Shocking video shows elderly man pushed to the ground by police
WARNING - DISTRESSING CONTENT: Video has emerged of US police officers pushing an elderly demonstrator to the ground and leaving him lying on the footpath with blood flowing from his head.
The video filmed during the end of a Black Lives Matter demonstration in Buffalo, New York was shared by news outlet WBFO and shows a 75-year-old man walk up to police in full riot gear. Two police officers push the man back and he falls backwards hitting his head on the concrete.
The man lies motionless on the ground as blood immediately starts to run from the man’s ear, while most of the police officers continue to move forward to another group of demonstrators.
The video was filmed as an 8pm curfew for the city of Buffalo began and police moved through to clear the streets as a protest was ending on Thursday evening (local time).
According to The Buffalo News two paramedics treated the elderly man on the scene and he was taken to hospital suffering from a concussion and lacerations, he remains in a stable condition.
Police officers suspended without pay
The Mayor of Buffalo Byron W Brown confirmed on Twitter the two police officers seen pushing the man in the video have been suspended without pay and Buffalo police Commissioner, Bryan Lockwood, directed an immediate investigation into the matter.
“After days of peaceful protests and several meeting between myself, police leadership and members of the community, tonight’s event is disheartening.
“I hope to continue to build on the progress we have achieved as we work together to address racial injustice and inequity in the City of Buffalo.
“My thoughts are with the victim tonight,” Mr Brown wrote.
New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo, called the incident "wholly unjustified and utterly disgraceful,” in a tweet.
“Police Officers must enforce — NOT ABUSE — the law,” he wrote.
The video comes after days of protests around the US over the death of George Floyd who died while in police custody.
— Byron W. Brown (@MayorByronBrown) June 5, 2020
While some protests have been peaceful, others have been overshadowed by scenes of looting, violence and continued police brutality.
A black New York senator documented being pepper sprayed and arrested at a peaceful protest in New York on Friday (local time). He told Nine news he was let go after police recognised him and was speaking out as “there were many people I was protesting with that did not have the luxury of a title, didn't have the connections and they are suffering through that right now”.
Thousands of Australians are expected to attend Black Lives Matter rallies in Melbourne and Sydney on Saturday where the organisers have been threatened with fines for breaching social distancing rules.
The prime minister has urged protesters not to attend the civil rights protest.
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.
