The mayor of Minneapolis, Jacob Frey declared the city a state of emergency for up to 72 hours amid protests over the death of an African-American George Floyd after police detention, stated in the order on the website of the municipality.
According to the authorities, inhabitants and guests of the city are under threat "serious injury or death", and the likelihood of further unrest is that "requires the adoption of extraordinary measures".
The decree requires the head of Department on emergency situations of the city to request the necessary assistance and resources from nearby towns and counties, state and Federal authorities.
Earlier, an emergency declared and the authorities of Minnesota, which gave the opportunity to use additional mechanisms for coordination. However, it was a formality, since at that time they had already been taken to combat coronavirus.
In addition, at the request of local authorities, the Governor of the state ordered to bring National guard units to ensure security.
The death of Floyd caused the riots in Minneapolis and other cities after the appearance of "viral" video of his arrest. The record shows, as the police tackled Floyd and handcuffed him, and one of the officers leaned a knee on his neck. The detainee first few times he says he can’t breathe and then losing consciousness. Floyd was hospitalized, he died in intensive care.
When this information became widespread, the leadership of the city police announced the dismissal of four officers who participated in the arrest. The city held a protest, accompanied by vandalism and fires. The investigation into the death of Floyd has joined the FBI, which declared the case a priority.
In 2014 and in subsequent years in the United States, a wave of public protest in connection with the deaths of African Americans at the hands of the police in various circumstances. Police were criticized for the excessive use of violence and for alleged racism, as often African-Americans were dying at the hands of white police officers.
