Hundreds remained on the streets of Minneapolis late Wednesday night protesting the death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man who died after pleading for help as a police officer pinned him to the ground with his knee on Floyd’s neck.
Police officers created a barrier outside the police precinct that protesters have been targeting, smashing its windows by throwing items including water bottles. Authorities have responded by shooting tear gas.
Across the street from the precinct, the fire department was responding to an AutoZone store in flames, according to a CNN team on the ground. Groups of demonstrators looted and damaged stores in the surrounding areas, according to CNN’s observations.
An attorney representing Floyd’s family, Benjamin Crump, said in a statement Wednesday that he and Floyd’s relatives are calling for peaceful protests and social distancing amid the coronavirus pandemic.
« We cannot sink to the level of our oppressors, and we must not endanger others during this pandemic, » the statement said. « We will demand and ultimately force lasting change by shining a light on treatment that is horrific and unacceptable and by winning justice. »
Minneapolis mayor calls for charges
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey on Wednesday called for criminal charges against the police officer who was seen pinning Floyd to the ground with his knee in an incident that is spurring street protests and local and federal investigations.
« What I can say with certainty, based on what I saw, is that… the officer who had his knee on the neck of George Floyd should be charged, » Frey said in a news conference Wednesday.
Frey declined to say what the officer should be charged with, and said his knowledge is « limited to the video evidence that is there » about Floyd, a black man. He said he made his opinion known to Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman, whose office would be in position to file state charges.
« George Floyd deserves justice. His family deserves justice. The black community deserves justice, and our city deserves justice, » Frey said.
No charges have been filed in the case.
The four police officers involved in the incident with Floyd were fired Tuesday, Minneapolis police said. That includes Officer Derek Chauvin, the officer seen on video restraining Floyd with his knee, Chauvin’s attorney Tom Kelly said.
Kelly said he wouldn’t yet release a statement on Chauvin’s behalf.
