A video of a Black Lives Matter protester being arrested by police while she was speaking to cameras has gone hugely viral since it was shared to Facebook on Friday. The protest was taking place in Rochester, New York, where crowds had gathered to protest the police killing of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile. The video has been viewed more than 4 million times already.
Before getting arrested the woman was in the middle of speaking about non-violence.
I'm not going to hit anybody, I'm not going to shoot anybody. I'm going to speak to you, I'm going to use my words, I'm going to articulate myself. Because the message needs to be heard.
As soon as the woman completed that last phrase a police officer appears in the frame, grabs her, turns hers around and away from cameras, and holds her hands behind her back. Several other officers came to help with the arrest and surrounded the woman.
Seeing the protester grabbed by police officers, others at the protest began to chant, "No justice, no peace!"
According to the description of the video posted by local journalist Tara Grimes, the woman was speaking as a part of an interview when police arrested her. The Independent reported that a total of 74 protesters were detained by the Rochester Police Department during the same demonstration.
Tara Grimes and the Rochester Police Department did not immediately reply to Complex's requests for comment.
