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Police arrests freedom fighter who defies the ban on social gathering to hold vigil for George Floyd at Black Star Square

Police arrests freedom fighter who defies the ban on social gathering to hold vigil for George Floyd at Black Star Square

Police has arrested a young man by name Ernesto Yeboah for organising a vigil at the Black Star Square in the name of the late George Floyd, who was lynched to death by a white police officer in the United States of America.

According to the police, Mr Yeboah and his Economic Freedom Fighters were in breach of the Public Order Act.

Speaking in a media interview today in Accra, a Commander of the group, Abeiku Adams said that the armed police and military personnel stormed the vigil grounds at the Black Star Square and whisked Mr Yeboah away to the police headquarters.

The group insisted that its leaders notified the police five days ahead of the vigil, thus they did not breach the public order act.

“We are going to storm the police station where they have taken him,” Mr Adams said.

Few days ago, the Accra Regional Police Command warned the public against holding any George Floyd-related protests in the country.

A statement signed by DSP Effia Tenge, Head of Public Affairs Unit of the Accra Regional Police Command on June 1, stated that the attention of the police was drawn to an intended demonstration against the United States trending protest on social media and slated for tomorrow, June 2, 2020.

DSP Tenge emphasised that the Command was not notified on any demonstration.

She maintained that the state would not even allow anyone or institution to hold any protest in the country since the restrictions on public gatherings, demonstrations and rallies, among others, to contain the COVID-19 were still in force, adding that “the public is being advised to disregard the open call for a march.”

The death of George Floyd, who told the white cop he could not breathe while he knelt on his neck, has sparked a week-long protest in the US.

The white officer who murdered George Floyd on March 25 has since been arrested and charged with third degree murder and manslaughter.

Protesters in Minneapolis have clashed with police burning houses, police stations, vehicles and looting.

The protest which had extended to New York, Atlanta and Portland has seen thousands gather without recourse to social-distancing in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

The protestors were demanding that three other police officers who were involved in the incident be arrested, too, and made to face the law.

This is not the first time an unarmed black man had been killed by a white cop in USA.

Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Rayvon Martin among others were all black men killed by white police officers.

BY JOYCELINE NATALLY CUDJOE

Joyceline Natally Cudjoe

An Entertainment Columnist, Content Writer, Blogger, Novelist, Poet, and a Publicist. For business or story tip off, contact me on +233 24 646 6866 or email: [email protected]

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