Five Black Lives Matter protestors have been shot by ‘white supremacists’ at a peaceful protest against the police killing of an innocent man, according to leaders of the movement.
Police brutality being disproportionately used against people of colour is a huge, ongoing issue in the US. Ever since Jamar Clark, 24, was shot by police on 15 November in north Minneapolis, Minnesota, Black Lives Matters protesters have had a presence outside the 4th precinct police station.
But last night, when more protestors turned up, so did counter-protestors.
The Black Lives Matter protestors tried to move the three counter-protestors – one wearing a mask – away from the police station, but the three men started fired shots at them.
Five protestors were hit and a police officer confirmed in a statement to the Star Tribune that the injuries were non-fatal. But Miski Noor, a media contact for Black Lives Matter said: ‘A group of white supremacists showed up at the protest, as they have done most nights.’
Nekima Levy-Pounds, president of the local NAACP chapter, said: ‘I am obviously appalled that white supremacists would open fire on non-violent, peaceful protesters.’
Police have confirmed, via Twitter, they are searching for three white male suspects.
And while much of the focus of the run-up to the Presidential elections has turned to Europe and anti-immigration rhetoric used against helpless Syrian refugees, there’s a real concern that far-right extremism is on the rise in the US.
As one Twitter user put it:
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Picture: Rex
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.