Graphic Video Shows Officers Push Civilian to the Ground in Buffalo
Written by SOURCE on June 5, 2020
A 75-year-old protestor in Buffalo, New York, was hospitalized Thursday night after two officers were filmed shoving him at Niagara Square.
The incident reportedly occurred at around 8 p.m., shortly after the citywide curfew went into effect. NPR member station WBFO shared footage of encounter on social media, showing the elderly man being pushed as officers tried to clear the area in front of City Hall. Seconds after the officers make contact, the man falls backwards onto the pavement and appears to start bleeding from his head while seemingly unconscious.
“He’s bleeding out of his ears!” a bystander is heard shouting, as officers walk past the injured man.
According to WBFO, two medics treated the unidentified man at the scene before placing him in an ambulance. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz tweeted the man is in stable condition at Erie County Medical Center.
At around 8:50 p.m., a spokesperson for the Buffalo PD addressed the incident in a statement, suggesting it was an accident: “During that skirmish involving protestors, one person was injured when he tripped & fell.”
The department officials told WBFO that Internal Affairs division has launched a full investigation, and that the two officers involved have been suspended without pay.
Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said he was “deeply disturbed by the video” in a statement posted to social media. “After days of peaceful protests and several meetings between myself, Police leadership and members of the community, tonight’s event is disheartening,” Brown continued. “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.”
— Byron W. Brown (@MayorByronBrown) June 5, 2020
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo responded to the incident via Twitter, calling it “wholly unjustified and utterly disgraceful.”
The New York City Liberties Union also released a statement from Buffalo Chapter Director John Curr.
“The casual cruelty demonstrated by Buffalo police officers tonight is gut-wrenching and unacceptable. Suspensions and an investigation are already in order, but there is little more we have to see to know what took place,” he said. “Police officers cannot continue to hide behind the lie that they are protecting and serving. City leaders need to take this as a wake-up call and seriously address the police violence during this week’s protest and the culture of impunity that led to this incident … We are in solidarity with Buffalo’s protestors and demand that demonstrators can protest without the threat of police brutality on the streets tomorrow.”
Buffalo is one of the many U.S. cities were citizens have taken to the streets to protest against racism and police brutality. The demonstrations began a week ago, following the police killing of George Floyd. The four officers involved in Floyd’s death have since been arrested and charged.
