See dramatic images from Minnesota protests following death of black man pinned by cop
Hundreds of people protested Tuesday the death of George Floyd, a black man who died after being pinned by Minneapolis police officers Monday.
Floyd’s death is being compared to the 2014 death of Eric Garner, whose final moments were also shown on video. Garner and Floyd were both unarmed and repeatedly said “I can’t breathe” while being detained by police.
Four officers involved in Floyd’s death have been fired, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey announced Tuesday afternoon.
The move did not stop protesters from marching from the site of the incident to a police precinct building 2 miles away, according to CBS News. Police and the protesters clashed when they arrived at the precinct.
“We’re here to let them know this can’t be tolerated,” one protester said, according to WCCO. “There will be severe consequences if they continue to kill us, this will not go on another day.”
The group was chanting “I can’t breathe” while they marched to the Minneapolis police precinct, according to USA Today.
Some protesters tossed rocks, water bottles and other objects at police during the confrontation, WCCO reported. Others damaged windows, a police cruiser and spray painted graffiti during the protests, USA Today reported.
They were met at the police building by officers in riot gear, who deployed tear gas and shot rubber bullets at them, according to the Star-Tribune.
Images show protesters fleeing the scene after being doused in tear gas. Some people reported being shot by the rubber bullets.
“To see so many police cars, to hear large, loud booms and what I think was tear gas being sprayed on people, rubber bullets being shot at people, is an excessive response,” activist and civil rights lawyer Nekima Levy-Armstrong told the Star-Tribune.
Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar tweeted Tuesday night that “Shooting rubber bullets and tear gas at unarmed protesters when there are children present should never be tolerated. Ever. What is happening in our city tonight is shameful.”
Frey, Gov. Tim Walz and Sen. Amy Klobuchar all condemned the actions by the officers in Monday’s incident.
Floyd appeared to lose consciousness while he was pinned on the ground by officers, one kneeling on his neck, video shows. The woman who shot the video, Darnella Frazier, told Storyful, “It looked as if he was running out of energy and time, and eventually slowly was dying.”
He died at an area hospital after being transported by ambulance, police said. The officers involved in the incident have not been publicly named.
“My daughter got to see the police get away with murder on video,” Diva Reynolds told the Star-Tribune. “And the man is begging for air... it breaks my heart I can’t even talk right now. It’s emotional because that could be her brother. That could be her neighbor.”
The FBI is investigating Floyd’s death, Minneapolis police announced Tuesday morning.
This story was originally published May 27, 2020 at 8:53 AM with the headline "See dramatic images from Minnesota protests following death of black man pinned by cop."