Black man’s killing proves systematic racism in US: Foreign Ministry spokesman

The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman says the recent heart-wrenching killing of an American black man by a white policeman that has gone viral testifies to methodical racism and white supremacy in the United States.

“Brutal killing of #George Floyd by Minneapolis’ white man in uniform in cold blood is a harrowing demonstration of systematic racism and white supremacism,” Abbas Mousavi tweeted on Thursday, referring to the victim.

The condemnation came three days after disturbing footage surfaced online showing the police officer choking unarmed Floyd to death by forcing him to the ground and pinning him down with his knee.

The officer refused to relieve the pressure although Floyd was heard repeatedly pleading for his life and saying, “I can’t breathe.”

The officers had been called to the scene, a Cup Foods’ store on the 3700 block of Chicago Avenue South, after the African American victim was reported to be attempting to use forged documents.

Police spokesperson John Elders claimed that Floyd had resisted arrest, and also alleged that he had started “going into medical distress” after the officers forced him into handcuffs. The viral footage, however, came to clearly disprove the account.

Floyd’s death has been followed by protests across the country, with rallies turning violent in Minneapolis, where the police used tear gas and rubber bullets against the demonstrators, and Los Angeles.