<p>Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of downtown Minneapolis demanding justice in the fatal police shooting of a young Black man, Amir Locke, during a "no-knock" raid on his apartment earlier this week.</p>

<p>At least 500 demonstrators rallied at Government Plaza in Minnesota's largest city three days after Locke, 22, was shot on his couch by police.</p>

<p>The crowd assembled in below-freezing temperatures, demanding an unconditional ban on no-knock warrants, the dismissal and arrest of officers involved in the shooting, and the resignation of the mayor and police chief.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Amir Locke's life mattered. He was only 22 years old and had his whole life ahead of him. His family and friends must now live the rest of their lives without him. (1/3)</p>
— Attorney General Keith Ellison (@AGEllison) <a href="https://twitter.com/AGEllison/status/1489653093168042002?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>Authorities in the northern US city, still reeling from the police murder of George Floyd in 2020, said Amir Locke, 22, was shot Wednesday by officers carrying out a search warrant on the apartment he was in.</p>

<p>In the video, an officer uses a key to unlock the door and then a group of officers enter while shouting "Police, search warrant!"</p>

<p>Locke, who was on a couch, starts to rise from beneath a blanket, with a gun in his hand, when police fire.</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/minneapolis-suspends-no-knock-warrants-after-police-killing-450805">Also read |&nbsp;Minneapolis suspends no-knock warrants after police killing</a></strong></p>

<p>The total time between the officers' entrance and the shots fired was less than ten seconds. Locke was pronounced dead at hospital.</p>

<p>The day after the killing, police released video footage from the raid, which showed Locke was holding a gun as he twisted beneath a blanket on his sofa after being roused by officers moments before he was slain.</p>

<p>Police have said the officers were exercising a "no-knock" search warrant, which authorizes police to enter private property without first alerting occupants or announcing their presence.</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/george-floyds-4-year-old-niece-shot-in-her-houston-home-442504">Also read |&nbsp;George Floyd’s 4-year-old niece shot in her Houston home</a></strong></p>

<p>The warrant was issued in relation to a homicide probe led by detectives from the neighboring Saint Paul Police Department. Locke was not named in the warrant, and Minneapolis police have acknowledged it was unclear how or whether he was connected to that investigation.</p>

<p>Locke's death has reopened the wounds caused by the killing of Floyd in May 2020, when white ex-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes.</p>

<p>To ease tensions now, Minnesota state attorney general Keith Ellison promised to conduct a "fair and thorough" investigation of the events.</p>

<p>"Amir Locke's life mattered," he said, alluding to the Black Lives Matter movement.</p>

<p>Without predicting the outcome of the investigation, Minnesota's Democratic governor Tim Walz said the circumstances of Locke's death "illustrate the need for further reform" on the police force beyond the changes made after Floyd's death, particularly the execution of search warrants.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of downtown Minneapolis demanding justice in the fatal police shooting of a young Black man, Amir Locke, during a "no-knock" raid on his apartment earlier this week.

Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of downtown Minneapolis demanding justice in the fatal police shooting of a young Black man, Amir Locke, during a "no-knock" raid on his apartment earlier this week. At least 500 demonstrators rallied at Government Plaza in Minnesota's largest city three days after Locke, 22, was shot on his couch by police. The crowd assembled in below-freezing temperatures, demanding an unconditional ban on no-knock warrants, the dismissal and arrest of officers involved in the shooting, and the resignation of the mayor and police chief. Amir Locke's life mattered. He was only 22 years old and had his whole life ahead of him. His family and friends must now live the rest of their lives without him. (1/3) — Attorney General Keith Ellison (@AGEllison) February 4, 2022 × Authorities in the northern US city, still reeling from the police murder of George Floyd in 2020, said Amir Locke, 22, was shot Wednesday by officers carrying out a search warrant on the apartment he was in. In the video, an officer uses a key to unlock the door and then a group of officers enter while shouting "Police, search warrant!" Locke, who was on a couch, starts to rise from beneath a blanket, with a gun in his hand, when police fire. Also read | Minneapolis suspends no-knock warrants after police killing The total time between the officers' entrance and the shots fired was less than ten seconds. Locke was pronounced dead at hospital. The day after the killing, police released video footage from the raid, which showed Locke was holding a gun as he twisted beneath a blanket on his sofa after being roused by officers moments before he was slain. Police have said the officers were exercising a "no-knock" search warrant, which authorizes police to enter private property without first alerting occupants or announcing their presence. Also read | George Floyd’s 4-year-old niece shot in her Houston home The warrant was issued in relation to a homicide probe led by detectives from the neighboring Saint Paul Police Department. Locke was not named in the warrant, and Minneapolis police have acknowledged it was unclear how or whether he was connected to that investigation. Locke's death has reopened the wounds caused by the killing of Floyd in May 2020, when white ex-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. To ease tensions now, Minnesota state attorney general Keith Ellison promised to conduct a "fair and thorough" investigation of the events. "Amir Locke's life mattered," he said, alluding to the Black Lives Matter movement. Without predicting the outcome of the investigation, Minnesota's Democratic governor Tim Walz said the circumstances of Locke's death "illustrate the need for further reform" on the police force beyond the changes made after Floyd's death, particularly the execution of search warrants. (With inputs from agencies)

Amir Locke: Hundreds in Minneapolis protest police killing of Black man in raid

<p>In South Africa's second encounter in the Super 12 round of the T20 World Cup, versus West Indies, Quinton de Kock's absence raised quite a few eyebrows after the Cricket South Africa (CSA) asked the players to take a unified stance in support of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While all the players took the knee, de Kock's absence made heads turn. With many teams taking a stance in the support of the BLM movement, in order to educate one and all to end the ill-practice of racism worldwide, the wicketkeeper-batsman's whereabouts surely hogged the headlines. After facing backlash and severe criticism, De Kock has finally responded to the controversy.</p>

<p>The swashbuckling left-hander has issued an apology and spoke at length about the whole matter in an official statement.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/zimbabwes-pommie-mbangwa-criticises-quinton-de-kock-for-refusing-to-take-knee-says-i-cannot-shed-my-skin-424576"><strong>Zimbabwe's Pommie Mbangwa criticises Quinton de Kock for refusing to take knee, says 'I cannot shed my skin'</strong></a></p>

<section itemprop="articleBody">
<p><strong>Here's QDK's statement:</strong></p>

<p>"I would like to start by saying sorry to my teammates, and the fans back home.&nbsp; I never ever wanted to make this a Quinton issue. I understand the importance of standing against racism, and I also understand the responsibility of us as players to set an example.</p>

<section itemprop="articleBody">
<p>"If me taking a knee helps to educate others, and makes the lives of others better, I am more than happy to do so. I did not, in any way, mean to disrespect anyone by not playing against West Indies, especially the West Indian team themselves. Maybe some people don't understand that we were just hit with this on Tuesday morning, on the way to a game.</p>
</section>

<section itemprop="articleBody">
<p>"I am deeply sorry for all the hurt, confusion and anger that I have caused. I was quiet on this very important issue until now. But I feel I have to explain myself a little bit. For those who don't know, I come from a mixed race family. My half-sisters are Coloured and my step mom is Black. For me, Black lives have mattered since I was born. Not just because there was an international movement.</p>
</section>

<section itemprop="articleBody">
<p>"The rights and equality of all people is more important than any individual. I was raised to understand that we all have rights, and they are important. I felt like my rights were taken away when I was told what we had to do in the way that we were told.</p>
</section>

<section itemprop="articleBody">
<p>"Since our chat with the board last night, which was very emotional, I think we all have a better understanding of their intentions as well. I wish this had happened sooner, because what happened on match day could have been avoided.</p>
</section>

<section itemprop="articleBody">
<p>"I know I have an example to set. We were previously told we had the choice to do what we felt we wanted to do. I chose to keep my thoughts to myself, and thought of the pride of playing for my family and my country.</p>
</section>

<section itemprop="articleBody">
<p>"I didn't understand why I had to prove it with a gesture, when I live and learn and love people from all walks of life every day. When you are told what to do, with no discussion, I felt like it takes away the meaning. If I was racist, I could easily have taken the knee and lied, which is wrong and doesn't build a better society.</p>
</section>

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<p>"Those who have grown up with me and played with me, know what type of person I am. I've been called a lot of things as a cricketer. Doff [dim]. Stupid. Selfish. Immature. But those didn't hurt. Being called a racist because of a misunderstanding hurts me deeply.</p>
</section>

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<p>"It hurts my family. It hurts my pregnant wife. I am not a racist. In my heart of hearts, I know that. And I think those who know me know that. I know I'm not great with words, but I've tried my best to explain how truly sorry I am for making like this is about me.</p>
</section>

<section itemprop="articleBody">
<p>"It is not. I won't lie, I was shocked that we were told on the way to an important match that there was an instruction that we had to follow, with a perceived 'or else.' I don't think I was the only one.</p>
</section>

<section itemprop="articleBody">
<p>"We had camps. We had sessions. We had zoom meetings. We know where we all stand. And that is together. I love every one of my teammates, and I love nothing more than playing cricket for South Africa. I think it would of been better for everyone concerned if we had sorted this out before the tournament started.</p>
</section>

<section itemprop="articleBody">
<p>"Then we could have focused on our job, to win cricket matches for our country. There always seems to be a drama when we go to World Cups. That isn't fair. I just want to thank my teammates for their support, especially my captain, Temba. People might not recognise, but he is a flipping amazing leader.</p>
</section>

<section itemprop="articleBody">
<p>"If he and the team, and South Africa, will have me, I would love nothing more than to play cricket for my country again."</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/not-the-south-africa-of-nelson-mandela-ex-pak-player-reacts-to-quinton-de-kocks-decision-over-knee-order-424579"><strong>'Not the South Africa of Nelson Mandela': Ex-Pak player reacts to Quinton de Kock's decision over knee order</strong></a></p>

<p>Meanwhile, Temba Bavuma-led South Africa thrashed the defending champions West Indies, despite De Kock's absence, by 8 wickets to get off the mark in the main draw of the showpiece event in the UAE on Tuesday (October 26). They will next face&nbsp;Sri Lanka in Sharjah on Saturday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Following QDK's statement, he is expected to return to the Proteas' XI and take a knee as well.</p>
</section>
</section>


In South Africa's second encounter in the Super 12 round of the T20 World Cup, versus West Indies, Quinton de Kock's absence raised quite a few eyebrows after the Cricket South Africa (CSA) asked the players to take a unified stance in support of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement.

In South Africa's second encounter in the Super 12 round of the T20 World Cup, versus West Indies, Quinton de Kock's absence raised quite a few eyebrows after the Cricket South Africa (CSA) asked the players to take a unified stance in support of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. While all the players took the knee, de Kock's absence made heads turn. With many teams taking a stance in the support of the BLM movement, in order to educate one and all to end the ill-practice of racism worldwide, the wicketkeeper-batsman's whereabouts surely hogged the headlines. After facing backlash and severe criticism, De Kock has finally responded to the controversy. The swashbuckling left-hander has issued an apology and spoke at length about the whole matter in an official statement. ALSO READ | Zimbabwe's Pommie Mbangwa criticises Quinton de Kock for refusing to take knee, says 'I cannot shed my skin' Here's QDK's statement: "I would like to start by saying sorry to my teammates, and the fans back home. I never ever wanted to make this a Quinton issue. I understand the importance of standing against racism, and I also understand the responsibility of us as players to set an example. "If me taking a knee helps to educate others, and makes the lives of others better, I am more than happy to do so. I did not, in any way, mean to disrespect anyone by not playing against West Indies, especially the West Indian team themselves. Maybe some people don't understand that we were just hit with this on Tuesday morning, on the way to a game. "I am deeply sorry for all the hurt, confusion and anger that I have caused. I was quiet on this very important issue until now. But I feel I have to explain myself a little bit. For those who don't know, I come from a mixed race family. My half-sisters are Coloured and my step mom is Black. For me, Black lives have mattered since I was born. Not just because there was an international movement. "The rights and equality of all people is more important than any individual. I was raised to understand that we all have rights, and they are important. I felt like my rights were taken away when I was told what we had to do in the way that we were told. "Since our chat with the board last night, which was very emotional, I think we all have a better understanding of their intentions as well. I wish this had happened sooner, because what happened on match day could have been avoided. "I know I have an example to set. We were previously told we had the choice to do what we felt we wanted to do. I chose to keep my thoughts to myself, and thought of the pride of playing for my family and my country. "I didn't understand why I had to prove it with a gesture, when I live and learn and love people from all walks of life every day. When you are told what to do, with no discussion, I felt like it takes away the meaning. If I was racist, I could easily have taken the knee and lied, which is wrong and doesn't build a better society. "Those who have grown up with me and played with me, know what type of person I am. I've been called a lot of things as a cricketer. Doff [dim]. Stupid. Selfish. Immature. But those didn't hurt. Being called a racist because of a misunderstanding hurts me deeply. "It hurts my family. It hurts my pregnant wife. I am not a racist. In my heart of hearts, I know that. And I think those who know me know that. I know I'm not great with words, but I've tried my best to explain how truly sorry I am for making like this is about me. "It is not. I won't lie, I was shocked that we were told on the way to an important match that there was an instruction that we had to follow, with a perceived 'or else.' I don't think I was the only one. "We had camps. We had sessions. We had zoom meetings. We know where we all stand. And that is together. I love every one of my teammates, and I love nothing more than playing cricket for South Africa. I think it would of been better for everyone concerned if we had sorted this out before the tournament started. "Then we could have focused on our job, to win cricket matches for our country. There always seems to be a drama when we go to World Cups. That isn't fair. I just want to thank my teammates for their support, especially my captain, Temba. People might not recognise, but he is a flipping amazing leader. "If he and the team, and South Africa, will have me, I would love nothing more than to play cricket for my country again." ALSO READ | 'Not the South Africa of Nelson Mandela': Ex-Pak player reacts to Quinton de Kock's decision over knee order Meanwhile, Temba Bavuma-led South Africa thrashed the defending champions West Indies, despite De Kock's absence, by 8 wickets to get off the mark in the main draw of the showpiece event in the UAE on Tuesday (October 26). They will next face Sri Lanka in Sharjah on Saturday. Following QDK's statement, he is expected to return to the Proteas' XI and take a knee as well.

T20 World Cup: SA star Quinton de Kock apologises for BLM row, pledges to take the knee

<p>Former Minneapolis police officer&nbsp;Derek&nbsp;Chauvin has appealed his conviction for the murder of George Floyd, citing 14 complaints about his high-profile trial earlier this year in a case that roiled the United States and laid bare deep racial divisions.</p>

<p>The killing of Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, in May 2020 went viral after being caught on camera and sparked America's biggest demonstrations for racial justice in decades.</p>

<p>Chauvin, who in June was sentenced to more than 22 years in prison for killing Floyd by kneeling on his neck for nearly 10 minutes, appealed the conviction Thursday night with a Minnesota district court, on the last day he was able to do so.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He accuses the state of prejudicial misconduct and lists multiple issues with the jury selected for the trial, among other objections.</p>

<p>The former police officer accuses the court of "abusing its discretion" by denying requests to postpone or move the trial, and refusing to sequester the jury for its duration.</p>

<p>Chauvin, a 45-year-old white man, was filmed kneeling on Floyd's neck, indifferent to the dying man's groans and to the pleas of distraught passers-by.</p>

<p>Floyd repeatedly said "I can't breathe" before he died.</p>

<p>The scene, filmed and uploaded by a young woman, quickly spread around the world.</p>

<p>Hundreds of thousands of people subsequently poured onto streets across the country and overseas to demand an end to racism and police brutality.</p>

<p>The&nbsp;ex-cop&nbsp;and three of his colleagues arrested Floyd on suspicion of having passed a fake $20 bill in a store in Minneapolis, a northern city of around 400,000 people.&nbsp;</p>

<p>They handcuffed him and pinned him to the ground in the street.</p>

<p>In the filed documents, Chauvin said he has no income and no legal representation in the appeals process. A defense fund that paid for his representation during the trial was terminated after his sentencing.</p>

<h2>Relief at risk&nbsp;</h2>

<p>The sacked police officer, who was present for the full six weeks of his trial, did not testify, invoking his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.</p>

<p>His lawyer said he had followed police procedures in force at the time and that Floyd's death was due to health problems exacerbated by drug use.</p>

<p>But, at the end of the high-profile trial in April, a jury took less than 10 hours to convict Chauvin of Floyd's murder.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He was found guilty on all three charges -- second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter.</p>

<p>The other three police officers are to face state charges next year for their roles in Floyd's death.</p>

<p>Chauvin's conviction was greeted with relief across the country.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Many had feared an acquittal would lead to worse unrest, while others worried that once again a white police officer would get away with what they saw as murder.</p>

<p>The Floyd family's lawyer called the sentencing a "historic" step towards racial reconciliation in the United States.</p>

<p>Chauvin had a record of using excessive force before the unarmed Floyd died under his knee.</p>

<p>At the end of the trial, Chauvin offered his condolences to the Floyd family and said: "There's going to be some other information in the future that would be of interest and I hope things will give you some peace of mind," without elaborating.</p>


Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has appealed his conviction for the murder of George Floyd, citing 14 complaints about his high-profile trial earlier this year in a case that roiled the United States and laid bare deep racial divisions.

Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has appealed his conviction for the murder of George Floyd, citing 14 complaints about his high-profile trial earlier this year in a case that roiled the United States and laid bare deep racial divisions. The killing of Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, in May 2020 went viral after being caught on camera and sparked America's biggest demonstrations for racial justice in decades. Chauvin, who in June was sentenced to more than 22 years in prison for killing Floyd by kneeling on his neck for nearly 10 minutes, appealed the conviction Thursday night with a Minnesota district court, on the last day he was able to do so. He accuses the state of prejudicial misconduct and lists multiple issues with the jury selected for the trial, among other objections. The former police officer accuses the court of "abusing its discretion" by denying requests to postpone or move the trial, and refusing to sequester the jury for its duration. Chauvin, a 45-year-old white man, was filmed kneeling on Floyd's neck, indifferent to the dying man's groans and to the pleas of distraught passers-by. Floyd repeatedly said "I can't breathe" before he died. The scene, filmed and uploaded by a young woman, quickly spread around the world. Hundreds of thousands of people subsequently poured onto streets across the country and overseas to demand an end to racism and police brutality. The ex-cop and three of his colleagues arrested Floyd on suspicion of having passed a fake $20 bill in a store in Minneapolis, a northern city of around 400,000 people. They handcuffed him and pinned him to the ground in the street. In the filed documents, Chauvin said he has no income and no legal representation in the appeals process. A defense fund that paid for his representation during the trial was terminated after his sentencing. Relief at risk The sacked police officer, who was present for the full six weeks of his trial, did not testify, invoking his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. His lawyer said he had followed police procedures in force at the time and that Floyd's death was due to health problems exacerbated by drug use. But, at the end of the high-profile trial in April, a jury took less than 10 hours to convict Chauvin of Floyd's murder. He was found guilty on all three charges -- second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter. The other three police officers are to face state charges next year for their roles in Floyd's death. Chauvin's conviction was greeted with relief across the country. Many had feared an acquittal would lead to worse unrest, while others worried that once again a white police officer would get away with what they saw as murder. The Floyd family's lawyer called the sentencing a "historic" step towards racial reconciliation in the United States. Chauvin had a record of using excessive force before the unarmed Floyd died under his knee. At the end of the trial, Chauvin offered his condolences to the Floyd family and said: "There's going to be some other information in the future that would be of interest and I hope things will give you some peace of mind," without elaborating.

Ex-cop convicted of George Floyd's murder files appeal

<p>The Donald Trump administration executed 40-year-old Brandon Bernard on Thursday, his punishment for acting as an accomplice to a crime when he was 18 years old.</p>

<p>This is the ninth federal execution of the year and the first during a presidential lame-duck period in 130 years, putting to death a Texas street-gang member for his role in the slayings of a religious couple from Iowa more than two decades ago.</p>

<p>Bernard was convicted of murder with co-defendant Christopher Vialva in 2000.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Bernard was killed by lethal injection at 9:27 pm local time on Thursday at the federal prison in Terre Haute, Indiana.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Bernard’s case drew high-profile condemnation, The Washington Post reported. Kim Kardashian West, among others, tweeted about Bernard’s case and shared a petition calling for his death sentence to be commuted to life in prison, the newspaper reported.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Just spoke to Brandon for what will likely be the last time. Hardest call I’ve ever had. Brandon, selfless as always, was focused on his family and making sure they are ok. He told me not to cry because our fight isn’t over. 😢</p>
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) <a href="https://twitter.com/KimKardashian/status/1337156101469597696?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>Attorneys, congressional representatives and celebrities were among the thousands who were calling for the scheduled execution of Bernard to be stopped.</p>

<p>Four more federal executions, including one Friday, are planned in the weeks before President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The Donald Trump administration executed 40-year-old Brandon Bernard on Thursday, his punishment for acting as an accomplice to a crime when he was 18 years old.

The Donald Trump administration executed 40-year-old Brandon Bernard on Thursday, his punishment for acting as an accomplice to a crime when he was 18 years old. This is the ninth federal execution of the year and the first during a presidential lame-duck period in 130 years, putting to death a Texas street-gang member for his role in the slayings of a religious couple from Iowa more than two decades ago. Bernard was convicted of murder with co-defendant Christopher Vialva in 2000. Bernard was killed by lethal injection at 9:27 pm local time on Thursday at the federal prison in Terre Haute, Indiana. Bernard’s case drew high-profile condemnation, The Washington Post reported. Kim Kardashian West, among others, tweeted about Bernard’s case and shared a petition calling for his death sentence to be commuted to life in prison, the newspaper reported. Just spoke to Brandon for what will likely be the last time. Hardest call I’ve ever had. Brandon, selfless as always, was focused on his family and making sure they are ok. He told me not to cry because our fight isn’t over. 😢 — Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) December 10, 2020 × Attorneys, congressional representatives and celebrities were among the thousands who were calling for the scheduled execution of Bernard to be stopped. Four more federal executions, including one Friday, are planned in the weeks before President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration. (With inputs from agencies)

First in 130 years: US carries out federal execution during a presidential lame-duck period

All-rounder Hardik Pandya became the first player in IPL to take a knee to show support to the Black Lives Matter movement. The move won Pandya both brickbats and bouquets. WION's Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: Hardik Pandya takes a knee during IPL game for Black Lives Matter