Ohio Rep. Joyce Beatty was pepper-sprayed by cops in Columbus on Saturday throughout a demonstration decrying cops cruelty and requiring justice for George Floyd, who died in Minneapolis after an officer knelt on his neck.
Beatty, who is Black, denounced the violence perpetrated by both demonstrators and police in Columbus and elsewhere in the aftermath of Floyd’s death.
Violence “doesn’t work– violence in either case,” she told NPR’s “Weekend Edition” on Sunday.
” We have to somehow ensure that we get the word out that you can not be available in and destroy buildings,” stated Beatty, a Democrat. “When you break windows and damage services and individuals get hurt, that’s not going to fix the issue of why George Floyd died.”
Beatty stated in an earlier interview that she ‘d attended the demonstration to stand “in uniformity” with demonstrators.
” You understand, I’m a grandmother, I’m a chosen authorities, but I’m a black lady initially and I felt the pain,” she told NBC 4
Beatty was with Columbus City Board President Shannon Hardin and Kevin Boyce, a member of the Franklin County Board of Commissioners, when she was pepper-sprayed by authorities.
Columbus Dispatch photojournalist Kyle Robertson captured the violent encounter in a series of pictures, which he shared on Twitter.
Here is a 38 photo sequence of what happen this morning with Joyce Beatty, Shannon Hardin, Kevin Boyce, protesters and Columbus Police. pic.twitter.com/ZZEd6MfJCh
— Kyle Robertson (@K