Tag: police

Categories
Politics

Capitol Police Officers Sue Trump and Allies Over Election Lies and Jan. 6

Capitol Police Officers Sue Trump and Allies Over Election Lies and Jan. 6

A few weeks after the election, the lawsuit said, a key organizer of the stop-the-steal movement that was making false claims of electoral fraud, Ali Alexander, appeared at a rally outside the Georgia State Capitol with the leader of the Proud Boys, Enrique Tarrio. “We’ll stop the theft,” the suit quotes Mr. Alexander. “But first we will stop the certification.”

Mr Alexander’s attorney, Baron Coleman, has repeatedly said that his client is not being investigated in relation to the riot. Mr Tarrio was out of Washington on January 6, but was sentenced to five months in prison this week for possessing illegal weapons and burning a Black Lives Matter flag that came from a historic after a separate pro-Trump rally in December Stolen black church in Washington was also engulfed in violence.

The lawsuit mentions further steps on the way to January 6th: In late November, it is said, a California-based political organizer named Alan Hostetter, who believed the election had been stolen, posted a video on the Internet alleging it was stolen that people “at the highest level” are levels ”must“ be done with one or two or three executions, for example ”.

Mr. Hostetter, who was charged with conspiracy to storm the Capitol in June with members of the Three Percent Militia Movement, also said in the video that he will “return to Washington with a million patriots and we will encircle this city.” . “

On Jan. 6, the suit features a picture of stop-the-steal activists inciting the mob of Trump supporters gathered in Washington with lies about the election, which the president then repeated in a speech near the White House. Members of the Proud Boys, the Oath Keepers and the Three Percenter movement are believed to have led the local mob in the attack on the Capitol.

Mr Trump, the lawsuit says, knew that “the situation in the Capitol was grim,” but did not condemn the rioters. Instead, two hours after the first violation, he posted a video repeating his lie that the election had been stolen and stolen, telling the attackers that he loved them.

Categories
Politics

Capitol Law enforcement officials sue Trump, Roger Stone, Proud Boys over Jan. 6 invasion

Capitol Police officers sue Trump, Roger Stone, Proud Boys over Jan. 6 invasion

Clashes with Capitol police at a rally to challenge the certification of the results of the 2020 US presidential election by the US Congress on January 6, 2021 at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, tear gas is released into a crowd of protesters.

Shannon Stapleton | Reuters

Seven US Capitol police officers filed a federal lawsuit on Thursday accusing former President Donald Trump, far-right “violent extremist groups” and others of direct responsibility for the deadly January 6 invasion of the Capitol.

The lawsuit was filed against more than two dozen people and organizations, including Republican agent Roger Stone and far-right group Proud Boys. It claims the defendants conspired to prevent Congress from confirming President Joe Biden’s electoral college victory “through the use of force, intimidation and threats”.

Their actions violated the Ku Klux Klan Act and other laws, the lawsuit said.

“The defendants’ unlawful efforts culminated in the mass attack on the Capitol on Jan.

“Many of the defendants in this case planned, supported and actively participated in this attack. All of the defendants are responsible, ”the lawsuit said.

This is the latest news. Please check again for updates.

Categories
Politics

Pentagon police officer dies in stabbing, assailant shot useless

Pentagon police officer dies in stabbing, assailant shot dead

Virginia Sate Troopers patrol near the Pentagon after Sept.

Olivier Douliery | AFP | Getty Images

A Pentagon police officer has died after being stabbed multiple times in the neck outside the Pentagon Tuesday, officials familiar with the incident told NBC News.

The official opened fire on the attacker after the attack began outside the entrance to the Pentagon’s metro, according to NBC News. The attacker was shot dead by the police, but it is not yet clear which officer killed the attacker.

“I am incredibly sad to hear of the death of a Pentagon police officer who was killed this morning in senseless violence outside the Pentagon,” wrote Senator Mark Warner, a Virginia Democrat, on Twitter Tuesday afternoon.

“My heart goes out to the policeman’s family and friends and the entire Pentagon police force,” said Warner, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee.

The Pentagon was locked down Tuesday morning after multiple shots were fired near the building, but reopened after more than an hour.

The exact details and the course of events remain in the dark. Woodrow Kusse, the chief of police for the Pentagon Force Protection Agency, said at a news conference that “the incident resulted in multiple injuries” but did not confirm the death of the officer.

However, Fairfax County Police also offered condolences on the death of a Pentagon police officer.

Kusse said authorities are not actively looking for another suspect: “The incident is over, the scene is safe and most importantly, there is no ongoing threat to our community,” he said.

The FBI is investigating the incident as the reasons are still unknown.

“At this point it would be premature to speculate about motives, and in order to protect the integrity of the investigation, we cannot provide any further details at this time,” said a statement from the FBI’s Washington Field Office. “There is no ongoing threat to the public.”

The incident took place on a subway bus platform that is part of the Pentagon Transit Center, steps from the Pentagon building in Arlington County, Virginia.

“The Pentagon metro station is probably one of the busiest on the transportation system. It is a hub for commuters and building users, ”said Kusse at the press conference.

While the lockdown was being lifted, the Pentagon Force Protection Agency tweeted that the public should stay away from the subway entrance and bus platform as it is “still an active crime scene.”

Transportation in the Pentagon will now be diverted to Pentagon City, the agency added.

At the time of the shooting, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and General Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, were at the White House to meet President Joe Biden.

The last time a significant incident occurred at the Pentagon Metro Center was in 2010, according to Kusse.

A gunman opened fire at the entrance to the Pentagon in March 2010 and wounded two officers from the Pentagon Force Protection Agency. The officers who survived fatally shot the man shortly afterwards.

Categories
Politics

Police officer suicides rise to four deaths

Police officer suicides rise to 4 deaths

Supporters of Donald Trump gather outside the Capitol building in Washington D.C., on January 06, 2021.

Tayfun Coskun | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images

Two more Washington, D.C., police officers died by suicide in the months after defending the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot by Trump supporters, bringing the grim tally of such deaths to four.

One of those cops, 43-year-old Gunther Hashida, was found dead at his home last Thursday, according to a spokeswoman for the Metropolitan [D.C.] Police Department.

Hashida, joined the MPD in May 2003, and most recently was assigned to the emergency response team within the Special Operations Division.

Hours later, the MPD confirmed that another officer from the same department, Kyle deFreytag, died by suicide, and was found July 10.

DeFreytag, 26, had been with the department since November 2016.

A crowdfunding page set up Sunday to pay for a memorial service for Hashida, and to support his family, as of Monday night had raised more than $68,000 from more than 1,500 donors.

The GoFundMe page, which has a $250,000 donation target, said Hashida “leaves behind a loving wife, sister, 3 children, and a wonderful family.”

An online obituary for deFreytag said he “liked hiking, camping, riding his motorcycle, he liked traveling and playing the drums, he enjoyed trying different ethnic foods and always knew the best places to eat.”

“Kyle was kind, he had a quick wit and a great sense of humor & kept us laughing for 26 years,” the obituary said.

CNBC Politics

Read more of CNBC’s politics coverage:

The riot began after then-President Donald Trump urged attendees at a rally outside the White House to march to the Capitol, where a joint session of Congress was meeting to officially confirm the Electoral College victory of Joe Biden as the next president.

Hundreds of Trump supporters invaded the Capitol grounds and buildings, disturbing the proceedings.

More than 500 people have been arrested for alleged crimes related to the invasion.

About 140 officers from both the Capitol Police and the D.C. department were injured in the melee.

 At a congressional hearing last week, four officers described being attacked, berated and threatened with death by throngs of people, many of whom were wielding weapons.

“I was at risk of being stripped of and killed with my own firearm, as I heard chants of, ‘Kill him with his own gun,'” MPD Officer Michael Fanone testified.

Another cop, Capitol Police Sgt. Aquilino Gonell, vented frustration at the hearing at some members of Congress who have downplayed the danger from the riot.

“The same people who we helped, the same people who we gave them the borrowed time to get to safety, now they are attacking us, they are attacking our characters,” Gonell said.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, in a statement issued after Hashida’s death was reported, but before DeFreytag’s suicide became public, said, “On behalf of the House of Representatives, I send deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Metropolitan Police Department Officer Gunther Hashida.”

“Officer Hashida was a hero, who risked his life to save our Capitol, the Congressional community and our very Democracy,” said Pelosi, D-Calif. “All Americans are indebted to him for his great valor and patriotism on January 6th and throughout his selfless service.”

“May Officer Hashida’s life be an inspiration to all to protect our Country and Democracy. And may it be a comfort to Officer Hashida’s family that so many mourn their loss and pray for them at this sad time.”

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.

Categories
Politics

Treasury slaps sanctions on Cuban police power and its leaders over crackdown on protests

Treasury slaps sanctions on Cuban police force and its leaders over crackdown on protests

A woman holds a sign reading “America Open Your Eyes” as people wave Cuban and US flags during a Freedom Rally showing support for Cubans demonstrating against their government, at Freedom Tower in Miami, on July 17, 2021. – Cuba’s President Miguel Diaz-Canel on July 17, denounced what he said was a false narrative over unrest on the Caribbean island, as the Communist regime vigorously pushed back against suggestions of historically widespread discontent. (Photo by Eva Marie UZCATEGUI / AFP) (Photo by EVA MARIE UZCATEGUI/AFP via Getty Images)

EVA MARIE UZCATEGUI | AFP | Getty Images

WASHINGTON – The Biden administration imposed another round of sanctions on Cuba’s police force and its leaders for the violent suppression of peaceful protests that broke out on the island more than two weeks ago.

The Treasury sanctions designate Cuban police director Oscar Callejas Valcarce and his deputy, Eddy Sierra Arias, as well as the island’s police force.

“The Treasury Department will continue to designate and call out by name those who facilitate the Cuban regime’s involvement in serious human rights abuse,” wrote Andrea Gacki, director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control, in a statement announcing the sanctions.

“Today’s action serves to further hold accountable those responsible for suppressing the Cuban people’s calls for freedom and respect for human rights,” the statement added.

Last week, Washington slapped sanctions on Cuba’s defense minister and the communist nation’s special forces brigade for the suppression of peaceful protests that broke out on the island.

The U.S. sanctions were coupled with a warning that there would be more to come if the Cuban government did not rectify the situation.

“This is just the beginning – the United States will continue to sanction individuals responsible for oppression of the Cuban people,” President Joe Biden said in a July 22 statement.

Earlier this month, thousands of protestors filled the streets over frustrations with a crippled economy hit by food and power shortages.

The rare protests, the largest the communist country has seen since the 1990s, come as the government struggles to contain the coronavirus pandemic, pushing the island’s fragile health-care system to the brink.

Protesters gather in front of the Versailles restaurant to show support for the people in Cuba who have taken to the streets there to protest on July 11, 2021 in Miami, Florida.

Joe Raedle | Getty Images

Cuban President Diaz-Canel Bermudez said his regime was “prepared to do anything” to quell the protests, according to a report from The Washington Post.

“We will be battling in the streets,” he said, adding that the United States is in part to blame for the widespread discontent in Cuba.

A day later, he appeared alongside members of his government and blamed U.S. trade sanctions for hampering Cuba’s growth.

Reacting to the Cuban president’s comments, Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters last week that the United States was not to blame for the laundry list of issues plaguing Havana.

Blinken said Cubans were “tired of the mismanagement of the Cuban economy, tired of the lack of adequate food and, of course, an adequate response to the Covid-19 pandemic.”

“That is what we are hearing and seeing in Cuba, and that is a reflection of the Cuban people, not of the United States or any other outside actor,” Blinken said.

Categories
Entertainment

Police in China Detain Canadian Pop Star Kris Wu on Suspicion of Rape

Police in China Detain Canadian Pop Star Kris Wu on Suspicion of Rape

The police in Beijing said Saturday they had detained Kris Wu, a popular Canadian Chinese singer, on suspicion of rape amid a #MeToo controversy that has set off outrage in China.

The police did not provide details of their investigation into Mr. Wu. But it comes several weeks after an 18-year-old university student in Beijing accused him of enticing young women like herself with the promise of career opportunities, then pressuring them into having sex.

Known in China as Wu Yifan, Mr. Wu, 30, is the most prominent figure in China to be detained over #MeToo allegations.

He rose to fame as a member of the Korean pop band EXO, then started a successful solo career as a model, actor and singer. Though he denied the allegations when they first surfaced, they set off an uproar that led at least a dozen companies, including Bulgari, Louis Vuitton and Porsche, to sever ties with the singer.

The Chaoyang District branch of the Beijing police said in a statement on social media on Saturday night that it had been looking into accusations posted online that Mr. Wu “repeatedly deceived young women into sexual relations.” It said that Mr. Wu had been detained while the criminal investigation continued.

Mr. Wu’s accuser, Du Meizhu, has said publicly that when she first met Mr. Wu in December last year, she was taken by the singer’s agent to his home in Beijing for work-related discussions. She said that she was pressured to drink cocktails until she passed out, and later found herself in his bed.

They dated until March, according to her account of the events, when he stopped responding to her calls and messages. She has also said she believed that he targeted other young women.

Mr. Wu’s lawyer did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Ms. Du could not be reached.

It was not immediately clear if the police were specifically investigating Ms. Du’s claims. In a statement in July, the police had released what appeared to be preliminary findings about Ms. Du’s allegations. The police had said Ms. Du had hyped her story “to enhance her online popularity,” an assessment that was criticized by her supporters as victim shaming.

The outpouring of support for Ms. Du was a sign that the country’s nascent #MeToo movement continues to grow despite the government’s strict limits on activism and dissent. After Ms. Du spoke out, her supporters flooded the social media pages of several brands, threatening boycotts if they did not drop their partnerships with Mr. Wu, a campaign that quickly forced the companies to distance themselves from him.

The accusations have triggered a heated debate on issues like victim-shaming, consent and abuse of power in the workplace — concepts that had rarely featured in mainstream discussions before the #MeToo movement went global.

The authorities in China often discourage women from filing sexual misconduct complaints, and sexual assault or harassment survivors are frequently shamed and even sued for defamation. Censorship and limits on dissent have also stymied efforts among feminist activists to organize, even as trolls are given cover to spew abuse.

Yet the high-profile nature of the controversy made Ms. Du’s allegations impossible to ignore for Chinese authorities, who are always on the lookout for what they deem to be potential sources of social unrest.

The police announcement, posted on the country’s popular Weibo social media platform, immediately started trending, drawing more than six million likes.

Lu Pin, a New York-based feminist activist, said the detention of Mr. Wu was a major step forward for the #MeToo movement in China.

“Regardless of what the motivation of the police may have been, just the fact that he was detained is huge,” Ms. Lu said.

“For the last three years, a number of prominent figures have faced #MeToo accusations but nothing ever happened to them,” Ms. Lu said. “Now with Wu Yifan, #MeToo has finally taken down someone with real power in China — it has shown that no matter how powerful you are, rape is not acceptable.”

The detention of Mr. Wu comes amid a broader government crackdown on the entertainment industry.

In recent years, Chinese authorities have moved aggressively to clean up the industrywide problem of tax evasion and to cap salaries for the country’s biggest movie stars. In June, the country’s internet watchdog began a crackdown on what it called the country’s “chaotic” online celebrity fan clubs, which the government has come to see as an increasing source of volatility in public opinion.

The People’s Daily, the mouthpiece of the ruling Communist Party, depicted Mr. Wu’s detention as a warning to celebrities that neither fame nor a foreign citizenship would shield them from the law.

“A foreign nationality is not a talisman. No matter how famous one is, there is no immunity,” the propaganda outlet wrote. “Remember: The higher the popularity, the more you must be self-disciplined, the more popular you are, the more you must abide by the law.”

Categories
Politics

Biden hosts police chiefs as Democrats attempt to comprise political fallout

Biden hosts police chiefs as Democrats try to contain political fallout

United States President Joe Biden, center, speaks during a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, DC, the United States, on Monday, July 12, 2021.

Sarah Silberner | UPI | Bloomberg | Getty Images

President Joe Biden met with U.S. police chiefs and elected officials at the White House on Monday to discuss his plan to combat a sustained nationwide surge in gun violence.

“We recognize that we must come together for the first responsibility of democracy: to protect one another,” said Biden before the meeting. “And that’s what the American people are looking for when it comes to reducing violent crime and gun violence.”

Biden was accompanied to the White House by US Attorney General Merrick Garland, New York City Democratic candidate for mayoral, Eric Adams, head of community intervention, and several mayors and police chiefs from large and medium-sized US cities to develop his gun crime prevention strategy to discuss. which was unveiled last month.

The meeting takes place amid an epidemic of gun violence in several of the country’s largest cities, a growing political issue for Democrats and the central theme of Republican efforts to take over the House of Representatives and the Senate next year.

The Biden administration faces a major hurdle to reconcile the fight against gun violence with continued pressure on police reform in the US following the assassination of George Floyd last year, especially as the president tried to break away from Defund to remove the Police “of the Democrats. Messaging.

During the meeting, Biden encouraged communities to use $ 350 billion from the American Rescue Plan, a $ 1.9 trillion pandemic relief plan passed by Congress in March, to help improve public safety. This includes strengthening law enforcement and developing community services that prevent crime.

A memo sent out by the administration on Monday provided examples of how cities are using the funds.

New York City, for example, suggested using more than $ 44 million to expand community violence intervention models and reinstall an additional 200 police services to perform on-site administrative tasks.

Other cities listed in the memo include Washington, which proposed using $ 59 million to provide seats for police cadets, community services, and financial aid that would help citizens involved in gun violence, again return to the church.

“The American bailouts, which go directly to local governments like ours, allow us not only to have the officials we need, but also the local violence interrupters we need to fund pilot programs that help returning citizens … that Ecosystem to make cities safer, “Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser said in an interview with MSNBC.

The American rescue plan, however, is only part of Biden’s overall strategy to curb violent crime.

The strategy also strengthens federal gun law enforcement by introducing a new “zero tolerance” policy for gun dealers who violate federal gun sales laws, and delegates new powers to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to revoke dealer licenses revoke at first violations.

Other federal efforts the strategy brought with it included the establishment of five new federal strike forces, led by the ATF, to monitor and intercept arms smuggling along several major corridors for the arms trade between major cities.

Federal statistics show a significant increase in homicides nationwide, with an increase of 30% in 2020 compared to the previous year.

Across the country, mayors and police chiefs are struggling to explain what is behind the rise in mass shootings, murders and other violent crimes.

Experts point to a perfect storm of factors that collided during the pandemic. These include a surge in private arms sales, widespread unemployment, and Covid jobs that stay at home, leaving people trapped and with little to do.

At the same time, protests against police killing of blacks may have diverted police resources from traditional policing and undermined public confidence in the prosecution.

However, many of the factors believed to have contributed to the rise in violent crime are difficult to quantify.

And since policing is typically highly localized in America, Biden’s options at the federal level are limited.

– CNBC’s Christina Wilkie contributed to this report.

Categories
Politics

Police arrest Four on varied weapons and drug prices at Denver resort

Police arrest 4 on various weapons and drug charges at Denver hotel

A general view of the stadium in the third inning during a game between the Colorado Rockies and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Coors Field on April 4, 2021 in Denver, Colorado.

Justin Edmonds | Getty Images

Denver police arrested three men and a woman on various weapons and drug charges Friday night at a downtown Denver hotel near events connected to the upcoming Major League Baseball All-Star Game, police said Saturday.

Officers responded to a report about a “suspicious occurrence” at the Maven Hotel, which is a block from Coors Field. They obtained search warrants for two rooms and found evidence, as well as impounded two vehicles, according to the department.

A spokeswoman for the Federal Bureau of Investigation Denver Field Office told NBC News that the agency “has no reason to believe there was any threat directed at the MLB All-Star Game.” Coors Field is set to host the game on Tuesday.

Police said the investigation is active and ongoing and have not yet released details about the evidence. The department told CNBC on Sunday that it’s unable to provide additional details due to the ongoing investigation but confirmed it’s working with local and federal law enforcement partners on the probe.

The three men were charged with possession of a weapon by a previous offender. Two of the men and the woman were charged with possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute. One of the men and the woman were also wanted on warrants from another jurisdiction.

“The investigation and arrests were the result of a tip from the public, serving as an excellent example of the critical role the community plays in public safety,” Denver police said in a news release. “DPD encourages residents and visitors to always be aware of their surroundings and to report suspicious or illegal activity to police immediately.”

Correction: This story has been updated to reflect that the four suspects were arrested at the Maven Hotel on various combinations of charges.

Categories
Politics

Black Lives Matter leaders met with Biden White Home officers on police reform

Black Lives Matter leaders met with Biden White House officials on police reform

Protesters gather near the White House before a group attempted to tear down the statue of Andrew Jackson in Lafayette Square on June 22, 2020 in Washington, DC.

Drew Angerer | Getty Images

Black Lives Matter leaders met with members of President Joe Biden’s team as the White House and lawmakers negotiated the details of a possible police reform deal.

In a statement first broadcast to CNBC, Black Lives Matter said the leaders recently met with White House officials to discuss their agenda. The activist group is not satisfied with what has happened since the discussion, namely with proposals to give police departments more money.

“Black Lives Matter executives met with White House officials earlier this year to discuss our policy agenda, and while we appreciate the opportunity to speak with them, we are surprised by their lack of progress on issues that are black-minded People, the same communities, matter. ” who supported Biden-Harris so much in last year’s election, “the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation told CNBC in an email on Tuesday.

It is unclear when the meeting took place or which officials from both sides attended the meeting. Politico reported in May that the BLM had yet to meet with the Biden White House. The Washington Post reported late last year that Patrisse Cullors, a co-founder of Black Lives Matter, wrote a letter to Biden and Kamala Harris about a possible meeting.

Black Lives Matter press representatives responded to requests for additional comments. The White House has not responded to requests for comment.

Rep. Karen Bass, D-Calif., One of the lawmakers working on police reform, told NBC News that the negotiations had encountered some obstacles due to power struggles between law enforcement groups.

“I worry that it might prevent us from coming to an agreement. And you know what a really sad statement I think about the profession that they would actually prevent reforms and refuse to modernize,” she said.

The meeting and its aftermath suggest that Black Lives Matter and the Biden team are heading for a stalemate. It’s also a sign that Black Lives Matter may not have as much impact at the Biden White House as the group hoped.

Black Lives Matter, created after George Zimmerman was acquitted in 2013 in the murder of the unarmed black teen Trayvon Martin, is calling for a reduction in police spending. For years the group has inspired and organized large protests against brutality against blacks.

Last year, Black Lives Matter’s group and motto gained popularity and relevance after police murdered George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and other black Americans as protests erupted across the country.

Biden won the 2020 election with the overwhelming support of black voters.

The president recently said that states could raise $ 350 billion in stimulus funds to bolster police forces. Biden has also announced a series of measures his government is taking to curb the rise in crime and gun violence.

This didn’t go well with Black Lives Matter or activists calling for the defunding of police departments.

“And now we see the president arguing for increased spending on the police force instead of investing in housing, education, climate protection and health care,” Black Lives Matter said in a statement to CNBC. “This is no time to go back to the dangerous scare days of the 1990s when more police officers were deployed in our neighborhoods rather than services that improve lives and keep black communities safe.”

Categories
World News

Video of Montreal Police Kneeling on Black Teenager Spurs Outcry

Hong Kong Website Doxxing Police Gets Blocked, Raising Censorship Fears

MONTREAL – For some Canadians, the 90-second video brought back memories of George Floyd: A white police officer appears to be kneeling on the neck of a black teenager lying face down on the floor on a Montreal street.

Police said Saturday that they are investigating what happened after a video of the encounter sparked an outcry from politicians and human rights defenders, many of whom were alarmed about the way the 14-year-old was apparently being held back.

Montreal police said the encounter took place on June 10 after officers were called to a fight between 15 young people near a high school in the Villeray neighborhood of Montreal. They said that two of the youths were armed.

It was not clear what happened in advance of the encounter between the officer and the teenager. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported that the teen was tied by the officers’ knees for less than a minute and that one officer said the teen had what looked like a stun gun.

The outcry comes as Canada sees a national awakening to institutional racism, including among the police force, fueled by the Black Lives Matter movement. The murder of Mr. Floyd by Minneapolis police last year sparked this movement.

“This brings back memories of what happened to George Floyd because the police use the same technique,” said Balarama Holness, a human rights activist running for Montreal mayor.

“The police must be held accountable,” continued Holness. “These techniques shouldn’t be allowed, period.”

Fernando Belton, a criminal defense attorney who represents the teenager in the video, said he and another teenager, also 14 years old, were arrested after police officers arrived at the scene and the teenagers began to flee. He said one teenager was overtaken by two police officers while the second was arrested by six officers. He said they both had knees on their necks.

“Why do you need so much police force on teenagers?” asked Mr. Belton, who teaches a racial profiling class at the University of Ottawa. “We’re not talking about criminals here, we’re talking about teenagers who are arrested in broad daylight.”

The outcry over the video comes after Brenda Lucki, the commissioner of Canada’s famous national police force, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, was forced to retract her earlier denials of systemic racism within the police force. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau argued that police across the country are grappling with systemic racism.

Last year, Canadians reacted with outrage to a police dashcam video showing an indigenous chief being held by one police officer and thrown to the ground by another, hit on the head and put in a stranglehold.

While Canada prides itself on being a progressive, liberal bastion, human rights activists say its law enforcement agencies need to go through profound cultural changes to prevent attacks on minorities.

Concerns about police behavior have spread beyond Montreal. A study by the Ontario Human Rights Commission found that between 2013 and 2017, blacks in Toronto were nearly 20 times more likely than whites to be involved in fatal shootings by Toronto police.