Minneapolis, MN – The Hip Hop community is outraged after a video of four police officers suffocating a black man to death went viral early Tuesday (May 26).
According to CNN, officers responding to an alleged forgery in progress on Monday night (May 25) were told a person who matches the suspect description was sitting in a car and appeared to be under the influence.
Once two of the officers arrived on the scene, they said the man — George Floyd — “physically resisted” when ordered to get out. Officers then handcuffed Floyd who “appeared to be suffering medical distress.”
In the video clip, white officer Derek Chauvin is seen putting his knee directly on Floyd’s neck and holding it there for a prolonged period of time. Although he was later taken to the hospital, doctors were unable to save him. Following an FBI investigation, all four officers have been fired.
Ice Cube shared the video to his Twitter account and asked, “How long will we go for Blue on Black Crime before we strike back???”
How long will we go for Blue on Black Crime before we strike back??? https://t.co/sXDq7SXl6W
— Ice Cube (@icecube) May 26, 2020
Meek Mill — who’s been an advocate for criminal justice reform — also shared the clip alongside an article from The Washington Post and was admittedly irate another black man had been killed at the hands of a white police officer.
“FBI investigates death of black man in Minneapolis after video shows police officer kneeling on his neck – The Washington Post,” he wrote in the caption. “It’s really not healthy to see white cops killing black men … it’s send a flare of anger and hatred to the brain!”
FBI investigates death of black man in Minneapolis after video shows police officer kneeling on his neck – The Washington Post ..it’s really not healthy to see white cops killing black men … it’s send a flare of anger and hatred to the brain! https://t.co/OnfXcDyOyX
— Meek Mill (@MeekMill) May 26, 2020
Ice-T also weighed in on the Floyd killing and promised to keep taking a stand against any injustices — despite playing Detective Tutuola on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit for the past 20 years.
“I play a Cop on TV,” he tweeted. “But I’ll NEVER stop speaking about injustice…EVER. F that.”
I play a Cop on TV… But I’ll NEVER stop speaking about injustice… EVER. F that.
— ICE T (@FINALLEVEL) May 26, 2020
During the incident, Floyd was begging for water as bystanders attempted to deter police from further physical action.
“Please, I can’t breathe,” Floyd screamed for several minutes before going silent. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump said in a statement he’d be representing Floyd’s family.
“We all watched the horrific death of George Floyd on video as witnesses begged the police officer to take him into the police car and get off his neck,” Crump said. “This abusive, excessive and inhumane use of force cost the life of a man who was being detained by the police for questioning about a non-violent charge.”
His name is George Floyd. He was unjustly murdered by a white police officer. Being black in America should NOT be a death sentence #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/BtB7VxUouW
— R_K (@Rakia_1) May 26, 2020
St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter called the video “one of the most vile and heartbreaking images I’ve ever seen.” He tweeted, “The officer who stood guard is just as responsible as his partner; both must be held fully accountable. This must stop now.”
T.I. Demands Answers For Ahmaud Arbery Shooting: ‘We Are Being HUNTED!’
Floyd’s death mirrors the 2014 Staten Island killing of Eric Garner who repeatedly told officers he couldn’t breathe as they were attempting to detain him. In this case, no charges were filed against Daniel Pantaleo, the officer who was shown on video choking Garner.
Common, Safaree and Rev. Al Sharpton are among the many notable names calling for justice.
Check out the reactions below.
#BlackLivesMatter #BlackLivesMatter #BlackLivesMatter #BlackLivesMatter #BlackLivesMatter #BlackLivesMatter #BlackLivesMatter #BlackLivesMatter #BlackLivesMatter #BlackLivesMatter #BlackLivesMatter #BlackLivesMatter #BlackLivesMatter #BlackLivesMatter #BlackLivesMatter
— COMMON (@common) May 26, 2020
Something needs to be In place against the police when they put our lives in jeopardy!! Fuck getting fired they need to feel what we feel!!
— @IAMSAFAREE (@IAMSAFAREE) May 26, 2020
See the problem… https://t.co/Jhmkd3vv6H
— ICE T (@FINALLEVEL) May 26, 2020
Say his name.#GeorgeFloyd #icantbreathe pic.twitter.com/aWKros7TbR
— Martin Luther King III (@OfficialMLK3) May 26, 2020
How many more black men have to die at the hands of white cops?? How many more of these white cops gonna get away with MURDER ?? Is it time to declare war or we gonna keep marching ?
— Poet Sippin' Moët ? (@Keisha_Plum) May 26, 2020
Anybody coming at me for what I said ain’t ready to do shit… https://t.co/KfYPLvMvDM
— Ice Cube (@icecube) May 26, 2020
Drawing a parallel between the police killings of #EricGarner & #GeorgeFloyd. Yes, it is great that the 4 officers involved in Floyd’s murder have been fired, but there must be a thorough investigation. A man lost his life, those responsible lost their jobs, it can’t end there. pic.twitter.com/XWoMv1GHu2
— Reverend Al Sharpton (@TheRevAl) May 26, 2020