A black man is dead in Minneapolis after being pinned down by a local police officer. Video taken on Monday by a bystander captured the disturbing incident. It shows the white officer kneeling on George Floyd’s neck for several minutes. You can hear the man moaning, saying “I can’t breathe,” “my stomach hurts… everything hurts.” He pleads for water as well. Witnesses beg police to help him as he loses consciousness. Even after that, the police officer keeps his knee on Floyd’s neck, until paramedics arrive. The man died a short time later. According to the police report this incident started when the officers were responded to “a report of a forgery in progress.”
Officers were advised that the suspect was sitting on top of a blue car and appeared to be under the influence.
Two officers arrived and located the suspect, a male believed to be in his 40s, in his car. He was ordered to step from his car. After he got out, he physically resisted officers. Officers were able to get the suspect into handcuffs and noted he appeared to be suffering medical distress. Officers called for an ambulance.
The police report goes on to say that the man was unarmed. The FBI and Minnesota state authorities were brought in to investigate what happened. Tuesday afternoon the officers involved were terminated. But there is still no word on whether they will be charged with a crime.
Four responding MPD officers involved in the death of George Floyd have been terminated.
This is the right call.
— Mayor Jacob Frey (@MayorFrey) May 26, 2020
The full video can be viewed here, but we must warn you, it is disturbing.
The Star Tribune in Minneapolis received this statement from an attorney for Floyd’s family:
“We all watched the horrific death of George Floyd on video as witnesses begged the police officer to take him to the police car and get off his neck. This abusive, excessive and inhumane use of force cost the life of a man who was being detained by the police for questioning about a nonviolent charge.”
Forgery is NOT a crime punishable by death. This is not only #POLICEBRUTALITY, it is MURDER! First Eric Garner, now this. We must put an end to the senseless killing of our Black men! #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/oIgyohfDLL
— Benjamin Crump, Esq. (@AttorneyCrump) May 26, 2020
At a news conference, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, got emotional as he said:
“Being black in America should not be a death sentence.. For five minutes, we watched a white officer press his knee into a black man’s neck. Five minutes. When year hear someone calling for help, you’re supposed to help. This officer failed in the most basic, human sense. What happened on Chicago and 38th last night is awful. It was traumatic. It serves as a reminder of how far we have to go.”
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey on video of George Floyd being killed by a cop: "What I saw was wrong at every level … being black in America should not be a death sentence." pic.twitter.com/H1eHQi5mLH
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 26, 2020
My statement on the officer-involved death in Minneapolis: pic.twitter.com/HUoGfXEj7R
— Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) May 26, 2020
Here's the sad reality: what happened to George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery & Christian Cooper has gone on for generations to Black Americans. Cell phones just made it more visible.
Dismantling systemic racism in our nation starts with demanding justice & holding offenders accountable.
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) May 26, 2020
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