Black man's brutal murder by police officer triggers massive protest in Minneapolis and other US cities
Minneapolis/IBNS: The manslaughter of a 46-year-old unarmed black man, George Floyd, by police officer Derek Chauvin, who pressed his knee into his neck, triggered massive protests in Minneapolis and cities across the United States over persistent racial bias in the U.S. criminal justice system, media reports said.
Floyd, a Houston native who had worked as a nightclub security guard, was arrested after being accused of trying to pass counterfeit money at a corner store.
According to CTV News, the other three officers involved have not been charged, but the investigation is continuing.
But some activists and community leaders continued to push for the arrests of and charges for the three other officers.
Floyd's death resulted in vandalism by irate protestors in Minnesota drawing international attention.
Please Say His Name: George Floyd.
— Madam Auntie Kamala Harris for VP! (@flywithkamala) May 26, 2020
Rest in power, Mr. Floyd. ✊ðŸ¾ðŸ˜¢ #ICantBreathe #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/FjcntTNrHi
Protestors with slogans of 'Black Lives Matter' roiled the streets and the agitation spread to other large cities across the U.S., including Atlanta, Ga., New York City, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, and Portland.
Floyd's death "just touched people in a way that they didn't expect," said Nekima Levy Armstrong, a civil rights lawyer and former president of the Minneapolis NAACP, reported CTV News.
An investigation into Floyd's death has been launched by the U.S. Justice Department.
Floyd's death was also reminiscent of the case of Eric Garner, a black man who died in 2014 in New York after a police officer placed him in a chokehold by police, and Gardner also said he could not breathe.
The violence and vandalism by raged protesters necessitated Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey to declare a curfew order from 8 pm to 6 am local time on Friday and Saturday.
Rest in Power, Beautiful. @BlkLivesMatter honors those we have lost to police violence. #BlackLivesMatter #JusticeforGeorgeFloyd pic.twitter.com/AtqA0YtEOK
— Black Lives Matter (@Blklivesmatter) May 29, 2020
According to the order, nobody was allowed in public except emergency responders and people seeking medical care, fleeing danger, or homeless.
But about 500 demonstrators defied the curfew imposed and clashed on Friday evening with riot police outside a battered Third Precinct building.
A state of emergency was declared by Georgia's governor early Saturday to activate the state National Guard.
Standing together in Los Angeles with @BLMLA . Don’t believe the hype. The march was 99.99% peaceful, spirited, mournful, and focused on the future. Inspiring to see so many young Angelenos out there. Honored to stand with all of you. #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd #JackieLaceyMustGo pic.twitter.com/3MqHj5tzkq
— Jerod Gunsberg (@JerodGunsberg) May 28, 2020
Meanwhile, 500 more Guard soldiers were mobilized in and around Minneapolis.
The Minnesota governor said early Saturday that he was considering federal help as well as moving to activate more than 1,000 more National Guard soldiers.
A crowd of protesters confronted police outside the White House in Lafayette Square Park early Saturday.
The growing demonstration outside caused the building to be placed under lockdown for a time, White House spokesperson said.
(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)
Image Credit: Screenshot grab from video
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