floyd called Friday for ex-cop Derek Chauvin to be charged with first-degree murder instead of third-degree murder in the "brutal killing" of Mr. Floyd in Minneapolis. Published May 29, 2020
George Floyd died of police restraint combined with health problems, not asphyxiation: Autopsy
George Floyd died Monday from a combination of preexisting health conditions exacerbated by being held down by Minneapolis officers, not from strangulation or asphyxiation, based on the medical examiner's initial report. Published May 29, 2020
Derek Chauvin arrested for death of George Floyd
A Minnesota state official said Friday that he was told that former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has been arrested in connection with the death of George Floyd. Published May 29, 2020
Ethylene oxide plant crackdown creates medical sterilization chemical shortage
The battle over the sterilization agent ethylene oxide began like a sequel to "Erin Brockovich" -- local activists shut down big chemical plants over cancer fears -- and then the coronavirus hit. Published May 28, 2020
