When he tried to speak with them outside the federal courthouse in Portland on Saturday night, he said a federal officer beat him with a baton, breaking his hand in two places. A second officer sprayed him with a chemical irritant, David said. “They whaled on me like a punching bag.” A video appearing to show David being beaten by a federal officer and sprayed with a chemical by another while he stood passively went viral this weekend with 10.7 million views. Afterwards, David, 53, was praised on social media for allegedly standing up to federal officers accused of excessive force and escalating violence as they protect federal buildings. Demonstrations began in Portland in May against police brutality and racial injustice triggered by the killing of African American George Floyd.

Source: Standard Digital July 20, 2020 18:22 UTC