As protests erupted across the country over the past week and a half, it has been appalling to watch how police have been conducting themselves as people peacefully demonstrate against racism and police brutality. Nonetheless, there have been even more injustices at the hands of the police during the protests such as the death of David McAtee.
There's another clip that surfaced this week of an elderly man getting shoved to the ground by two police officers. What's worse is that the video shows him evidently bleeding while the police walk past him. New reports claim that the two officers responsible for the man's injury, Robert McCabe and Aaron Torgalski, have turned themselves in. They were charged with second-degree assault, though they were released without bond. They pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The officers were suspended without pay on Friday night after the footage circulated online. However, many of their fellow officers resigned from the emergency team after it was announced they'd be suspended.
"I think there was criminal liability from what I saw on the video,“ Gov. Andrew Cuomo said at a briefing Saturday. ”I think what the mayor did and the district attorney did was right, and I applaud them for acting as quickly as they did.”
We'll keep you posted on anymore updates regarding the case.
Man Violently Shoved By Police Is "Alert & Oriented"
The 75-year-old man assaulted by Bufflo police officers is apparently alert and oriented, though still in serious condition.
Though footage of police violence has increased to disturbing heights throughout the ongoing protests against anti-black racism and police brutality, the pressure to hold cops accountable for their actions has never been higher. Yet many police appear so confident in their ability to get away with physical assault that they don't even seem to fear the consequences.
Earlier this morning, footage surfaced of a Buffalo police officer violently shoving a 75-year-old protestor (apparently a "longtime activist) to the concrete. The clip was made all the more disturbing by the complete apathy that many of the surrounding police officers seemed to exhibit, with some actively attempting to block their fellow cops from helping the victim. Even as the blood began to pool, the man went unassisted. You can see the attack below, though a warning: the footage is disturbing.
Despite the police originally issuing a statement that the man "tripped and fell," the video made sure the truth could not be denied. Now, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz provided an update on the victim: "he is still in serious but stable condition at the Erie County Medical Center and, as was relayed to me by an ECMC official, he is "alert and oriented."
Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown confirmed that the officers involved in the assault have been suspended without pay. “I was deeply disturbed by the video, as was Buffalo Police Commissioner Byron Lockwood,” Brown explained in a statement, provided by New York Post. “He directed an immediate investigation into the matter, and the two officers have been suspended without pay.” Unfortunately, no charges have been filed, and until police begin facing real consequences for their violent actions, the fight will continue. We at HNHH hope the victim makes a full recovery.
