breaking news on "america this morning," the boiling point in a nation divided. [ crowd chanting ] protesters defying curfews coast to coast facing off with police on this bridge in new york. taking refuge inside this school in los angeles. arrested on the roof throwing bottles and setting off fireworks in boston. hundreds arrested in houston. this morning, the new strategy as police crack down on looters. plus, the new alert from the fbi about police possibly being targeted in their homes. also this morning, we remember george floyd. the plan for memorials in several cities and we're one-on-one with the mother of floyd's young daughter. >> she doesn't know what happened. i told her that her dad died because he couldn't breathe.

>> the message from floyd's family and friends. plus, the lessons we need to learn. we look at where america goes from here. live coverage right now on "america this morning." good wednesday morning, everyone. it was another long night in the big cities across the country with anger and frustration on display in the street. >> thousands of people defied curfews from coast to coast. but the vast majority of protests were peaceful. >> still, we saw tensions boiling over. this scene played out in new york city where police with batons confronted reporters on the streets after the 8:00 p.m. curfew even though they're designated as essential workers. in portland, oregon, thi crowd clashing with police. the officers testing off tear gas. some protesters were blocking a bridge. and in los angeles, police say hundreds of curfew breakers and protesters were hiding inside a school. about 150 of them were finally

arrested on a rooftop. >> abc's megan tevrizian brings our coverage this morning. >> reporter: overnight new protests across america. some turning violent. near boston groups throwing fireworks and water bottles at officers. >> they're moving in with pepper spray. the police line started to move forward. they came through the barricades that they set up. a couple of the officers were firing pepper spray as they moved forward. they are continually being pelted by people throwing water bottles at them. >> reporter: the fbi in boston fearing people are scouting way to attack police at their homes. agents saying they received credible intelligence people are looking up home addresses of officers online. many of the protests nonviolent like the thousands of people turning up on hollywood boulevard then laying down spelling blm with their bodies for black lives matter. >> we don't want to do anything that is not peaceful. we've been peaceful all day. >> reporter: but law enforcement

officials in multiple cities saying rioters are hijacking peaceful demonstrations. >> we're both angry, we're just expressing it in different ways and people will say it's hijacking but at the same time, it's clear, everybody is angry. >> reporter: in new york city tuesday night, protesters defying the 8:00 p.m. curfew. [ crowd chanting ] this group of thousands on a bridge on their knees chanting "peaceful protest" after police in riot gear stopped them from marching into manhattan. streets in the city's soho section closed after luxury stores like chanel and gucci were vandalized in recent nights. police also investigating this video showing a car slamming into an officer in a hit-and-run in the bronx. that officer is in serious condition. this video from a pharmacy in the bronx monday night showing looters storming in stealing drugs from the shelf and trying to break the cash register. new york's governor blasting the

city's response as a disgrace accusing the mayor and the nypd of failing to do their jobs. >> the police in new york city were not effective at doing their job last night, period. >> reporter: the nypd says the looters have been a combination of outside agitators, career criminals and gang members who used elaborate scouting and a signaling system built on text messages and social media apps to stay ahead of police. detectives now using security cameras and license plate readers to track down suspects. meanwhile, in washington this stunning image. members of the national guard lining the steps of the lincoln memorial as protesters gather at the reflection pool. abc's martha raddatz was there. >> the national guard has also been called in to protect national monuments. there is a big demonstration here tonight, a peaceful demonstration, and dozens and dozens of guardsmen behind me protecting the lincoln memorial. >> reporter: among the leading

voices in the peaceful protests in washington is 23-year-old ariana evans. evans getting emotional asking white protesters to move to the front of the line so they can, quote, feel what it's like being black for a day and face danger. >> nothing has changed. eric garner, sandra bland, why? this continual abuse of power is not going to stand with us, and as long as we keep fighting against each other, we're never going to get anywhere. and i think that our generation especially understands that. >> reporter: according to the associated press, nearly 8,000 people nationwide have been arrested in recent days for offenses such as stealing, breaking curfew and blocking highways. kenneth, mona. >> megan, thank you. schools in minneapolis are cutting ties with the city's police department in response to george floyd's death. the school board has voted unanimously to terminate the police department's contract to provide school resource officers.

one school official said she's now convinced the police in schools don't share the same values. breaking overnight this video from a gas station outside washington, d.c. has now led to the suspension of three police officers in prince george's county, maryland. an officer is seen throwing an assault suspect to the ground. when backup arrived, the officer is seen kicking the suspect two times. both officers and their supervisor are under investigation. now to houston, george floyd's hometown, where at least 200 people have been arrested in the last 24 hours. it comes after tens of thousands of people joined floyd's family for a protest to where they made a plea for peace. george floyd's family leading the way in houston. [ crowd chanting ] marching side by side with a crowd of 60,000. >> the crowd has doubled in size. >> reporter: delivering a heartfelt message. >> we are going to shed tears today but we're not going to drop a blood of blood in houston, texas, today.

>> reporter: the crowd coming together as the houston police chief walked among them hugging demonstrators in a show of solidarity. >> it's visceral, the pain and the anger. >> reporter: thousands chanting late into the night. earlier in the day -- >> i want justice for him because he was good. >> reporter: floyd's daughter r mother remember the father that was ripped from their lives. >> she does not have a father. he will never see her grow up, graduate. he will never walk her down the aisle. if there's a problem she's having and she needs her dad, she does not have that anymore. >> reporter: the outrage over his death now reaching far corners of the world. in paris. and even in syria where this mural was painted in floyd's

honor. back here at home, plans for floyd's funeral coming together. former boxer floyd mayweather announcing he'll pay for the services and the floyd family attorney says joe biden is expected to attend. the former vice president showed his support tuesday speaking of his own loss as a parent losing a son. >> i know what it means to have that black hole in your chest where your grief is being sucked into it. >> memorial services are planned this week in minneapolis and north carolina before floyd's funeral in houston on tuesday. election results are in this morning from two races being closely watched across the country. the city of ferguson, missouri, has elected its first black mayor. ella jones is also the first woman elected to the office. ferguson erupted in protests six years ago after michael brown was killed by a white police officer. and controversial iowa congressman steve king will not be returning to congress after

losing his primary election. he was stripped of his committee assignments two years ago after making remarks that seemed to support white supremacists. coming up, doctors and nurses, the heroes of the coronavirus pandemic deliver a powerful message during a street protest in new york. also ahead, president trump responds to criticism over this moment when he held up the bible outside a church after peaceful protesters were cleared from the street. why he says his critics are getting it all wrong. -hi, america. -hi, america. -hi, america. -hey, there, america. during this crisis... over 37 million people... don't have access... to nutritious foods. but there is a way we can all help. with feeding america. their network of 200 food banks are up and running. distributing food to people and communities they serve. across the country. please visit feedingamerica.org... to locate a food bank in your community. -together... -together... -together... -let's feed the love. ♪

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protesters marching in the streets for racial justice. next to washington a new fallout after police used tear gas on peaceful protesters near the white house. >> the move cleared the way for president trump's controversial photo-op with the bible. this morning the president is responding to the criticism. abc's ines de la cuetara has more. >> reporter: this morning, president trump lashing out at widespread criticism for this photo-op standing in front of a vandalized church holding a bible with no explanation. >> is that your bible? >> it's a bible. >> reporter: the backlash growing after federal police used tear gas to clear out peaceful demonstrations near the white house monday allowing president trump and senior advisers to walk across the street to the historic church which was burned during the unrest the night before. the number of republican politicians criticizing the president including nebraska senator ben sasse saying in a statement, i'm against clearing out a peaceful protest for a frodoop that treats the word of god as a political prop.

♪ we shall overcome >> reporter: local pastors gathering at the church tuesday also expressing outrage. >> mr. president, i know you stood right here and held the bible in your hand. >> upside down. >> but it is clear you don't have the bible in your heart. >> reporter: the president responding overnight tweeting, you got it wrong. if the protesters were so peaceful, why did they light the church on fire the night before? >> i think it's very unfortunate that people of faith would call into question what is in anyone's heart including the president's while he felt to go over to st. john's and hold up his bible. i mean the politicization of that by people of faith is unfortunate. >> reporter: the order to remove the protesters came directly from attorney general william barr who minutes before was sur saying the scene

minutes before the flash grenade went off. this morning defense secretary mark esper who was at the photo-op says he didn't know president trump was going to lead him to the church telling nbc news, i thought i was going to do two things, see some damage and talk to the troops. and in a memo to defense department employees on tuesday, esper called on personnel to stay apolitical in these turbulent days. kenneth and mona. >> ines, thank you for that report. and coming up, we hear from a marine veteran injured by rubber bullets fired by police during a protest in california. >> our coverage continues after this. a lung cancer diagnosis can leave you holding your breath. ♪ but bristol myers squibb is working to change things. by researching new kinds of medicines that could help you live longer. including options that are chemo-free. because we're committed to bringing new hope into lung cancer care.

this moment right now... this is our commencement. no, we'll not get a diploma or a degree of any kind. but we are entering a new chapter in our lives. our confidence is shaken; our hearts cracked. the kind of a crack that comes from the loss of a job; from life plans falling apart. we didn't ask for it... but we are rising to meet it. and how far we've come isn't even close to how far we can go. we just have to remember how patient we were... how strong we can be. (how strong you can be.) and remember this; there's a crack in everything for a reason. how else can the light get in? ♪

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a marine corps veteran is blaming los angeles police for his injuries in a protest over the weekend. c.j. montano says things got tense when officers arrived. montano claims he was standing between police and demonstrators when bottles were thrown at officers. that's when montano says he was hit by rubber bullets in the stomach, chest and, of course, his face there. >> i'm not trying to go out there to harm anyone or bring a bad name to police officers, but i'm trying to bring good to the people that deserve it. >> he's now out of the hospital and says his vision is improving. and much of the anger among the protesters on the street this week comes from personal experiences of discrimination that hit home including right here at abc. >> during a primetime special last night some of our abc news colleagues shared their own experiences of being black in america. >> throughout my life my smile has helped keep me alive. >> as a black man, if i show too much anger, then you're scared of me.

that shouldn't be the case. >> being a young black male you could be perceived immediately as a threat. it impacts the way i approach people. >> we were standing just minutes away from our live shots for "world news tonight," and a pickup truck whizzes behind me and yells out [ bleep ]. >> did he say what i think he said? >> yep. he just yelled out the "n" word. >> our friend alex went on to do his job. i remember that very vividly, and i spoke with byron pitts to get his thoughts on those experiences our colleagues shared. hearing our abc news colleagues, hearing you talk about being black in america, being a black journalist, extremely powerful. people would be surprised to hear those things but really they shouldn't be surprised or stunned to hear those things coming out of a black man's mouth.

>> right. it was -- i mean certainly the network had to make a choice to allow us to tell the story because as you know in our business it's never about us. it's about the people who we have the opportunity to tell their stories. but we thought it was helpful in trying to bring clarity and context to people as to why these issues are so important and we thought, why not take these professionals who are well known, people trust them in their homes to say, this is my experience with these issues and so grateful to my colleagues, to pierre, to t.j., to everyone who you saw in the piece who were able to speak their truth. >> when it comes to -- and excuser a n't want to share our age for o here, but for my entire career and you are a veteran journalist, someone i look up to. you have been in the game for awhile. you've seen -- you've covered race in america. how does this time now compare to what you've seen in the past? >> as you know, i am an optimistic person by choice.

my faith demands that of me. i feel like that we're -- we continually make progress. look, i mean, america is an imperfect place but we are still as many would say the best option on earth. i think part of what we're seeing right now is the young people, not just black but young people of every race, of every background, every economic class who are saying, if the promise of america is to be true, we have to do better. people of my age would say america has come a long way. but for this current generation they'll say, okay, but she has further to go, and let us take you there, and so i think it is part of the american journey. not always easy but always moving forward. >> some much needed reflections there. our thanks to byron pitts there, a spiritual leader here at abc news, very revealing. very revealing hearing from our abc news colleagues as well. >> super moving. coming up, the breaking news

overnight about this summer's republican national convention. plus, a fun new way to keep your social distance, next.

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republicans are now looking for a new state to host their convention this summer to avoid coronavirus restrictions in charlotte. president trump and the rnc want a full crowd to be allowed with no face masks but north carolina's democratic governor says fewer people social distancing and face coverings are needed in his state where covid-19 cases are trending higher. republican governors in tennessee, florida and georgia have already expressed interest in hosting the convention. new concerns about so-called superspreaders after a study from "the new york times" revealed 80% of coronavirus cases have been traced back to social gatherings and the study found often in those social gatherings only one or two people were infected, but that's all it took to unleash a new cluster of the virus.

>> it seems like it's a devilish sort here because i'm feeling that people are feeling anxious and unhappy but they have to be careful. crowding and high viral shedding could lead to what we call superspreading events. >> white house coronavirus task force doctor, dr. deborah birx, is calling for them to advance test. here's a big step forward for social distancing in the fashion world. these shoes, well, they're a size 75 and will make sure you don't step on anybody's toes. a shoemaker in romania created them after noticing other shoppers weren't social distancing. they cost $115 a pair. no word on if they come in other colors. but those are some big shoes to fill. >> i see what you did there. i hear those shoes are made for walking. you know what they say about people who have big size shoes, they got big feet.

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building a better bay area for a safe and secure future, this is abc7 news. making news right now at 4:27 life takes a dramatic turn in communities in the east bay. neighbors waking up to curfews because of looting and they are not happy about it. and only on abc7 news san jose police chief apologizing for his reaction as one of his officers is investigated for possible misconduct related to the george floyd protests. and a helicopter crashes in solano county killing the three people onboard. they were doing work for pg&e. good morning, everybody. it's wednesday, june 3rd. we'll get to all those stories in just a moment, but, first, we want to talk about developing news in san jose. right now an investigation under way into a shooting involving a police officer. it happened just after 9:30 last night in the area of north eighth street and mission street. now that is about eight blocks

away from police headquarters. it happened not far from where officers were trying to disperse a crowd protesting the police killing of george floyd. now, no word on the condition or the person who was shot and the city is also under a curfew starting at 8:00 p.m. and going to 5:00 a.m. vallejo's police chief is expected to provide an update today on an officer-involved shooting that took place after a looting at walgreens. abc7 news confirmed the shooting at the store on redwood street was deadly. happened around 12:30 a.m. yesterday. melanie woodrow spoke with the victim's family last night. we're not releasing the victim's name until family members are able to identify the now, this morning a lot of bay area cities are still under curfew. it's really havinging an impact on local businesses because they're still recovering from the shelter-in-place orders. amy hollyfield is live in walnut

creek with more on businesses there. >> hi, kumasi. get this, here in contra costa county starting today, you can go inside a store to go shopping. it's the green light retailers have been waiting for, however, take a look. they're all boarded up. so, now you still can't go inside but for another reason they're boarded up to try to prevent looting. shelter-in-place order because of the pandemic and has been a real blow to restaurant and retailers, of course. sidewalk, pickup and food delivery helped but then the curfew was issued. walnut creek's curfew started early at first, it was 6:00. that canceled out the ability to offer dinner service from restaurants. it's all so bad one restaurant owner we talked to couldn't help but just laugh. >> the only saving light this, the protests, have shifted the stress of the covid-19 fears

into new fears and i don't know if new fears are better, but they're different. >> walnut creek's curfew has now changed. it's now 8:00 at night. so, that's also the curfew in the neighboring towns of lafayette and orinda. restaurants can now offer dinner service. hopefully that will help. the curfew is now in place for the entire county as officials try to prevent the vandalism and the looting that has been happening at night. reporting live in walnut creek, amy hollyfield, abc7 news. now only on abc7 news. san jose police chief is apologizing for his officer being investigated for possible misconduct during a protest. >> i do sincerely apologize if i seem cavalier with the officer's action on