Amnesty International: U.S. police must end militarized response to protests 6park.com
Washington
 State Police use tear gas to disperse a crowd in Seattle during a 
demonstration protesting the death of George Floyd. Photo: Jason 
Redmond/AFP via Getty Images
 6park.com
Amnesty International issued a statement
 on Sunday morning calling for an end to militarized policing in several
 U.S. cities and the use of "excessive force" against demonstrators 
protesting police brutality.
Why it matters: The 
human rights group said police across the country were "failing their 
obligations under international law to respect and facilitate the right 
to peaceful protest, exacerbating a tense situation and endangering the lives of protesters."
"Equipping
 officers in a manner more appropriate for a battlefield may put them in
 the mindset that confrontation and conflict are inevitable."— Amnesty International statement
The big picture: The National Guard mobilized and curfews were imposed in several states after clashes between police and demonstrators protesting the May 25 death of George Floyd and other black people who've died in police custody.
Some officers responded to protests with restraint. Others used batons, tear gas, rubber bullets and other devices to disperse protesters and, in some cases, journalists. 
Zoom in: Authorities fired tear gas again Saturday during clashes with protesters in Minneapolis, where demonstrations entered a fifth day. 
In New York City, video showed police officers driving their cars into a group of protesters. Mayor New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said, "If those protesters had just gotten out of the way ... we would not be talking about this situation."In Florida, there were reports of police using tear gas and pepper spray amid violence in cities including Miami and Tampa Bay.Las Vegas police deployed tear gas after protesters vandalized patrol cars, looted a store and set off fireworks, NBC News notes. In Columbus, police
 used tear gas to disperse crowds. The local mayor said officers showed 
"great restraint" after protesters taunted them and threw objects, per ABC News.In Seattle, tear gas was also deployed. The police said in a statement protesters had thrown bottles at officers.In Denver, police used tear gas to successfully force protesters back just after the 8pm curfew imposed in response to the unrest came into effect, The Denver Channel reports.
Of note: Georgetown
 Law professor Paul Butler, author of "Chokehold: Policing Black Men," 
noted the reactions of some police this week were different to the 
response to demonstrations against coronavirus restrictions in Michigan last month.
"Unarmed
 people, many of whom are people of color, protest police brutality and 
are met with police brutality — flash grenades, tear gas, and rubber 
bullets," he told Vox. "But when armed, mainly white protesters storm the Michigan state capitol, the police just let them be."
What they're saying: President Trump praised police for their conduct and slammed protesters, some of whom he described in a tweet as "THUGS."
"What we are now seeing on the streets of our cities has nothing to do with justice," Trump said Saturday.NYPD Chief Terence Monahan tweeted,
 "We'll always welcome protestors who want to peacefully express their 
views. When violent individuals throw bottles, rocks, and cause serious 
injuries to our officers — we will make arrests."Fraternal Order of Police national president Patrick Yoes said in a statement
 last Thursday in response to Floyd's death, "We know what happens in 
communities when police officers lose the respect and trust of the 
public they protect.""Especially after a tragedy like we saw in
 Minneapolis, we need to do two things," he continued. "Take a hard look
 at our own actions and conduct, correct them where necessary, and to 
regain that trust by continuing to hold ourselves to the highest 
possible standard in a transparent way."
 Editor's note: This article has been updated with Amnesty International's comments.