Cops Slammed For 'Macing' A 10-Year-Old In The Tony Robinson Minneapolis Protest March
Minneapolis mayor and chief of police are trying to unearth how a 10-year-old boy was maced during Wednesday night's protest march against the death of Tony Robinson, according to rt.
Police Chief Janee Harteau appealed to the public during a press conference on Thursday to come forward with testimonies and any video recording of the incident.
"We must have a full set of facts," Harteau said.
There have been various claims from the public, with supporting videos and social media posts showing that a 10-year-old boy was one of the marchers who had been pepper-sprayed by the cops on Hennepin Avenue in downtown Minneapolis.
Chief Harteau and Minneapolis mayor Betsy Hodges appealed to protestors to maintain the Minneapolis record of peaceful marches.
"I understand and appreciate people's concerns and will gather the full set of facts as quickly as possible. I assure everyone that this will be a thorough investigation," Harteau said on the Minneapolis PD Facebook page.
People had gathered on Wednesday evening before the Hennepin County Government Center, protesting that the cops at Madison, Wisconsin, were not charging the police of the fatal shooting of 19-year-old Tony Robinson in March. The group Black Liberation Project led the protest.
Minneapolis police had pepper-sprayed the protesters, which included 10-year-old Taye.
"There were no warnings. No options. No aid offered. No other direction. Nothing," Taye's mother, Susan Montgomery said. "My son comes out to many actions. Some big, some small and everything in between. To see him marching to the beat of the drum with his people, chanting and engaging in peaceful protest to get the message about his life and other black lives matter out just to get sprayed by chemicals was truly heartbreaking," Montgomery added.
Robinson's death is seen as an addition to the list of racist attacks on African-American men, that led to the deaths of Freddie Gray in Baltimore, Tamir Rice in Cleveland and Walter Scott in Charleston, among others.
