While reporting on the Minneapolis protests and riots, a black CNN reporter was arrested live on air.
Keep scrolling for the full story, and to watch his shocking and unjust arrest for yourself...
It all happened on Monday.
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Passers-by in Minneapolis witnessed and filmed 2 police officers "arresting" George Floyd for an assumed forgery incident.Police found George matching a suspect's description in his car.
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Even though he didn't resist arrest, one of the officers got him on the ground and pinned him there by pressing their knee into his neck.This position was clearly very painful for him...
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"Please, please, I can't breathe," George can be heard begging in harrowing footage as the officers remain standing.George's nose began to bleed...
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"My stomach hurts. My neck hurts. Everything hurts," he moaned as passers-by began to gather and repeatedly plead with the officer to stop leaning on him.Multiple witnesses argued with the officers when he started to lose consciousness...
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"He's not f****** moving!" one witness shouted as another says, "Get the f*** off him, he isn't moving!" One of the officers responded, "This is why you don't do drugs, kids."After around 4 minutes of the officer kneeling on him, George was completely unresponsive.
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An ambulance arrived, and the paramedics checked his pulse and moved his body onto a stretcher - but he was later pronounced dead in the hospital.George was only forty-six-years-old...
this man, #GeorgeFloyd did not deserve to die. #BlackLivesMatter https://t.co/w405ouIk5V— moon (@moon)1590639498.0
The police officers involved have shown absolutely no emotion, regret, or urgency...
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And a huge amount of backlash has hit the headlines.The officers involved have been put on paid administrative leave, per department protocol...
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And in total, 4 police officers have been fired following George's death. But many feel that more should be done.The haunting footage of George's death began circulating online...
SAY HIS NAME. GEORGE FLOYD. HE WAS AN INNOCENT MAN, AND HE WAS MURDERED. HE COULDN’T BREATHE, AND HE BEGGED FOR HIS… https://t.co/7WNH4pzDLY— 🐌 (@🐌)1590620093.0
People all around the world have been left furious over George's unjustified death.
It’s really hard to tweet about this shit bc we have to use our voices but I also don’t want to minimize the depth… https://t.co/FbH2y78hm8— Kiana Ledé (@Kiana Ledé)1590567945.0
When will this violence stop?
Here is Derek Chauvin, the racist cop who kept his knee on #GeorgeFloyd’s neck, cut off his air passage and murdere… https://t.co/Qm20uqqZKB— Ömer Çetin (@Ömer Çetin)1590565427.0
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey addressed the incident in a press conference on Tuesday morning, referring to events in the video as "wrong at every level."
@AttorneyCrump Something is wrong with white cops,they just murder black men like it's hunting season.— Blessed24/7 (@Blessed24/7)1590503025.0
"Being black in America should not be a death sentence. For 5 minutes we watched as a white officer pressed his knee to the neck of a black man. For 5 minutes," he said.
"When you hear someone calling for help, you are supposed to help. This officer failed in the most basic human sense. What happened on Chicago and 38th, this last night, is simply awful."
He then held another press conference on Wednesday...
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And this time, he called for the outright arrest of Derek Chauvin - the officer who is responsible for the murder of George Floyd.The Mayor pointed out that if any normal person had committed this horrific act, they would be in jail right now.
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"Why is the man who killed George Floyd not in jail?" Frey asked during the press conference. "If you had done it or I had done it, we would be behind bars right now, and I cannot come up with a good answer to that question."Frey described the decision to fire the officers as "the right call," but he urged the Hennepin County attorney to take further action.
But we can’t turn a blind eye. George Floyd deserves justice. The Black community deserves justice. His friends and family deserve Justice.— Jacob Frey (@Jacob Frey)1590603456.0
Justice needs to be served.
Apparently, at this moment, #DerekChauvin is hiding in his home trying to get food delivered. Imagine if a video of… https://t.co/gCCwFsS9Yy— Richard Marx (@Richard Marx)1590622294.0
Protests have been held in George's memory all around the country...
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But Minneapolis has been restless for the entire week.The protests started 2 days ago...
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With the permission of the mayor, thousands upon thousands of protesters took to the streets on Wednesday to express their hurt and their anger at the injustice.But things very quickly turned violent.
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As thousands of people took to the streets, the police force became involved when shops started getting looted and police cars were being attacked.Police officers in riot gear pelted the crowds with tear gas and rubber bullets...
“Rare Footage” . Protest #Video From #Minneapolis against the killing of #GeorgeFloyd .… https://t.co/k6PH0Bi97p— The Voice Of Liberty® (@The Voice Of Liberty®)1590581647.0
Things are looking dire for the city right now...
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And it is currently unknown as to when any sort of peace will be restored.Reporters from all stations have been attending the riots to provide updates...
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But, in the early hours today, one news reporter was targeted by the police, and the irony is simply sickening.Omar Jimenez is a national correspondent for CNN.
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The accomplished journalist started out his career in Baltimore but is now based in Washington D.C, where he travels from to various parts of the country to report on major events.This week, he has been in Minnesota...
Reporting on the protests and riots regarding George Floyd's murder.But, while he was reporting live back to CNN...
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He came into difficulties with the police.Jimenez was halfway through describing the turbulent scenes unfolding around him when a row of riot police stopped him.
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While still streaming live to CNN, the police confronted Jimenez and the rest of the crew, evidently and somehow unaware that he was part of the media. Didn't the huge cameras and mics give it away?Jimenez could be heard asking the officers where they wanted him and his "New Day" camera crew to stand, and even offering to move back...
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But his efforts were to no avail because live on air, he was placed in handcuffs and arrested.He told the police several times that they were "live on air"...
Thankfully, Jimenez and the crew were released after an hour.
In the course of clearing the streets and restoring order at Lake Street and Snelling Avenue, four people were arre… https://t.co/McGQ2VJIRy— MN State Patrol (@MN State Patrol)1590753619.0
Understandably, his arrest caused shock and horror for all those watching...
@NewDay I literally just watched this on live television I couldn’t believe it 😳😳😳— Moussa Camara 🇺🇸😎(VOTE🇺🇸) (@Moussa Camara 🇺🇸😎(VOTE🇺🇸))1590748353.0
The whole thing is completely baffling.
@NewDay Why are reporters covering the news being arrested in America? What does that make our country?— Scott Simon (@Scott Simon)1590754005.0
And, if you still don't think that this is an example of racism...
@NewDay They arrest him but the officer who killed George is not under arrest?— Brandon (@Brandon)1590748540.0
You can watch the full video here.
Minnesota police arrest CNN reporter and camera crew as they report from protests in Minneapolis… https://t.co/wGI9BPQ66B— New Day (@New Day)1590748012.0