Hundreds protest Minneapolis police killing of Black man in raid

MINNEAPOLIS, FEB 6 REUTERS

Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of downtown Minneapolis on Saturday demanding justice in the fatal police shooting of a young Black man, Amir Locke, during a “no-knock” raid on his apartment earlier this week. Police released video footage from the raid which showed Locke holding a gun after being roused by officers moments before he was slain. 

Activists at the protest said Locke had a right to possess a weapon in his own home and was never given the chance to disarm himself in the chaotic moments as police stormed into his apartment without warning. A series of speakers led the crowd through chants demanding racial justice and denouncing police violence against Black people, who organizers said have been disproportionately targeted by heavy-handed, and discriminatory law enforcement tactics. Lawyers for Locke’s family said he had no criminal history and legally possessed a firearm at the time of his death.