To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Violent Protests Continue To Erupt In Minneapolis After George Floyd Was Killed

Violent Protests Continue To Erupt In Minneapolis After George Floyd Was Killed

Anger has sparked in the US after the African American man died as he was pinned to the ground by a police officer.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

Violent and dramatic protests have continued for a second night in Minneapolis following the death of George Floyd.

The African American man died while being pinned to the ground by a white police officer who knelt on his neck. Floyd said 'Please, please, please, I can't breathe. Please, man' during the arrest before he died.

ABC

The death has sparked anger across America, with protestors gathered in the city's 3rd Precinct station to call for justice, with many signs and face masks saying 'I can't breathe'.

However, as the sun set, violence broke out.

One person was shot dead, with police still sorting out exactly what happened. Nearby stores were looted and several were set on fire. Some private properties were also destroyed in fires.

The lawyer for Mr Floyd's family, Ben Crump, condemned the violence that has erupted as a result of the tragic death.

"We don't need that. We need people focused on getting justice," he said.

PA
PA

The protests that erupted in Minneapolis have been mirrored in other US cities such as Los Angeles and Memphis.

All four police officers involved in the arrest have been fired by the Minneapolis Police Department, with calls from the public for them to face criminal charges.

George's brother has spoken out about the tragedy and wants the death penalty for those involved.

Speaking to CNN, Philonise said: "These officers, they need to be arrested right now. They need to be arrested and held accountable about everything because these people want justice right now. These guys need to be arrested, convicted of murder, and given the death penalty.

PA
PA

"People are torn and hurt because they're tired of seeing black men die constantly, over and over again. They took my brother's life. He will never get that back. I will never see him again. My family will never see him again."

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey admitted it was the 'right call' to fire the four police officers and expressed how devastating Mr Floyd's death was.

"Being black in America should not be a death sentence," Mr Frey wrote on Facebook.

"For five minutes, we watched a white officer press his knee into a black man's neck. Five minutes. When you hear someone calling for help, you're supposed to help. This officer failed in the most basic, human sense."

US President Donald Trump has weighed into the issue, telling reporters at a press conference: "I feel very, very badly. That's a very shocking sight. That was a very, very bad thing that I saw. I saw it last night and I didn't like it... what I saw was not good. Very bad."

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: News, US News