Black Lives Matter protests have broken out in Allentown, Pennsylvania after a video showed an officer kneeling on the neck of a black suspect.
In a recording of the Saturday afternoon arrest, an officer was seen violently pressing down on a Black suspect multiple times. Many people have compared the video to that of George Floyd.
READ MORE: Transcript reveals George Floyd told cops he couldn’t breathe more than 20 times
Justan Parker is the leader of Black Lives Matter in Lehigh Valley, PA, and he said that the 24-second clip cannot be tolerated.
“We’re done,” Justan Parker said, according to CBS. “People think that it couldn’t happen here and it has been happening and it happened yesterday. So enough is enough.”
Neither the suspect nor the officer have been named.
“My takeaway from the video is that Black and brown lives don’t matter to APD or to the city,” Parker said.
The peaceful protests broke out on Saturday Night, according to CBS. In an attempt to calm protesters, the mayor of Allentown, Ray O’Connell, and its police chief, Glenn Grannitz, made an appearance.
READ MORE: George Floyd, whose death energized a movement, to be buried
Just like many departments around the country, the Allentown Police Department’s recently made changes to its use of force policy. It now specifics that chokehold and neck restraints are banned.
The APD released its policy to the public, but Parker is cynical, questioning, “What was the point in releasing it if we’re not going to adhere to it?”
Not much is known about what lead up to the arrest and no body camera footage has been released.
The Black Lives Matter organization in Lehigh Valley is demanding that the APD unveil more information.
The group is also planning another protest for later this week.
Have you subscribed to theGrio’s new podcast “Dear Culture”? Download our newest episodes now!