George Floyd’s girlfriend has called for an end to violence and riots taking place across the United States.
Four police officers were fired on Tuesday after footage emerged of Minnesota resident Mr Floyd lying face down in the street and gasping for air while an officer knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes.
In the clip, the 46-year-old can be heard shouting "I can't breathe" and "Don't kill me”.
Mr Floyd, who had been arrested on Monday for allegedly using a fake $20 note, lost consciousness during the incident and died.
Minneapolis has now declared a state of emergency after thousands of protesters flooded the streets to demand justice for the third night in a row - with some protesters turning violent.
Courtney Ross, Mr Floyd’s partner of three years, told local paper The Star Tribune: “Waking up this morning to see Minneapolis on fire would be something that would devastate Floyd. He loved the city. He came here [from Houston] and stayed here for the people and the opportunities. […] Floyd was a gentle giant. He was about love and about peace.”
Ms Ross explained that she wants wants protesters to demonstrate without resorting to riots or violence.
Cheering protesters torched a police station in the city last night, forcing officers to evacuate as three days of violent protests spread to nearby St Paul and angry demonstrations flared across the US.
Donald Trump threatened that looters will be shot, adding that the National Guard would be ordered to "get the job done right" if the city is not "brought under control”.
There are calls across the country from high profile politicians and celebrities for the officers involved in the incident to be charged with murder.
It is the latest incident to spark a nationwide conversation in the United States about the treatment of African Americans by police forces.
The Black Lives Matter movement organised peaceful protests in response, and Americans have turned out en masse to express their anger despite the Covid-19 pandemic.
