In Minneapolis, prosecutors have announced there will be no charges filed against the white police officers who fatally shot a 31-year-old African-American man who was running away from the police, shouting “Please don’t shoot me” and “Leave me alone.” Video footage of the June 23 shooting shows Thurman Blevins, who was armed, running away from the police when the officers opened fire. On Monday, protesters and members of Blevins’s family disrupted the news conference of Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman.
Mike Freeman: “Use of force cannot be evaluated from the perspective of a civilian, nor can it be evaluated with more clear vision affected by 20/20 hindsight, under Graham v. Connor.”
Protester 1: “The police officers were not afraid.”
Unidentified: “Keep going.”
Mike Freeman: “The court further—the court further”—
Protester 1: “When they [inaudible] on a person in that situation”—
Unidentified: “Just keep going.”
Mike Freeman: “The court further stated the fact that law enforcement officers are”—
Unidentified: “Just keep going.”
Protester 1: “You have justified police murder.”
Protester 2: “The revolution is televised! The revolution is televised!”
Protester 3: “Us black people, every fucking year, we’re here looking for justice, and we’re tired of watching these snuff movies by the Minneapolis Police Department! And I’m here to tell y’all that we’re tired of it!”