Fires rage in Minneapolis after the killing of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, by local cop Derek Chauvin.
Though four officers were immediately fired, local prosecutor Mike Freeman said that there is ‘other evidence that does not support a criminal charge’ even as police refused to release unredacted footage of the incident. Video of Chauvin kneeling on Floyd’s neck as he gasped for breath was taken by a bystander; Chauvin’s long history of violent conduct soon surfaced.
Minnesota’s Attorney General said he nonetheless “anticipated” charges against the officers who killed Floyd. Another potential avenue for justice: the FBI is investigating whether Floyd’s rights were violated, though its request for “more video” was excoriated by commentator Don Lemon.
Police abandoned a precinct during clashes Thursday night, and it became the first to be destroyed during unrest in modern U.S. history.
Among those detained was a black CNN reporter and his crew, live on air.
On social media, President Trump branded those protesting “THUGS” and suggested they should be shot; Twitter hid his tweet per its policy against glorifying violence, another first.
UPDATE: Chauvin was arrested Friday.
Photo: Hungryogrephotos (Public Domain)
CORRECTION: CNN’s reporter was detained Friday morning, not Thursday night.