An Austin police officer points his weapon after protesters threw rocks and bottles during a rally against the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd, in Austin, Texas, US
REUTERS/Nuri Vallbona

Police authorities seem to be gaining notoriety lately as shootings become common in protest demonstrations all over the world.

Early this month, anti-racism demonstrations have taken place with thousands of protesters in places including London, Paris, Berlin, and Rome.

While some demonstrations were mostly ignited by the killing of African-American George Floyd in Minneapolis, European nations also have their share of encounters with "racist violence."

Albuquerque Incident

One of the more recent incidents of shooting in demonstrations happened in Albuquerque where CNN reported that law enforcers detained people following the shooting of a demonstrator at Albuquerque's old town.

A news release Albuquerque Police Department issued said, enforcers "used chemical irritants and flash bangs" to shield officers and detain people involved in the shooting. The said detainees were disarmed and were under custody for investigation.

Mayor Tim Keller said the shooting incident was "tragic, disgraceful and an intolerable" act of violence. He added, such a move does not have any place in the city.

Meanwhile, in a news release, Michael Geier, Albuquerque police chief said, they have been receiving reports of vigilant groups probably initiating the said violence act.

Journalist's Arrest

Even journalists observing protests and reporting to the public the current goings-on, as Al Jazeera reported, have been victims of police brutality too.

The most recent incident was the one that took place in late March when a police officer reportedly "jerked back around a protest venue and pushed Chris Mathias," a HuffPost Journalist who covered a whole-day protest held in New York City.

According to a news report, the incident happened very fast for the 34-year-old journalist to stop it. The position, according to reports, was, the journalist's face was down on the pavement while a group of cops were "on top of him."

Mathias asserted he did not resist as he recalled and said, "At one point," he felt his arm "was going to break." And, with both arms wrapped behind him, he said, he could not afford to reach out for his mobile phone.

The journalist added, he also lost that particular phone during the commotion, as it laid on the pavement nearby, still video-recording.

Mathias remembered asking the police if they can look at his press pass. This, he said, was captured by a video. Those who'd view the video would even hear him say, "I'm a journalist" and that, they were arresting a journalist at that moment.

The officer was even heard saying, then, Mathias should have gotten out of his way, and pushed him. The media practitioner said he asked police to retrieve his mobile phone before arresting him. One of the officers, on the other hand, shouted at him saying, "Shut the f*** up!"

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