United States: Minneapolis police under federal investigation
Attorney General Merrick Garland in Washington, April 21, 2021. REUTERS - POOL
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A federal inquiry was announced on Wednesday, the day after the verdict in the George Floyd case.
It must determine whether the Minneapolis city police regularly use excessive force and whether discrimination or ill-treatment has been inflicted by the police.
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The Department of Justice has launched an investigation into whether the Minneapolis Police are following an unconstitutional or illegal policing model or practices
," Justice Minister Merrick Garland said.
The investigation launched on Wednesday aims to determine whether police in Minneapolis (Minnesota) systematically use excessive force, including during legal protests.
It will also focus on possible discrimination or ill-treatment inflicted by the police on people with behavioral problems, said Merrick Garland.
If the existence of illegal practices is proven, legal proceedings aimed at forcing the city to undertake major police reforms could follow.
► Also to listen: USA: after George Floyd, is another police possible?
The Minister of Justice also added that a separate criminal investigation by the Justice Department, to determine whether the police officers involved in the violent arrest of George Floyd violated the latter's civil rights, was continuing.
Under the presidency of Barack Obama, the federal authorities had launched resounding investigations targeting cities in the United States where police officers were accused of racism or abuse of power, such as Baltimore, Chicago or San Francisco.
Donald Trump later expressed his opposition to such investigations.
This investigation is the first major measure of the Minister of Justice, while US President Joe Biden has promised to fight against the systemic racism that he says is plaguing the United States.
The death of George Floyd last May added to a long list of civilians shot dead by police and sparked widespread protests across the country against police violence and racial discrimination.
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To read also: Derek Chauvin condemned: "The image is more important than the number of years in prison"
(With agencies)
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