US has deadliest police culture in modern world, they only know incarceration & brutality - George Floyd family co-counsel

RT
Sun, 31 May 2020 16:40 UTC

© REUTERS/Christian Mang

George Floyd died at the hands of uniformed officers, proving yet again that the US has the "deadliest police culture," the like of which is nowhere to be found in the modern world, his family lawyer told RT's Ruptly video agency.

Public outrage over police brutality - fueled by the arrest and death of African American man George Floyd in Minnesota - is wreaking havoc across US cities.

Lee Merritt, a civil rights attorney and one of the counsels for the Floyd family, told Ruptly that the country's law enforcement agencies stand out as notorious among their foreign counterparts.

"America has the deadliest police culture in the modern world. There is no nation on the planet that kills and incarcerates more of its people," he said.

"They only know two things: incarceration and brutality."

Merritt and his partner attorney Ben Crump will push for "comprehensive police reform" in Washington, DC together with the families of Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery, another African American shot dead while jogging near Brunswick, Georgia.

The legal team, Merritt pledged, also hopes to take the explosive issue to the UN Human Rights Council, "so that we can receive sanctions against the US for its pre-basis and continual denial of basic human rights to the African American community."

Washington ceased to be a member of what it called "a hypocritical" council two years ago, but it is unclear whether any repercussions will have an immediate effect on the US law enforcement ecosystem.

Derek Chauvin, the officer accused of keeping Floyd in a choke hold, was charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter. But to Merritt, the charges are anything but adequate.

"Third-degree murder is an inappropriate charge," he said, explaining that it implies "reckless behavior that could result in somebody's death."

"But when I apply pressure for a sustained period of time to a critical area of someone's throat, that's... and it's all about foreseeability. It's foreseeable that that kind of action will resolve in serious death or bodily injury, so that's murder."

As demonstrations against police brutality swept across America, people were heard chanting "I can't breathe" - a chilling invocation of Floyd's final words before he died from asphyxiation. The video of an armed white officer kneeling on Floyd's neck for several minutes is still making rounds on social media, causing widespread uproar.

Still, Merritt acknowledged that he was "shocked" by how quickly officer Chauvin was suspended, because "that's a decision made by other law enforcement officers and they typically back each other up."

While highly explosive, the Floyd case doesn't seem to be unique for Minneapolis cops, it has emerged. The city paid out three million dollars to settle a lawsuit over the 2010 death of David Smith, a 28-year-old black man who was electrocuted and was also kept in a choke hold face-down for several minutes.

Police then pledged additional training for officers in how to restrain suspects more safely, according to Smith family's lawyer. The death of Floyd, however, has once again brought the issue into the spotlight.

Comment: Below is just some of the events that have been unfolding over the past couple of days:

Jail records show most arrested in Minneapolis riots have Minnesota addresses

The overwhelming majority of people arrested in connection with the Minneapolis unrest have Minnesota addresses, a search of the online Hennepin County Jail log shows.

Of the 45 people arrested for rioting, unlawful assembly, stolen property, burglary or robbery on May 29 and May 30 so far, 38 had Minnesota addresses, according to publicly available jail records reviewed by FOX 9.

Speaking Saturday, Minneapolis police spokesman John Elder, however, said that sometimes people arrested will provide false information. He says background checks are showing some people arrested have records from other areas.

Meanwhile, St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter is backtracking after saying that 100 percent of the people arrested for causing disorder in his city Friday were from out of state.

Three-quarters of the people arrested in St. Paul had Minnesota addresses, according to data provided to FOX 9 by police.

Of the 18 total arrests, 12 had Minnesota addresses, four were from out of state, and two were unknown.

Saturday evening, Carter acknowledged his earlier statement was inaccurate.

MASSIVE rallies block roads in Los Angeles as anti-police-brutality protesters demand justice for George Floyd

Huge crowds have hit the streets for the fourth consecutive day in Los Angeles after the death of George Floyd triggered massive anti-police-brutality rallies, which have escalated into riots across the US.

Aerial footage shows massive crowds on 3rd Street and Fairfax Avenue. The march has been peaceful so far, but police have deployed 'additional resources' to maintain order.

Police cars set ABLAZE near Philadelphia City Hall as protest erupts into violence & vandalism

Multiple police vehicles went up in flames in the heart of Philadelphia amid a raging protest over the death of George Floyd, as authorities warned that vandalism and other criminal acts "will not be tolerated."

The march against police brutality was initially peaceful but descended into rioting and clashes with officers on Saturday afternoon.

Police used batons to drive the crowd away from City Hall, where the violence erupted after some of the protesters threw glass bottles and metal barricades at SWAT officers, according to local media.

In the meantime, several stores were looted in Center City, Philadelphia's main business district.

Los Angeles declares CURFEW as George Floyd protest descends into CHAOS

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has imposed a curfew from 8pm to ensure the safety of "all citizens," after massive anti-police-brutality protests erupted into clashes and rioting.

The massive demonstrations, organized by Black Lives Matter activists, were initially peaceful. However, the situation on the ground remained tense, and the rallies descended into clashes with police on Saturday afternoon.

Riot police fire tear gas at protesters outside Miami Police Department

Tensions have escalated in Florida, where crowds of Black Lives Matter protesters descended on Miami streets to denounce police brutality and face off with cops in riot gear.

Riot police deployed tear gas and reportedly fired rubber bullets at an agitated crowd that converged on a police department garage in downtown Miami. While the majority of the protesters seemed peaceful, several people were seen throwing objects at police who were protecting the building.

WATCH enraged protesters breach CBS studio gates in Los Angeles

Rioters used large wheeled garbage containers to smash through the main gate of the CBS television complex during mass protest rallies and unrest in Los Angeles.

A video from the scene shows a large crowd of violent protesters ramming the fence with garbage containers and breaking it open. People also threw projectiles into the security guard booth.

Nashville courthouse vandalized & set on FIRE as riot police try to disperse anti-brutality protesters with tear gas

Protesters in Nashville, Tennessee broke into Metro Courthouse, setting fires inside, as peaceful anti-police-brutality rallies slip into chaos and rioting all across the US.

Thousands of people marched peacefully through the city and gathered in the Public Square Park, chanting slogans against police brutality in the wake of the death of George Floyd.

The violence eventually erupted after some of the protesters were seen burning US flags and spray-painting anti-police slogans on the walls of the Metropolitan Nashville Courthouse - while several rioters managed to break in and set a fire inside.

In the wake of the unrest, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee authorized the National Guard to mobilize in Nashville "in response to protests that have now taken a violent, unlawful turn..."

Tear gas & flash-bangs outside Colorado State Capitol as protesters defy Denver curfew

Denver police have warned citizens that they will be arrested if they don't abide by the curfew, introduced after Black Lives Matter protests escalated into clashes with reports of sporadic looting across the city.

The protest march began peacefully but escalated into violence on Saturday afternoon as some in the crowd started throwing fireworks and water bottles at police, local media reported.

A curfew was imposed in Denver from 8pm to 5am, with police warning citizens that they will be arrested if they fail to leave "all public areas." Curfews had earlier been imposed in downtown Los Angeles and Salt Lake City, Utah, where rioting also occurred.

'Light em up!' WATCH National Guard patrol residential area in Minneapolis & shoot paint at people on their OWN FRONT PORCHES

Police and the National Guard have been sweeping residential streets in Minneapolis, ordering residents to obey the curfew - and marking those who refuse to go inside with paint, triggering a new wave of outrage over police abuse.

A squad of heavily equipped National Guardsmen and police officers were seen running through a street in a suburban area of Minneapolis. The footage that surfaced online shows them approaching residents who were recording their passage, yelling "Get inside, go inside!"

Eventually, one officer can be heard shouting "light 'em up!" at which point the squad fires off volleys of paint at the bystanders. They swiftly take cover inside.

Anonymous declares WAR on Minneapolis Police in video message attributed to hacker group

Hacker collective Anonymous has purportedly begun to target the Minneapolis Police Department, accusing the force of systemic violence and corruption while serving as an instrument for "the ruling class."

A video message posted to an Anonymous Facebook page with 11 million followers accused the Minneapolis Police of condoning behavior that led to the death of George Floyd.

"People have had enough of this corruption and violence from an organization that promises to keep them safe," the masked narrator says.

The group called for criminal charges to be brought against all of the officers who were filmed detaining Floyd before his death.

Unfortunately, we do not trust your corrupt organization to carry out justice, so we will be exposing your many crimes to the world.

The group claimed that the police force exists to "carry out the will of the criminal ruling class."

An eye for an eye? Enraged protesters violently drag & toss cop in Chicago amid George Floyd protests

A pair of cops were quickly overrun and wrestled to the ground by angry protesters during massive anti-police-brutality rallies in Chicago, with one female officer being violently dragged for several feet.

A widely shared video, captured in the middle of heavy demonstrations over the death of George Floyd, shows the infuriated crowd swarm and hit two police officers as they apparently tried to detain a protester.

A fracas suddenly broke out, with the cops being aggressively pushed to the ground by the demonstrators. The male officer managed to get to his feet while protecting himself against several protesters.
He then tried to rescue his female partner, who was dragged and tossed along the pavement.

The physical altercation ended when bystanders urged the attackers to stop, forming a kind of protective ring around the officers.

'Like posing after a big game kill': Uncle of George Floyd tells RT about watching cops brutalize his nephew

The Minneapolis police officer charged with killing George Floyd acted like he was hunting an animal, the victim's uncle has told RT. He expressed hope that the tragedy could lead to change, but urged people against violence.

Derek Chauvin, the policeman filmed pinning his knee on Floyd's neck for several minutes, seemed to have "no remorse" for what he did, Selwyn Jones said, describing the viral video of the incident.

He had a monster look in his eye. Like, you know what, 'This is my job to do this'... He looked like he was posing after a big animal kill, a big game kill.

Speaking from Gettysburg, South Dakota, Jones said that the fate of his nephew illustrates how black men in America are targeted by police purely on the basis of their skin color.

"The only thing he did was do what they told him to do. And you know what the outcome was - he died. He got killed," he noted.

NYPD police cruisers RUN INTO crowds of protesters in terrifying video

A pair of NYPD vehicles lurched through a crowd of New Yorkers that swarmed them amid the nationwide demonstrations over the death of Minnesotan George Floyd at the hands of police.

The terrifying footage, that garnered millions of views, starts with a Ford SUV facing multiple protesters who had installed a barricade blocking passage through a street in New York. The demonstrators are seen pelting things at the car and hitting it with their hands.

With lights flashing and sirens turned on, the police car briefly waits for another vehicle to arrive. Once it approaches the crowd, both cruisers accelerate, smashing the makeshift barrier and running over people.

Panic breaks out as protesters run in different directions.

'It's not who we are!' County sheriff in Michigan JOINS march against police brutality

A sheriff in a Michigan county took an impressive step amid the massive George Floyd-inspired rallies, laying down his protective gear and marching side by side with protesters. His unorthodox gesture was met with glee.

Crowds of protesters had been amassing outside the Flint Township police station since earlier in the day, demanding justice for the slain Minnesotan George Floyd, and venting anger at police brutality. Shortly afterwards, Genesee County sheriff Chris Swanson turned up at the rally, engaging in a candid talk with those demonstrating.

"We want to be with you, I took my helmet off and laid the batons down. I want to make this a parade, not a protest," he passionately tells people, assuring his officers won't go tough on them.

"These cops love you, this cop over here hugs people," Swanson is heard, in footage that went viral.
He then shouts repeatedly "Let's go, let's move," joining the march.

'It's going to be a warzone x 10': Minneapolis activist tells RT more violence lays ahead for city rocked by protests, riots

An activist in Minneapolis has warned of more and heavier unrest in her city, following the death of George Floyd while in police custody. She also warned that widescale systemic change would be needed in order to restore peace.

Kayla Johnson recounted how she had been attacked by the Minneapolis police while peacefully demonstrating. The activist told RT that before riots and looting broke out earlier this week, non-violent protests had been met with rubber bullets, tear gas and other strong-arm tactics.

"I got hit with a flash grenade in my arm. The Minneapolis Police Department ended up giving me a second-degree burn for peacefully protesting. That's the type of world we live in right now," she said.

The community must take a stand and show no fear, Johnson urged, adding that order will only be restored once there are changes "within the system."

The saying is no justice no peace, and that statement is literal.

However, she also claimed that "opportunists have already taken charge" of some of the protests, and alleged that white supremacists had "initiated the looting" in the city. The situation is likely to escalate, even though people have been ordered to stay home, the activist added.

iSnatch? Apple Store LOOTED during DC riots over George Floyd killing

Dozens of looters broke into a lavish Apple Store in the US capital, ransacking its stocks and smashing windows. Many of the company's retail outlets in other states have endured the same fate recently.

Footage that surfaced online captured looters swarming Apple's DC store gates and leaving wreckage behind, while others roam chaotically inside.

The facade of the building was ultimately vandalized, with social media users suggesting that nothing was left inside after looters missed no chance of coming away with a trophy.

Elsewhere across the US, Apple stores have also fallen victims to looting. Countless videos show scenes of destruction and chaos in Philadelphia, Portland, Charleston, and Los Angeles.

Dallas rioters savagely beat man to a pulp after he confronts them with a SWORD

As looting and mayhem gripped the streets of Dallas, Texas, a mob descended on a man allegedly defending his neighborhood with a long blade. Punched, kicked and pelted with rocks, the man was left mangled and bloody.

Lawlessness continued to reign supreme in Dallas on Saturday night, five days after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis sparked nationwide protests and riots. Following an afternoon of mostly peaceful protests, nightfall saw a spree of vandalism and looting in downtown Dallas.

In one shocking and graphic video captured by Blaze TV's Elijah Schaffer, a man was set upon by a mob, after allegedly rushing rioters with a large machete or sword. He was quickly surrounded and beaten with rocks, fists, boots, and a skateboard.