Riots have erupted in Atlanta, Georgia, in response to the shooting dead of an African-American man by police. The man was shot late Friday night in an incident that was caught on video.
The video shows the man being asked to get out of his parked car, he is then breathalysed. After failing the breathalyser test officers begin to detain the man. At that moment he tries to break free and grabs one of the officer’s tasers, he then runs away reaching back with a taser in his hand and aims it at the pursuing officer. The officer pulls his gun and shoots the man dead. One of the officers was wounded in the scuffle and received minor injuries.
Rayshard Brooks was 27 years old and had apparently been attending a children’s birthday party during the day.
As news of the death spread there was an outbreak of rioting in the city on Saturday night, which involved clashes with police officers and the burning down of a fast-food restaurant. A largely peaceful protest had also taken place in Atlanta during Saturday daytime.
In response to the killing the officer who shot Mr. Brooks has been sacked and the other officer involved has been placed on administrative duties. Further developments occurred on Sunday when the Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields resigned from her position.
APD has identified the two APD officers involved in the fatal shooting of Rayshard Brooks. (Left) Devin Bronsan has been placed on administrative leave. (Right) Garrett Rolfe has been fired after firing deadly shots. Bronsan joined the department in 2018; Rolfe joined in 2013 pic.twitter.com/kSxekwUhuA
— Michael Seiden (@SeidenWSBTV) June 14, 2020
The mayor’s office released a statement stating why she had resigned:
"Because of her desire that Atlanta be a model of what meaningful reform should look like across this country, Chief Shields has offered to immediately step aside as police chief so that the city may move forward with urgency and rebuilding the trust so desperately needed throughout our communities."
This is the 15th person that Atlanta police have shot dead this year.
While many have linked the incident to the ongoing issues regarding police brutality and racism, the officer who killed Mr. Brooks was white, others have suggested that the killing of Mr. Brooks and George Floyd can’t be compared. While Mr. Floyd was complying with officers and was choked to death, Mr. Brooks was being calmly detained, stole a weapon from an officer and aimed it at him during an escape bid.
This view is not shared by the lawyer for Mr. Brook’s family who said that the use of force by the officer was unjustified as the taser was a non-lethal weapon:
"You can't shoot somebody unless they are pointing a gun at you” said attorney Chris Stewart.
The incident is likely to continue to fan the flames of unrest that is sweeping both the United States and other developed countries. In London yesterday there were clashes between far-right protestors and the police with the protestors claiming they were defending historical monuments from attack by Black Lives Matter protestors.
The worldwide fight continues against police brutality, racism and fascist ideology.
COMMENTS