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White police officer pepper-sprays crowd at first ever Black Lives Matter rally in Cleveland White police officer pepper sprays crowd at first Black Lives Matter rally in Cleveland
(about 1 hour later)
A transit police officer has been filmed pepper-spraying a crowd protesting the arrest of a teenager at a Black Lives Matter conference in Cleveland on Sunday.A transit police officer has been filmed pepper-spraying a crowd protesting the arrest of a teenager at a Black Lives Matter conference in Cleveland on Sunday.
The incident took place near Cleveland State University where the city’s first ever Black Lives Matter conference was taking place. It was attended by more than one thousand people discussing a range of social issues.The incident took place near Cleveland State University where the city’s first ever Black Lives Matter conference was taking place. It was attended by more than one thousand people discussing a range of social issues.
According to the Greater Cleveland regional transit authority, officers were escorting an intoxicated teenager to a police station before a large crowd blocked their path to the police car, as seen in the video below.According to the Greater Cleveland regional transit authority, officers were escorting an intoxicated teenager to a police station before a large crowd blocked their path to the police car, as seen in the video below.
They got a 14 year old handcuffed going into the ems #m4bl pic.twitter.com/q42VeGcgYNThey got a 14 year old handcuffed going into the ems #m4bl pic.twitter.com/q42VeGcgYN
— #PennyRaps Dropped. (@RicWilson) July 26, 2015— #PennyRaps Dropped. (@RicWilson) July 26, 2015
 
As the crowd became more animated at the 14-year-old’s arrest, a white police officer began to pepper-spray the crowd.As the crowd became more animated at the 14-year-old’s arrest, a white police officer began to pepper-spray the crowd.
 
Here are some of the injuries caused by the pepper-spraying.Here are some of the injuries caused by the pepper-spraying.
 
A video posted by Andrew Humphrey (@humphreymarion) on Jul 26, 2015 at 2:07pm PDTA video posted by Andrew Humphrey (@humphreymarion) on Jul 26, 2015 at 2:07pm PDT
 
The teenager was released after a medical examination at 6pm with the crowd reacting in jubilant scenes and chants of “I believe that we will win.”The teenager was released after a medical examination at 6pm with the crowd reacting in jubilant scenes and chants of “I believe that we will win.”
They just let the teenager go. "This is what community looks like." #M4BL pic.twitter.com/bqhA8N9v9mThey just let the teenager go. "This is what community looks like." #M4BL pic.twitter.com/bqhA8N9v9m
 
No arrests were made; and the officer’s name has not been released. As a member of the transit authority, the officer is not affiliated with the city’s police department.No arrests were made; and the officer’s name has not been released. As a member of the transit authority, the officer is not affiliated with the city’s police department.
Activism against police brutality is growing in Cleveland after the cases of Tamir Rice, Tanisha Anderson and Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams. The latter is the most high profile case in Cleveland.Activism against police brutality is growing in Cleveland after the cases of Tamir Rice, Tanisha Anderson and Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams. The latter is the most high profile case in Cleveland.
The pair was killed in November 2012 after a high-speed chase when police officers mistook a car backfiring for a gunshot. The sole officer charged, Michael Brelo, was acquitted of manslaughter.The pair was killed in November 2012 after a high-speed chase when police officers mistook a car backfiring for a gunshot. The sole officer charged, Michael Brelo, was acquitted of manslaughter.