Police in Seattle faced criticism for allegedly using mace on a child who was brought to a demonstration Sunday protesting the killing of George Floyd.
A video taken at the scene shows a young girl crying and screaming, “I can’t see.” Social media posts by those in the area allege that the girl was hit by police with mace as officers looked to clear the streets of protesters.
“Seattle police maced a child,” Zellie, a Black Lives Matter activist, posted. “Then refused to give his badge number.”
Seattle police maced a child
Then refused to give his badge number. pic.twitter.com/4ZEOblXWnj
— zellie (@zellieimani) May 31, 2020
This is the video that was taken down! A 9 year old in Seattle was MACED by pig JARED CAMPBELL from the Seattle Police, it was PEACEFUL PROTEST. His badge number is 8470. Little girl’s face is covered in the video PLEASE SHARE #seattleprotest #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/JXrJ1eZ8Qd
— Julián✨ (@julesstorres) May 31, 2020
The city’s police department confirmed to Buzzfeed News that it had taken a high number of calls about the incident.
“As the mayor made clear during today’s press conference, all uses of force by SPD officers will be investigated accordingly, and officers will be held accountable for inappropriate uses of force. Retaining and building community trust that SPD and partners have worked tirelessly to improve is absolutely paramount,” a police spokesperson told the outlet.
Separately, in Lansing, Michigan, a reporter for the Lansing State Journal tweeted a video over the weekend of a young girl who the reporter said had been gassed by police during demonstrations in the state capitol.
A couple kids were gassed and fellow protesters are helping them out with milk pic.twitter.com/NzAmu3o6hE
— Kara Berg (@karaberg95) June 1, 2020
