The issues of racism, official brutality and xenophobia, are still playing out in some parts of the United States of America and in a recent case, a black youth, Martese Johnson, accused of possessing a fake identification numbers, was brutalized, beaten and bloodied during an arrest.
Protest rock US state of Virginia after black youth is brutalized during arrest
A black youth who was brutalized and left bloodied during an arrest by government officials.
The outcome of the attack has been a statewide protest that has been rocking the state as blacks are taking up arms against the police.
According to Johnson's attorney, Daniel Watkins, the University of Virginia student was standing near the Trinity Irish Pub around 12:30 a.m. when an employee of the establishment approached him and asked for his license.
"The employee quizzed Johnson about his zip code, and Johnson provided his mother's current zip code. The number is different from the one listed on his current Illinois license. At that point, the Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control agents questioned Johnson about being in possession of false identification.
His treatment was unprovoked as he did not resist questioning or arrest. Though he lay bleeding and crying out, officers continued to hold him to the pavement, pinning him down, twisting his arm, with knees to his back until he was handcuffed."
The student's arrest, which has been described as 'brutal and highly unusual', has prompted Virginia Governor, Terry McAuliffe, to order a state investigation into the behavior of the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control agents who took Johnson into custody.
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