Responding to Trump, Cooper says peacemaking leaders needed amid George Floyd protests
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper on Tuesday talked about the protests over the killing of George Floyd and “the backdrop” of the coronavirus pandemic.
At the same time Cooper held the media briefing, a fourth day of protests had begun in downtown Raleigh.
As in cities across the country, Raleigh has seen nightly protests due to the killing of Floyd, an African-American man, by police in Minneapolis on May 25. An officer is charged with murder after holding Floyd on the ground with his knee for nearly nine minutes. During many protests, including the one in Raleigh Tuesday, protesters knelt for nine minutes in memory of Floyd.
President Donald Trump, however, called governors’ recent responses to protests “weak.”
In his press briefing, Cooper referenced Trump’s recent photo op where he held up a Bible at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C. Inside the Bible is the “Sermon on the Mount,” Cooper said. In the New Testament book of Matthew, Jesus’ teachings include what is known as the Beautitudes, and the words, “Blessed are the peacemakers.”
“I think it takes leaders of strength to be peacemakers. And right now, we need leaders of strength who can hear everybody and who can be peacemakers in this state and this country, because our state and and our country need healing,” Cooper said.
“We have a lot going on, and a lot of frustration, and we need strength moving us forward, trying to bring us together,” he said.
On Saturday and Sunday nights, peaceful protests ended in violence in downtown Raleigh. Businesses were looted, fires started and glass windows and doors broken at many downtown storefronts and buildings.
The National Guard was activated by Cooper at the city’s request on Sunday night. It also was there Monday night. A citywide curfew started Monday at 8 p.m., put in place by Raleigh Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin. Monday night’s protest ended peacefully for the most part around 9 p.m.
‘We have to listen to them’
Cooper’s handling of the protests has received criticism from Republican statewide leaders including House Speaker Tim Moore, who lives in an apartment downtown. Moore wanted the National Guard in place on Saturday night.
On Tuesday morning during a Council of State meeting, Lt. Gov. Dan Forest also questioned why the National Guard was not downtown Saturday night. Forest, who is running against Cooper this fall, also asked if Cooper was in North Carolina on Saturday. Cooper said he was in Raleigh. The governor tweeted on Saturday night about being in contact with emergency management and held a news briefing on Sunday in Raleigh.
Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey said that businesses facing losses from rioting and looting this past weekend were already hurting from the coronavirus pandemic. That is pushing up insurance rates, Causey said, and he hopes the state can “get control” to prevent any further property destruction.
Cooper told reporters on Tuesday afternoon that his administration is “continuing to provide state support as requested.” He said that will continue this week, including use of the National Guard, State Highway Patrol and State Bureau of Investigation.
The governor emphasized the nonviolent protests are being held in the streets to call out the systemic injustices black people have endured for generations.
“We have to listen to them,” Cooper said, adding that the backdrop behind all this is COVID-19.
Many protesters wear masks, but do not use social distancing. Cooper said that like the ReOpen protests in May, the George Floyd protests are also exempt from social distancing under his executive order.
RNC in Charlotte
Earlier Tuesday, Cooper released a letter he sent to the Republican National Convention about the event still scheduled for the end of August in Charlotte, The News & Observer reported. Cooper said the RNC needs to be a scaled-down event.
Cooper told reporters during the news conference that he cannot guarantee allowing 19,000 people in the arena. He said Trump told him that he wants to have a full arena.
Cooper said that he does not have a specific number of people that would be allowed at RNC events.
“It would depend on their plan,” he said.
Carowinds to reopen?
State Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry asked Cooper Tuesday morning about reopening Carowinds, the amusement park that straddles the North Carolina-South Carolina state line. Berry said that it is tentatively scheduled to reopen on July 27.
“Are you in favor of that? Because our guys do inspections there,” Berry said during a Council of State meeting.
Cooper did not give her a specific answer, but that “decisions will be made about reigniting the economy.” He said his administration is getting input from health care professionals and businesses about reopening plans.
“It’s too early to predict whether that can occur,” Cooper said.
Bars bill
The General Assembly has sent Cooper a bill, House Bill 536/Senate Bill 592, that would allow bars to reopen just like restaurants and breweries, wineries and distilleries have already under Cooper’s Phase Two plan.
Cooper has a few days left before he needs to take action on the bill. He did not say Tuesday if he would veto the bill, but said he has concerned that it does not leave flexibility if there is a surge in COVID-19 cases.
“It’s not time yet to enter into Phase Three,” he said.
Phase Two is scheduled to last until at least June 26. The governor and Department of Health and Human Services Sec. Dr. Mandy Cohen called Phase Two’s reopening that held back bars and gyms “modest.”
The language in the bill includes “notwithstanding any declaration of emergency.”
The bill would also allow restaurants and bars to have outdoor seating at 50% capacity of what is allowed for indoor seating. Social distancing requirements would be in place. Outdoor seating areas could also include sidewalks and areas of public streets if allowed by local governments.
Cooper faces criticism when he announced Phase Two would reopen dine-in service to restaurants but not bars. The same week, he clarified the order to also reopen wineries, distilleries and breweries. Gyms are also not allowed to reopen during Phase Two, which also drew criticism and some gym owners opened their facilities anyway.
The state has more than 29,000 cases of COVID-19.
This story was originally published June 2, 2020 at 3:50 PM.
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