MAYOR JOINS CALLS FOR CHARGES AGAINST COP IN VIDEO
THE mayor of Minneapolis on Wednesday called for criminal charges against the police officer seen on video kneeling against the neck of a handcuffed black man who complained he could not breathe and died in police custody.
Based on the video, Mayor Jacob Frey said officer Derek Chauvin should be charged in the death of George Floyd.
The footage shows Mr Chauvin with his knee on Mr Floyd’s neck as Mr Floyd gasps for breath on the ground. The officer does not move for at least eight minutes, even after Mr Floyd stops speaking and moving.
The day after Mr Floyd died, Mr Chauvin and three other officers were fired – an act that did not stem the flood of anger that followed the widely seen video.
Protesters marched more than 3km on Tuesday to the police precinct in that part of the city, with some damaging property and skirmishing with officers in riot gear who fired tear gas. Conflict erupted again Wednesday at the same precinct. News helicopter video appeared to show looting of nearby stores.
Another demonstration unfolded on the street outside Mr Chauvin’s suburban home.