The protests have been largely peaceful
Protesters and police officers held clashes in New York City on Wednesday, as part of the ninth consecutive night of protests in the United States over the death of African-American citizen George Floyd at the hands of agents in Minéapolis.
Clashes have erupted in downtown Brooklyn, where several hundred protesters were marching toward Cadman Square, where the Brooklyn Courthouse is located.
However, at one point, they have been unable to advance due to the police presence. In this context, some protesters have started to turn around, but a small group of them have separated and surrounded a Police car, which has unleashed the clashes between both parties.
At least 90 people have been arrested tonight in New York in the framework of the protests, as reported by the City Police, a much lower figure than the previous day, when 280 people were arrested.
According to the head of the New York Police Department, Terrance Monahan, the day of protests in the North American city has, however, been relatively peaceful and there has been no looting. In fact, the CNN television channel has reported, the police have allowed the crowds to continue marching when the curfew has taken effect in New York, at 8:00 p.m. (local time).
Monahan has highlighted the difference between peaceful and violent protests and has argued that the Police “is one with the protesters.” “We are out there for good cause, but not with the people who want to cause mayhem in our city.”
The protests have also been peaceful in the rest of the cities in the United States where they have taken place, with fewer arrests and clashes in general than in the previous days. Thus, there have been peaceful mobilizations in cities such as Atlanta, Washington, Seattle, Philadelphia, Saint Charles or Los Angeles.
In this context, the mayor of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti, has reported that he plans to lift the curfew that has governed for four nights in the city to stop the mobilizations this Thursday. In addition, the measure has come into force at 9:00 p.m. (local time) instead of 6:00 p.m., a reflection of the calm of the protests and good police surveillance, he stressed.
On May 25, Floyd, a 46-year-old African American citizen, died while being detained for using an allegedly counterfeit $ 20 bill.
Agent Derek Chauvin reduced Floyd, who at no time resisted, according to the images that are available of the arrest, exerting pressure for almost ten minutes with one of his knees on the victim’s neck, despite the fact that he reported that he couldn’t breathe shortly before he died.
Chauvin was arrested and sent to prison and has been charged with second degree murder. In addition, the other three police officers who participated in Floyd’s arrest have also been charged.
Floyd’s death has sparked a wave of outrage accompanied by mass protests across the United States. According to CNN’s account, a total of 26 states, more than half of the country’s total, have mobilized the National Guard to contain the protests and riots.
