The State Patrol said that while they were clearing the streets in an attempt to restore order at the intersection, they arrested four people, three of whom were crew from CNN. They were released as soon as they confirmed they were members of the media. Jimenez and other journalists in his team were released after Minnesota Governor Tim Walz issued a public apology for their arrests.


Other reporters permitted into vicinity

After his release, Jimenez was back on live television. He said that his experience with the police was "nerve-racking" at certain moments. What comforted him was that his arrest happened on air. CNN hosts John Berman and Alisyn Camerota were appalled by the course of events. In their New Day program, Berman said that Jimenez clearly identified as an American television reporter before he was led away by the police.

He added that Jimenez was explaining his job on the scene with the rest of the CNN team until they were handcuffed on live television. Berman said, "I've never seen anything like this." In response to the Minneapolis State Patrol's post, the news company said that journalists were still arrested despite identifying themselves as reporters. They added that it was in violation of their First Amendment Rights.

A colleague of Jimenez at CNN, Josh Campbell, said on air that he was permitted to report at the Minneapolis streets cleared by police. "You are white," Berman told Campbell. He admitted he was unsure about the true implications of the police's decision of arrest. "Omar Jimenez is not."

Campbell agreed. He said that he was treated "much differently."

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Eyewitness accounts and footage of police murder

Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said in a news conference that Caucasian police office was charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter on Friday for violently arresting an unarmed African American man. This prompted three nights of raids from all sectors of society.

In many video footages, Derek Chauvin was seen kneeling on George Floyd's neck as other officers stood by and watched as Floyd lost breath and died. Floyd was accused by the police for using counterfeit money to buy cigarettes. Among other officers who were fired from the team were Thomas Lane, Tou Thao and J Alexander Kueng.

Minneapolis community organizer Mike Griffin said that the protests were built up frustration and indignation over economic and social inequalities, one of the root causes of which was the growing apprehension among African Americans who have been treated brutally by the federal enforcement over the past half century. Griffin said in an interview with Reuters that George's murder was "the last straw". He called the charges against Chauvin a step in the right direction, but he admitted the destruction of public property that resulted from raids needed to be controlled.

Governor Walz acknowledged the loss of faith of the people in the police, but he said that Floyd's plight seemed to be forgotten in the two days of anarchy. He declared a state of emergency and called an end to destruction of property to restore peace and order. Walz pointed out that roving bands would receive due indictment as soon as suspects are proved having involvement in the operation. He added however that the city's racial inequalities must be addressed down to the deepest roots that caused all this to happen.