George Floyd protests, Global Running Day, Rod Rosenstein testifies on Capitol Hill: 5 things to know Wednesday

Editors, USA TODAY
·5 min read

Nationwide protests show no sign of slowing down

Protests and demonstrations in the wake of the death of George Floyd, a black man who died after a now-fired Minneapolis police officer kept a knee to his neck for nearly nine minutes, aren't expected to slow down Wednesday. Curfews will also likely continue another night as Seattle already has one in place for Wednesday and Sheriff Alex Villanueva said Tuesday the curfew in place across Los Angeles County will continue until the "protests are gone." Tuesday again saw protests in cities nationwide including New York, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Chicago, Minneapolis, Phoenix and Miami. In Washington, many of the protesters who went to the White House for days described the Tuesday's tenor as more subdued than in the recent days. Protesters returned to the area where on Monday law enforcement used projectiles, shields and horses to clear out a group of peaceful demonstrators for President Donald Trump's visit to a nearby church.

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Senate Republicans to grill Rosenstein over Russia probe

Republicans in the Senate Judiciary Committee plan to press former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein Wednesday about his oversight of the Russia investigation in the first in a series of oversight hearings that coincide with accelerated election-year efforts to scrutinize the FBI probe. Allies of President Donald Trump are taking fresh aim at the probe into ties between Russia and his 2016 campaign. They have pointed to newly declassified information to allege Trump and his associates were unfairly pursued. They also have drawn vindication from the Justice Department's decision to drop its case against Trump's former national security adviser Michael Flynn. Republicans are attempting to refocus public attention on the Russia investigation at a time when Trump himself is facing considerable public scrutiny over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and unrest in many American cities set off by the death of George Floyd.

Major sports league could announce return

Sports leagues are making plans to return to play, and Major League Soccer could be next with a major announcement Wednesday as the league and its players work toward an agreement that would avoid a lockout. The proposal would include a plan to return to play in Orlando in a made-for-TV tournament. MLS was just two weeks into its 2020 season when it was forced to suspend play March 12 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Major League Baseball, the NBA and NHL also all are working on plans to resume play this summer. In addition, the National Women's Soccer League is planning on a 25-game tournament to be held in Utah starting on June 27.

Former Vice President Biden inches toward delegate win

As of early Wednesday, former Vice President Joe Biden needs roughly 100 more delegates to secure the Democratic presidential nomination. Biden swept all seven states holding presidential primaries, albeit expected, pushing him closer to meeting the 1,991 delegate threshold. His stunning rise comes after early disappointing losses in the primary season. Biden, 77, had scored a huge comeback with a dominating primary win in South Carolina and went on to rack up delegates on Super Tuesday. In early April, Biden became the presumptive nominee after Sen. Bernie Sanders, his last Democratic opponent still in the race, suspended his presidential campaign.

For black running groups, hosting a community key in times of stress

Black Men Run and Black Girls Run have become communities where runners can express their feelings — whether through pledging miles, discussing issues with fellow members or simply taking their emotions out on the pavement. Global Running Day, celebrated on Wednesday, will have a different emphasis this year following the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor. Both organizations plan to use the day to show solidarity and raise awareness for social issues that are impacting the black community. "Our community provides a sisterhood," Jay Ell Alexander, the owner and CEO of Black Girls Run, told USA TODAY. "So I think even in light of all the situations that have been going on, people have been finding even more solace and even more need to join the community, whether it’s that connection with the sisterhood or just wanting an outlet in terms of having some type of physical activity to release that stress."

Contributing: Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: George Floyd protests, Global Running Day: 5 things to know Wednesday