George Floyd, a 46 year old African-American man, died after being handcuffed and pinned to the ground by an officer’s knee for over 7 minutes, in an episode that was recorded on video by a bystander and that sparked large protests in Minneapolis.
Credit…Offices of Ben Crump Law
The family of George Floyd, the African American man who died after being brutally detained by Minneapolis police, says they want the officers to be brought up on murder charges. This comes as protesters violently clashed with police on the streets of Minneapolis near where the arrest happened.
The officer can be seen in the video kneeling on George Floyds neck, with his hands in his pocket, implying he had no regard for Floyd’s plead’s that he couldn’t breathe.
Multiple police officers were on the scene and none made the executive decision to step in and allow Floyd air so that he could breathe.
In another video, Floyd can be seen handcuffed and sitting against a wall along the sidewalk. An officer hoists Floyd from his seated position and begins walking behind him towards the squad car. While Floyd turns to address the officer and shakes his head at a second officer who walks up to assist, Floyd doesn’t seem to resist the officers’ handling or their walk towards the car.
Communities all around the world have seemingly come together around this issue.
Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo confirmed Tuesday that the four officers involved in the incident were no longer with the department. City mayor, Jacob Frey, shared a subsequent tweet stating the unidentified officers had been terminated.
Four responding MPD officers involved in the death of George Floyd have been terminated.
This is the right call.
— Mayor Jacob Frey (@MayorFrey) May 26, 2020
The FBI and state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension are investigating Floyd’s death, while the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office is working with federal prosecutors to determine if criminal prosecution will be pursued.
“We promise a thorough, expedited review consistent with our on-going commitment to justice,” the county attorney’s office said in a statement. “Every person is entitled to fairness; no person stands above the law.”
On Tuesday night, thousands of protestors flooded the streets of Minneapolis calling for an end to police brutality as well as justice for Floyd.
Comments