Echoes of protests in Minneapolis: 70 people arrested in New York

On May 28, mass protests took place in New York over the death of an arrested black man in Minneapolis (Minnesota). At least 70 people have been arrested. An even larger protest took place in Manhattan on May 29. This publication writes NBC New York.

Protest in New York

On Friday evening, May 29, activists will gather in Manhattan in New York to protest police brutality after the death of black Minneapolis resident George Floyd. The day before, on May 28, at least 70 people were arrested at a similar rally.

A police officer who strangled 46-year-old Floyd with a knee, after which the man died, is arrested. This was announced on May 29 by officials of Minnesota.

Protests in New York began on the afternoon of May 28. A crowd gathered in Union Square, chanting various statements against police violence, including “I can't breathe,” Floyd said as he was handcuffed and forced to the ground for nearly 10 minutes, kneeing on his neck.

On the subject: Knee-deep: protests rage in the US after the death of a man due to police brutality

“I can't breathe,” said Eric Garner, whose death in 2014 caused a great deal of resonance in American society. The police tried to detain him on suspicion of illegally trading cigarettes on the street, after which there was a conflict, and the officers used a strangulation against him, which led to his death. Later it turned out that Garner suffered from bronchial asthma and heart disease.

After Garner's death, this phrase turned into a rally cry. Garner’s family is expected to attend the protest this Friday, May 29th. The group reportedly gathered in Fowley Square in the middle of the day and intends to go to the office of Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance.

Protesters say the murder of Floyd is reminiscent of the murder of Garner and Rodney King, a black man who was brutally beaten by Los Angeles police. The cops who had beaten him were acquitted, which then also caused unrest.

Protests across the country

The protest on Thursday, May 28, in New York turned into violence, like many other actions across America. One protester in New York, who was arrested during a many-hour demonstration, stabbed an officer in the face, while another stabbed him, officials said. A third man threw a garbage can at the officer, hitting him on the head, police said.

During the protests, two officers were injured. It is not known whether one of the demonstrators was seriously injured. The video from the scene shows that at least one demonstrator was hit with a baton, while others were thrown to the ground, as some of them pushed officers and shouted insults at them.

"If George was white, he would be alive."

Mayor Bill de Blasio wrote on May 29 on Twitter that he was “terrified” of a video capturing moments before Floyd’s death.

"George Floyd was killed in broad daylight, and the man who killed him was a police officer — and that officer didn't seem to care that he was taking a man's life," the mayor wrote. "If George were white, he would be alive now."

Meanwhile, protests in Minneapolis intensified. Police were forced to leave the local station, which was set on fire on Thursday evening, May 28. This was the third night of violent protests in the region.

How George Floyd died

On May 26, police stopped Floyd's car. A law enforcement statement said he resisted the detention and was handcuffed. There are no witnesses to this yet. The officers had body cameras, but their records were seized for investigation.

A video published on the Internet begins already from the moment when the white policeman uses a choking technique, stepping his knee on the detainee's neck.

Around the stage gathered passers-by, who urged the policeman to stop strangling Floyd and measure his pulse.

A recording made by one of the observers shows that Floyd lying on the ground repeated: “I am suffocating! I'm choking! ” and asked: "Do not kill me." Later, the city pathologist ruled that this capture was one of the causes of Garner's death.

Knee suffocation is one of the legal methods of detention for the Minneapolis police. On May 27, her chef, Medaria Arradondo, announced that “pacification methods” would be revised.

Aftermath

Four police officers involved in Floyd's detention are fired. The Mayor of Minneapolis supported this decision and apologized to the family of the deceased and all black residents of the city.

May 26 in Minneapolis protests broke out. Meeting participants called on the cops to accuse the man of death and to investigate the situation.

The protests sharply intensified in the evening of May 27, when city police took measures in response to looted and burned shops in the city, as well as to deadly shooting in the place of protest.

FBI officers were invited to help local police investigate Floyd's death. They immediately compared this death to the case of Eric Garner. US President Donald Trump said he ordered the FBI and the Department of Justice to investigate Floyd's death.