Protests have been rocking the cities of US following the incident of the death of George Floyd. Cities like Minnesota were up in flames as protestors indulged in arson and vandalism.
Floyd, who was unarmed, was reportedly suspected of trying to pass counterfeit bills at an eatery in Minneapolis. A video shot by an on-looker shows police officers pinning down Floyd to the street with one of them placing his knee on Floyd’s neck. Floyd can be heard saying “Please, I can’t breathe” as the police handcuffed him before he became motionless. He was taken to a hospital where he was declared dead the same night.
Derek Chauvin, the police officer who had his knee over Floyd’s neck, was dismissed from the police department with three fellow officers, the day after the fatal encounter. Derek was later arrested on charges of third-degree murder and manslaughter.
Since then, hundreds of protestors have been thronging the streets across different cities with placards and chants of “No Justice No Peace” and “I can’t breathe”. In certain places, protestors indulged in looting, arson and vandalism. Protestors gathered in front of a liquor store in Minneapolis and set it to flames. The CNN office in Atlanta was attacked with protestors breaking the glasses of the building. Several other business places have been set on fire which appears to be the work of arsonists. Police have been using tear gas, plastic bullets and concussion grenades in an attempt to bring law and order. So far, 1400 protestors have been arrested across 17 cities.
In the wake of this situation, the US cities that currently have curfews in place are Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Denver, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Seattle, Miami, Cleveland, Columbus, Portland, Milwaukee and Salt Lake City.
Meanwhile, President Trump has been staying put inside the White House as protestors gathered outside the fortified mansion. On Saturday, he threatened to respond with “dogs” and “weapons” against those protesting outside the White House.
While under a global pandemic situation of which US has become the epicentre with increasing number of deaths every day, this incident has made the situation across the country volatile.