Brooklyn Center police clear out ‘umbrella barricade’ as Daunte Wright protesters defy curfew & dispersal orders (VIDEOS)
A crowd of protesters has once again descended on the Minneapolis precinct of Brooklyn Center, with signs and noisemakers, days after a policewoman shot a young black man with an outstanding warrant during a traffic stop.
Many of the protesters held umbrellas and otherwise covered themselves as much as possible, apparently trying to give the police as little surface area to spray as possible. It was the fourth night of protests over the killing of Daunte Wright on Sunday.
A massive line of Minnesota State troopers just push through in front of the station #BrooklynCenterpic.twitter.com/I6t2rTQA76
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) April 15, 2021
The police sent their final notice over the loudspeakers at around 10:05 local time, a few minutes after curfew had officially been declared.
“The sheriff’s office has declared this assembly unlawful… You are hereby ordered to immediately disperse,” the voice stated, reminding the protesters they would be arrested if they opted not to.
Protesters have dragged garbage a d recycling cans from nearby alleys to use as barriers between themselves and police. Others using umbrellas as shields. Street is littered with debris. pic.twitter.com/e2iJ74qHB5
— Liz Sawyer (@ByLizSawyer) April 15, 2021
The group of protesters with umbrellas refused to leave, forming a large makeshift tent-shelter against the fence separating the police from the demonstrators.
That blast at the end was the concussion grenade at the top of my head. Still feel out of it. Got hit by other stuff today too but I bulked up by wearing 3 thick sweatshirts and a thick jacket. So projectile hits weren’t as bad. This blast fucked me though. pic.twitter.com/1OuFqFwUTD
— Sophia (Checkmark Killa) Narwitz (@SophNar0747) April 15, 2021
However, many others quietly fled the scene, not eager to inhale further hostile chemicals.
Police are currently pressed up against the fence, deploying chemical spray and other non-lethal munitions against the crowd #BrooklynCenterpic.twitter.com/vdUcHK9kXc
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) April 15, 2021
One of those unfortunates who was gassed was a pit bull someone had brought to the protest in an activity some announced as cruelty to animals.
Animal abuse. pic.twitter.com/wHCU87USmI
— Sophia (Checkmark Killa) Narwitz (@SophNar0747) April 15, 2021
The “umbrella line” was gradually replaced by several dozen cops in formation as stragglers trickled away, though the core umbrella-bearing group merely clustered closer together, taking chemical spray and other painful non-lethal weapons to the face. Cops were also seen deploying flash-bang grenades at short range.
Officers launch flash bangs at the crowd and spray a wall of umbrellas pushing up against the fence #BrooklynCenterpic.twitter.com/7OLUnwpCfE
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) April 15, 2021
Officer Kim Potter of the Brooklyn Center Police Department – the police officer who was supposedly reaching for her taser when she “accidentally” grabbed her gun instead and shot Wright – stepped down from her role on Tuesday, alongside Brooklyn Center Police Chief Tim Gannon.
Potter was arrested on Wednesday morning, and will be charged with second-degree manslaughter, according to the Washington County Attorney's Office.
Also on rt.com Brooklyn Center cop who shot black man Daunte Wright to face second-degree manslaughter chargeThe timing of the shooting couldn’t have been worse, coming in the midst of the nearby trial of Derek Chauvin – a Minneapolis ex-cop who stands accused of second and third degree murder and third-degree manslaughter for supposedly killing George Floyd, another unarmed black man, while attempting to apprehend him for passing a counterfeit bill.
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