Hundreds of people protested in the streets of Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, late last night over the death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old man who died seeking help as a police officer laid him on the ground and blocked his breathing. placed knee on neck.
Floyd was arrested Monday after a phone call saying a man was using a $ 20 counterfeit banknote. Police found Floyd inside a car and said he "physically resisted" after getting out of the vehicle, while another video shows that the 46-year-old did not resist. Videos from passers-by show the handcuffed Floyd lying on the ground as the officer placed his knee on his neck. "Please, I can't breathe," the deceased is heard saying. "My stomach hurts. My neck hurts. It hurts me. ? At another point, Floyd said, ?Give me some water or something. Please. Please."
The demonstrations, which began on Wednesday, were initially peaceful, but turned "extremely dangerous", according to Minneasota Governor Tim Walz. "The situation near Lake Street and Hiaëatha in Minneapolis has evolved into an extremely dangerous situation," he said on Twitter. "For everyone's safety, please let firefighters and the medical team go to the scene."
Police in riot gear stormed a rally on Friday, removing hundreds of protesters by truck. Authorities responded with tear gas. Among other things, protesters looted and damaged shops in the streets.
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A lawyer representing Floyd's family said in a statement that he and Floyd's relatives were calling for peaceful protests and social distancing between coronavirus pandemics.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has called for criminal charges against four police officers involved in the tragic incident, who are currently on leave. The Minneapolis police chief declined to comment on Floyd's death, but said the actions of police officers "in no way reflect the values, vision and culture" of the police department.
Floyd was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital shortly after the incident. The cause and manner of death is still under investigation, in which the FBI is also involved. The FBI will focus on whether police officers "deliberately deprived Floyd of a constitutional right."
Sources: CNN, Washington Post
