San Jose protesters shut down highway, demand justice for slain George Floyd

A group of protesters San Jose made their way onto Highway 101, bringing both directions of traffic to a standstill Friday afternoon. Demonstrators were gathered to demand justice for George Floyd, the man killed by Minneapolis police Monday.

The demonstration began at City Hall and turned to a march that ended up on Highway 101 and initially crossed both the south and northbound lanes. The southbound lanes were still blocked at 3:37 p.m.

Floyd, 46, was shopping for groceries when a store employee called police with a suspicion that he was using a counterfeit $20 bill for payment. Cellphone video captured officers restraining him outside the store, handcuffed, his face down on the street next to a patrol vehicle. Officer Derek Chauvin was shown kneeling on Floyd’s neck as he repeatedly said he couldn’t breathe.

When an ambulance arrived several minutes later, an unresponsive Floyd was loaded in and taken directly to a hospital where he was pronounced dead after an attempt to revive him.

It was reported Friday that Chauvin was arrested and charge with third degree murder and manslaughter. It was also reported this week that 18 complaints had been filed against him while serving on the Minneapolis Police Department.

Another video surfaced Friday from a different angle at the scene in front of the grocery store, which showed three officers with knees down on Floyd as he laid there without any sign of resistance. The version CNN shared Friday, which is longer than the one shared above, he can be heard in the new video also saying,

“My face is gone.”

The comment about his face may relate to the numb feeling when being asphyxiated.

Floyd is also heard saying:

“I love you, mom.”

Protesters have taken to Minneapolis streets since Floyd’s death, calling for justice. Although mostly peaceful, some have looted and set fire to numerous structures. One man was shot and killed by police Wednesday during the chaos.

Donald Trump again used Twitter to threaten deployment of the National Guard, berating the “very weak Radical Left Mayor, Jacob Frey” for his response to the situation.

A subtweet, that Twitter has since deleted in violation of their policies, stirred up substantial anger Thursday night for its racially charged and violent nature, using the word “THUGS” and saying “when the looting starts, the shooting starts.”