Story at a glance
- Protests ensued in Minneapolis following the arrest and death of George Floyd.
- His death follows those of Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor, two black people who were killed earlier this year.
Protests have swelled in Minneapolis following the death of George Floyd, a black man suspected of being involved in a forgery case who died at the hands of four police officers.
Floyd died on May 26 while being arrested. A white police officer held him down, kneeling on his neck. In a video captured by a passerby, Floyd could be heard gasping and saying “I can’t breathe” to the officer, who did not relinquish his stance.
Floyd died several hours later.
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The four officers were fired Tuesday. Many questioned the use of force and drew stark parallels to the 2014 death of Eric Garner.
CBS reports that protestors organized at the 3700 block of Chicago Avenue in Minneapolis, the site where Floyd was detained and fatally choked. Civil rights advocates have taken to social media to document last night’s events.
This is a disgusting display
I’m here on the southside, helping people as I can with milk, water, and towels
So far, I have been unable to prevent the police from firing indiscriminately into the crowd
Moments ago, I held a towel to a teenage girls head as blood poured from it https://t.co/tbsbjBq5iQ
— Jeremiah Ellison (@jeremiah4north) May 27, 2020
Hundreds gathered to demonstrate, with officers standing by. Eventually, the protests grew more restless; NBC reports that while some demonstrated peacefully, other protestors threw rocks and objects at police cars. CBS Minnesota reports that one officer was injured.
Police officers clothed in riot gear began responding to the protests with tear gas and flash bangs, as well as rubber bullets, despite the crowds seemingly remaining nonviolent.
Currently in Minneapolis, MN. #GeorgeFloyd pic.twitter.com/V9fJAcVHqT
— Tay Tay (@_papitayy_) May 27, 2020
In response to the incident, Democratic Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar tweeted her support to protestors, writing, “Shooting rubber bullets and tear gas at unarmed protesters when there are children present should never be tolerated. Ever.”
National attention of Floyd’s death has spurred parties into action. The FBI announced that it will investigate the death.
The FBI has stepped in to investigate similar cases in recent weeks, namely in the separate cases of Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor. Both victims were black; two white men killed Arbery while he was jogging in Georgia, and Taylor was killed by police in her home while officers were reportedly executing a search warrant.
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