George Floyd death video sparks new debate on Twitter
Washington: Police body cam video from George Floyd incident has been released months after the unarmed black man’s killing sparked nationwide protests.
Shortly after the video surfaced online, Twitter users started arguing over the circumstances of his death.
While many tried to justify George’s death, others said the footage did not exonerate police from his killing.
The former U.S. police officer charged in the death of George Floyd told him to stop shouting and save his breath as he knelt on his neck and Floyd gasped for air, according to a newly released transcript of police body camera footage.
The death of Floyd, a Black man, in police custody on May 25 led to anti-racism protests and demonstrations against police brutality across the United States and around the world with protesters calling for racial equality and police reforms.
“Tell my kids I love them. I’m dead,” Floyd said during the nearly nine minutes that the officer knelt on him as he went lifeless.
Floyd pleaded for help as he was pinned to the ground, according to the transcript made public on Wednesday as part of a motion filed in the Minneapolis state court.
“I’m through, through. I’m claustrophobic. My stomach hurts. My neck hurts. Everything hurts. I need some water or something, please. Please? I can’t breathe officer,” he said.
“You’re going to kill me, man,” Floyd said.
Derek Chauvin, the officer who knelt on Floyd, replied: “Then stop talking, stop yelling, it takes a heck of a lot of oxygen to talk.”