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Weekend Roundup: Serena Williams a Champion Again; Nationwide Protests; DeRay Mckesson Released from Jail

Is Serena Williams the Greatest of All Time?

On Saturday, tennis superstar Serena Williams added to her incredible legacy by earning her 22nd Grand Slam singles title in Wimbledon, England. Williams beat Germany’s Angelique Kerber 7-5 6-3 in the Wimbledon final. With her win, Williams now ties with Steffi Graf in the Open Era. Williams’ win this past Saturday brings her win total at the prestigious tournament to seven.

After her historic win, Serena teamed up with sister Venus to win the women’s doubles final against Yaroslava Shvedova of Kazahkstan and Timea Babos of Hungary at Wimbledon.

Activist DeRay Mckesson Released from Jail

Prominent Black Lives Matter activist DeRay Mckesson was arrested Saturday night during a peaceful protest in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Footage of his arrest was captured on the live video streaming app Periscope and subsequently posted to social media. In the video, Baton Rouge police seemingly tackle Mckesson from behind and take him into custody.

According to the Baltimore Sun, the activist was arrested on one count of obstruction of a highway, which is a misdemeanor, as he was walking along Baton Rouge’s Airline Highway.

Mckesson, who turned 31 on Saturday, has since been released from police custody.

The Black Lives Matter sympathizer said he felt targeted by authorities and that his arrest was unlawful.

“I remain disappointed in the Baton Rouge police who continue to provoke protesters who were peacefully protesting,” Mckesson told reporters upon his release. “There’s a lot of work to be done with this police department specifically. The only people who were violent last [Saturday] night were the Baton Rouge police.”

Mckesson is a top administrator in the Baltimore public school system and is expected to return to work Tuesday, the Baltimore Sun reports.

Recent Police Involved Killings of Black Men Have Sparked Nationwide Protests

After the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile at the hands of police in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Falcon Heights, Minnesota, Black Lives Matter protests have spread across the nation. Lasting a total of five days, they follow the Dallas shooting, which led to local police killing suspect Micah Xavier Johnson after a seven-hour deliberation.

Atlanta

Rallies in Atlanta lasted throughout the weekend, beginning Friday afternoon. According to WSB, protesters were blocked from entering the Interstate 75 connector by police. Another night of protests is likely.

Memphis

blm-memphis

AP

Like Atlanta, USA Today reported BLM protesters in Memphis took to the interstate in their downtown march Sunday. The group of more than 1,000 managed to make it onto the Interstate 40 bridge over the Mississippi River, stopping traffic on either side.

Baton Rouge

Reuters

Reuters

More than 1,000 people came out to protest in Baton Rouge Sunday for the second day in a row. At least 12 people were arrested as police and citizens battled.

baton-rouge

 

New York 

Reuters

Reuters

In Manhattan, the New York Daily News reports more than 300 people chanted “Black lives matter” at Sunday’s rally. A large sit-in was held in Times Square before protesters headed to Union Square.

New York Daily News

New York Daily News

Many more protests occurred throughout the country. Rallies were held in St. Paul and St. Anthony, Minnesota; Birmingham, Alabama; Columbia, South Carolina; San Francisco; Los Angeles; Miami and Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Washington, D.C.; Dallas; and Nebraska.

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