A second night of protests over the viral video displaying a man being kicked and stamped on by a police officer at Manchester Airport.
On Thursday night, people in Manchester city center blocked roads and tram lines in protest of the incident, which resulted in the suspension of a Greater Manchester Police officer.
Paul Waugh, the newly elected Labour MP for Rochdale, spoke with the man’s family and said they are particularly shocked by what happened as some of their members are police officers.
The video, which was taken on Tuesday at Manchester Airport’s terminal two, appears to show an officer kicking and stamping on the head of a man who was lying on the ground face down and having a woman kneeling next to him.
A few hundred protesters carried out against racism. Protestors appeared Thursday night outside Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham’s office. They chanted anti-racism slogans like “No justice, no peace, no racist police.”
The phrases “black lives matter,” “serve and protect means GMB will stamp on our heads,” and “GMP is racist” were written on placards.
They marched through the city, obstructing tram lines and roads.
Co-chairwoman of Greater Manchester Stand up to Racism Nahella Ashraf, a protestor, expressed her horror at the degree of police brutality. She demanded that all implicated police officers be suspended.
Communities, according to Oldham protester Shah Rahman, were “very scared when police have no limits.”
Late on Wednesday, large crowds had gathered outside the Rochdale police station, with some of them chanting “GMP shame on you.”
Four men were taken into custody after police reported that three of their officers. Including a female constable, who had been beaten.
On Thursday night, Mr. Waugh said on social media that “it is clear they (the family) are deeply traumatized by what happened.”
He stated that the family, who are his constituents, prioritizes the need for justice to be served as well as the health and welfare of everyone involved, including their mother.
“Several of the members of this hard-working Rochdale family are police officers. So they are especially shocked at what they have witnessed,” Mr. Waugh stated.
“The family also wants me to be very clear that they do not have any political agenda. That they do not support political violence and they do not wish to participate in any protests,” he continued.
“I sincerely hope that their request to make a calm appeal is granted.”
“Although there is concern over this incident. it is also necessary we prevent radicals of any kind from using these events for their politics.”
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper in discussion on the incident. Mr. Burnham also urged composure, stating that the “right and proper steps” had been taken.
According to Akhmed Yakoob, the family’s lawyer. “The family is OK but they are traumatized.”
One of the men’s conditions had gotten worse, and a CT scan had shown a “cyst on his brain,” he said.
A “thorough and robust” independent investigation was promised by Catherine Bates. The regional director of the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), a watchdog organization on police behavior.
