US protests: Rochester sees sixth night of rallies as Portland clashes continue

US protesters stay put on the streets of Rochester, New York for the sixth consecutive night, voicing their rage against US police violence and racial injustice.

Protests erupted in Rochester on Wednesday over the death of Daniel Prude, an unarmed African American who died in police custody in March.

Newly-released footage from Prude’s arrest showed officers restraining him and putting a hood on his head. They pressed his face into the pavement for two minutes while he was handcuffed and naked.

He died seven days later on March 30 after he was taken off life support.

Prude’s death received no public attention until a lawyer for his family released police body-camera footage of the arrest to local media last week.

Protesters marched peacefully in the city on Monday, with some people chanting slogans or kneeling in front of the line of police officers assembled to counter the rally.

The rally, however, continued into the night and led to a standoff between police officers and protesters outside the Public Safety Building in downtown Rochester.

US rocked by another racial killing

Anger is boiling in the US over the brutal murder of yet another black man by US police officers. Daniel Prude was killed in Rochester in late March.

Thousands of protesters have been marching in Rochester since Wednesday, demanding that all officers involved in Prude's arrest be fired, prosecuted, and convicted.

Demonstrators also called for the resignation of Rochester mayor, Lovely Warren, and police chief, La'Ron Singletary.

Trump promotes violence to his advantage: Rochester mayor

President Donald Trump tweeted on Monday, "Rochester… had bad nights, all badly run by Radical Left Democrat Governors and Mayors! Get the picture?"

Mayor Warren reacted to the president’s remarks an hour later, accusing him of taking advantage of promoting hate and violence.

Warren said that "… all involved ignore the commentary from the President. It is clear his only desire is to bait people to act with hate and violence that he believes will benefit politically. We will not give him what he wants.”

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She promised to change how the city and its police respond to mental health crises — including moving some services out of the police department.

"It is my solemn duty as the mayor of our city to honor Mr. Prude to not let his death be in vain and to do everything possible to transform how we police our city to truly protect and serve our residents," Warren said.

Warren also said earlier that she has no intention of resigning.

Trump supporters clash with Portland protesters

Elsewhere in the US, scuffles broke out Monday night between protesters and far-right supporters of President Trump, who marched to the capitol building in Salem, south of Portland, Oregon in a caravan of vehicles.

They were holding Trump 2020 signs and American flags and some carrying weapons.

The two groups fired pepper spray at each other.

A Trump supporter beat a protester with a baseball bat and another supporter of the president sprayed a fire extinguisher.

Police then tackled two people who had been punching demonstrators and arrested them, according to a Reuters witness.

A spokesman for the Oregon State Police confirmed the incident, saying in a statement that officers responded when an “American Lives Matter Rally group” charged at counter protesters, chasing and pushing them.

Protests hit New York after black man choked to death in police custody

Protests continue in New York against the death of Daniel Prude, as federal agents kill suspect in fatal shooting of Trump supporter in Portland.

Two men were arrested, charged with misdemeanor assault and subsequently released, he said.

Monday marked the 102nd day of protests in the city.

Portland and its surrounding area have been the scene of protests since the death of African American George Floyd at the hands of a white police officer in the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 25.

Floyd’s death sparked similar protests across the country, but it is in Portland that anti-racism protesters remained on the streets practically every night.

In recent weeks, tensions have escalated between Trump supporters and protester in the city.

Late last month, the clashes resulted in the shooting death of a Trump supporter Aaron Danielson.

Michael Reinoehl, the man suspected of the killing, was shot dead by federal troops in Lacey, Washington on Thursday.

Democratic presidential nominee, Joe Biden, has repeatedly condemned disorder at demonstrations, and has defended peaceful protesters, arguing justice must be served in cases of "unwarranted police violence." He called for rioters and looters to be prosecuted.

The 77-year-old Democrat accused Trump of fomenting violence, saying that, "Fires are burning and we have a president who fans the flames rather than fighting the flames."

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