Thousands of protestors took to the streets of Boston over the weekend in memory of George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man killed by a Minneapolis police officer on May 25 and whose death ignited protests nationwide.
Mayor Martin Walsh joined Police Commissioner William G. Gross and District Attorney Rachael Rollins Monday to acknowledge the largely peaceful protests and warn against violence.
Rollins called attention to two black men: CNN reporter Omar Jimenez, who was arrested on air while covering the Minneapolis protests, and Christian Cooper, who was birdwatching in New York recently when a white woman called the police on him.
As the weekend’s protests escalated, certain demonstrators “disgraced George Floyd’s memory” by looting, burning police cars and throwing objects and debris, said Rollins.
He said the night’s escalation frightened certain peaceful protestors, as well as the families of police officers and first responders.
