NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — Protesters gathered at the New Haven City Hall near the New Haven Green for the second weekend in a row, continuing to call for racial justice and an end to police brutality Saturday afternoon.
This comes after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25 which has sparked a series of protests across the nation and the world.
Along with a fleet of cars, hundreds of protesters marched on the streets of New Haven and around the Town Green. Then, they kneeled in silence with their fists up for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, the amount of time former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin took a knee to the neck of Floyd.
On Friday, hundreds of people rallied in the Elm City to spread a message of love to one another in the wake of Floyd’s death.
Saturday afternoon’s protest was also in honor of Mubarak Soulemane, a 19-year-old man who was shot and killed by police in West Haven earlier this year.
He was shot and killed by Connecticut State Trooper Brian North after police say he carjacked a woman in Norwalk. Police chased him down I-95 all the way into West Haven, catching up with him when he got off the highway and drove into traffic.
Police bodycam footage showed Trooper North approaching the car — shooting and killing Mubarak. He fired seven times.
That incident prompted an outcry from the public who believed Mubarak did not have to die. Those feelings were still ringing true at the protest Saturday.
Murbarak’s mother, Omo Mohammed, told News 8 she wants justice for her son.
“State Trooper Brian North has to be held accountable for killing my son,” she said.
The family attorney told News 8 the investigation is still ongoing. It was slowed down because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Soulemane family is seeking $10 million and for Trooper North to face jail time.