John Lewis becomes first Black American to lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda
27 July 2020
The body of civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis arrived at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda on Monday to lie in state, following a series of memorials this weekend that included a final trip across Edmund Pettis Bridge in Selma, Ala.
The big picture: Lewis is the first Black lawmaker to receive the honor. Because the Capitol is closed to the public due to the coronavirus, Lewis will lie in state for just a few hours after an invitation-only ceremony is held for lawmakers. A public viewing will be held on the Capitol steps.
- Vice President Mike Pence and former Vice President Joe Biden are set to attend, but President Trump said Monday he will not be making an appearance.
- On his way to the Capitol, the hearse carrying Lewis' remains made stops at the Lincoln Memorial and the newly-renamed Black Lives Matter Plaza in front of the White House.
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Rep. John Lewis’ hearse pauses at Black Lives Matter Plaza. A powerful moment: pic.twitter.com/L1FxrYsIDo
— Jeremy Diamond (@JDiamond1) July 27, 2020
Rep. John Lewi's hearse drives through newly renamed Black Lives Matter Plaza. Photo: Alex Brandon-Pool/Getty Images
D.C. police salute Rep. John Lewis's hearse as it drives by. Photo: Alex Brandon-Pool/Getty Images
Security barriers are set up for public viewing later in the day for Rep. John Lewis at the U.S. Capitol. Photo: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images
Two people hold a sign that reads "Rest in Power John Lewis" as Rep. John Lewis's hearse drives by the Lincoln Memorial. Photo: Alex Brandon-Pool/Getty Images
U.S. Capitol Rotunda for casket arrival of President George H.W. Bush (12/3/18) and today for Rep. John Lewis (social distancing). pic.twitter.com/wpeBkZCv1L
— Jeremy Art (@cspanJeremy) July 27, 2020
The flag-draped casket is carried by a joint services military honor guard to lie in state. Photo: Alex Brandon-Pool/Getty Images
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who are slated to give remarks at the ceremony. Photo: Matt McClain/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Transcripts show George Floyd told police "I can't breathe" over 20 times
Section2Newly released transcripts of bodycam footage from the Minneapolis Police Department show that George Floyd told officers he could not breathe more than 20 times in the moments leading up to his death.
Why it matters: Floyd's killing sparked a national wave of Black Lives Matter protests and an ongoing reckoning over systemic racism in the United States. The transcripts "offer one the most thorough and dramatic accounts" before Floyd's death, The New York Times writes.
The state of play: The transcripts were released as former officer Thomas Lane seeks to have the charges that he aided in Floyd's death thrown out in court, per the Times. He is one of four officers who have been charged.
- The filings also include a 60-page transcript of an interview with Lane. He said he "felt maybe that something was going on" when asked if he believed that Floyd was having a medical emergency at the time.
What the transcripts say:
- Floyd told the officers he was claustrophobic as they tried to get him into the squad car.
- The transcripts also show Floyd saying, "Momma, I love you. Tell my kids I love them. I'm dead."
- Former officer Derek Chauvin, who had his knee on Floyd's neck for over eight minutes, told Floyd, "Then stop talking, stop yelling, it takes a heck of a lot of oxygen to talk."
Read the transcripts via DocumentCloud.