Thousands of protesters descended upon the Barclays Center Friday night to stand in solidarity with the family of George Floyd, whose videotaped killing by a Minneapolis police officer has sparked outrage across the country.
Demonstrators clashed with police for roughly two hours outside the Atlantic Avenue arena, after which the protest split, with one group marching to Fort Greene Park and another through Boerum Hill. Throughout the evening and across the borough, crowds continued to form to decry Floyd’s death — which resulted from white officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on Floyd’s neck for eight continuous minutes.
Multiple demonstrators were beaten and maced during the protest against police brutality — including Flatbush Assemblywoman Diana Richardson and Crown Heights State Sen. Zellnor Myrie, both of whom were pepper-sprayed during the commotion.
Cops said Saturday morning that “dozens” of protesters were arrested over the course of Friday evening. Police Commissioner Dermot Shea later said that number was over 200.
