CHAOS AS POLICE THROWS TEAR GAS AT THOUSANDS OF PROTESTERS CALLING FOR THE ARREST OF POLICEMEN INVOLVED IN THE KILLING OF BLACK MAN GEORGE FLOYD
Police on Tuesday fired rubber bullets and teargas at thousands of protesters calling for the arrest of four white Minneapolis police officers involved in the killing of a 46-year-old black man, George Floyd.
Despite the Coronavirus pandemic, protesters trooped out with banners saying "I can't breathe"- the words George was saying when he was pinned to the ground with a police officer's knee on his neck.
A video posted online showing George pleading for his life till he fell unconscious sparked online outrage.
George's family say they want the four Minneapolis officers involved charged with murder.
In an emotional interview on CNN, Floyd's two brothers and cousin held up his picture and said George Floyd was a gentle giant who "didn't hurt anybody."
"Knowing my brother is to love my brother," the deceased brother, Philonise Floyd said. "They could have tased him, they could have maced him, instead they put their knee in his neck and just sat on him and then carried on."
A protester poured milk on her face to reduce the effect of the teargas.
"They were supposed to be there to serve and to protect and I didn't see a single one of them lift a finger to do anything to help while he was begging for his life. Not one of them tried to do anything to help him," Tera Brown, Floyd's cousin, told CNN.
The four white police officers involved in the murder has been "separated from employment," Officer Garrett Parten, a police spokesman, said Tuesday.
According to the Minneapolis police, the officers were responding to an alleged forgery Monday evening and were told a person later described as the suspect was sitting on a car. Police reports claim the deceased tried to resist arrest.
But the Minneapolis Mayor, Jacob Frey said on Tuesday that the technique the officers used is against department regulations, and the officer had no reasons to employ it.
"The technique that was used is not permitted; is not a technique that our officers get trained in on," he said. "And our chief has been very clear on that piece. There is no reason to apply that kind of pressure with a knee to someone's neck."
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