U.S. House speaker says Floyd “murdered” at hands of Police, Minnesota under state of emergency

Washington: Amid national outrage over police misconduct related to racial inequity, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said George Floyd, the black man who died in Police custody in U.S. midwest state of Minnesota, was “murdered” at the hands of the Minneapolis Police Department.

“We saw it on TV - him being murdered on TV,” Ms Pelosi told reporters in the Capitol.

The four officers involved in the case were fired shortly after a video recording Floyd’s death went viral on social media on Tuesday, sparking a national outcry for justice. Appearing on CNN later in the day, the speaker called Floyd’s death “an execution.”

“We saw it, so we can’t deny it or qualify it,” she told the news network. So justice has to be done.”

House Democrats are eyeing a variety of responses, including the adoption of more stringent federal policing standards and a pressure campaign on the Justice

Department to get more aggressive in tackling the issue of Police misconduct targeting African Americans, according to a report of The Hill.

U.S. Minnesota declares state of emergency after protests

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz on

Thursday declared a state of emergency and activated Minnesota National Guard to restore order after protests over the death of George Floyd in police custody turned violent with fires burning and businesses looted in Minneapolis, the biggest city in the midwest state.

Mr Walz’s order came after Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey’s calls for assistance after widespread damage and looting took place amid the riot on Wednesday night.

“George Floyd’s death should lead to justice and systemic change, not more death and destruction,” Mr Walz said in a statement.