Protests erupted in upstate New York following a Grand Jury’s decision not to charge seven cops involved in the March death of Daniel Prude.
The 41-year-old’s encounter with Rochester police had sparked outrage after a video emerged showing him sitting naked and in handcuffs as the officers laughed.
Prude died after being placed in a “spit-hood” and shoved into the pavement which prevented him from breathing. His death was ruled a homicide.
But the defense attorneys of the seven officers stated that the mentally ill man passed away due to his use of PCP and that the defendants were only following their training.
Late Tuesday, hundreds of peaceful demonstrators took to the street where the incident unfolded to express their anger over the Grand Jury decision.
“White supremacy protests white supremacists,” Activist Stanley Martin said.
“The system is not meant to protect us. The system did exactly what it was meant to do.”
‘We keep marching; we keep fighting; we keep reimaging what the future looks like. The future does not include RPD and I know that for a fact.”
In the meanwhile, the US Justice Department Civil Rights Division announced that the findings of AG Letitia James in the case will be reviewed.
“I don’t think it’s over. I don’t think this grand jury decision is the last say in seeking justice for this issue,” activist Mike Johnson said.
