Protestors across the state shouted "I can't breathe" as a rallying cry against police brutality in the days after a Minneapolis police officer killed George Floyd. In response to these protests, police issued curfews, used tear gas and violently targeted peaceful protestors and rioters alike.
While these protests were in large part due to George Floyd's death in Minneapolis, police brutality is not a foreign concept in Michigan. 
In Lansing, a police officer was recorded punching a 16-year-old girl in the legs as she was put into a police car in June 2019. In East Lansing, the public became outraged this February after seeing a Facebook post showing photos of injuries Uwimana Gasito sustained during his arrest by ELPD. In Detroit, the family of Anthony Clark Reed is currently suing the city of Detroit over his 2015 death after he was pulled over for his tinted windows. When Reed reached into his glove box for an asthma inhaler, he was ordered out of his car, put in handcuffs and laid on his stomach where he said "I can't breathe," before he died. The police found no wrongdoing in his case. 
As people of color continue to protest the violence that police use against their community, police have responded unequivocally with more violence across the state and the nation.

Body cam video of the arrest of Uwimana Gasito plays behind East Lansing Police Deputy Chief Steve Gonzalez as he walks the East Lansing City Council through the video at the 54B District Court Feb. 27, 2020. Public outrage over injuries Gasito sustained in the arrest prompted an internal investigation into whether excessive force was used. This investigation found no use of excessive force.

A police officer in riot gear stands in front of a burning car as a man films her in Lansing May 31, 2020 at the protest against police brutality.

Crowds march in front of Lafayette and American Coney Island at the march against police brutality in Detroit May 29, 2020.

A man is pushed by police through clouds of tear gas in Lansing May 31, 2020 at the riot over the police killing of George Floyd.

A man speaks into a megaphone at the front of the march against police brutality in Detroit May 29, 2020.

A few protesters speak with a police officer in tactical gear as a crowd stands behind them at the protest against police brutality at the East Lansing Police Department May 31, 2020.

Crowds march through the streets at the march against police brutality in Detroit May 29, 2020.

Lansing resident Farhan Sheikh-Omar turns to address the police officers sitting in the audience during the public comments section of the meeting about the internal investigation into the use of excessive force in the arrest of Uwimana Gasito Feb. 27, 2020 at the 54B District Court.

Crowds put their hands up as they chant "Hands up, don't shoot" at the march against police brutality in Detroit May 29, 2020.

Protesters push a police car back away from the main crowd at the march against police brutality in Detroit May 29, 2020.

A man smokes a cigarette as a car burns behind him, letting off black smoke in Lansing May 31, 2020 at the protest against police brutality.

Protesters lie in the street in front of the Capitol as they chant "I can't breathe" on June 3, 2020.

Protesters ride from East Lansing to the Capitol both inside and on top of a car on Michigan Avenue in Lansing May 31, 2020 at the protest against police brutality.

A man bends over towards a tear gas canister in Lansing May 31, 2020 at the protest against police brutality.

Four protesters stand on the flipped car of a woman who had just been taken away by police at the protest against police brutality in Lansing May 31, 2020. One protester said that the woman hit his foot with her car, and him and others said that she threatened more as well.

A man offers kids some popsicles at the protest in Lansing against police brutality May 31, 2020.

A man puts a cloth with water over his eyes after police used tear gas against his group of protesters in Lansing May 31, 2020 at the protest against police brutality.

A man is arrested after spray painting on the Capitol steps at the Lansing protest against police brutality May 31, 2020.

A man stands out of a crowd holding a "Black Lives Matter" flag as "First Day Out" by Tee Grizzley plays at the protest in Lansing against police brutality May 31, 2020.

Eve Brown and her granddaughter Gwen Schnurr pose for a photo as they cheer on protestors marching through the Pinecrest neighborhood on Juneteenth in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement in East Lansing June 19, 2020. Eve said that she was too old to march, but wanted to show support anyway. Gwen said she thought the march was important for her too, because she's Jewish.

A group of protesters marches two miles from the Capitol to Lansing Mayor Andy Schor's house with a list of demands for him June 6, 2020.

A woman raises her fist in the air, with her mask on her arm as a group of protesters marches two miles from the Capitol to Lansing Mayor Andy Schor's house with a list of demands for him June 6, 2020.

The Ferrin family and Solis kids stand and sit through an eight minute and 46 second moment of silence in honor of George Floyd. Protesters marched through the Pinecrest neighborhood on Juneteenth in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement in East Lansing June 19, 2020.

Paul Birdsong leads a group of protesters on a march away from the Capitol as he shouts "I can't breathe," June 3, 2020.

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