Raw video posted to social media Tuesday appears to show NYPD officers slamming a pregnant woman to the ground belly-first.
The woman, Sandra Amezquita, 44, reportedly tried to intervene in the arrest of her 17-year-old son. In the video, officers from the 72nd precinct appear to be throwing her to the pavement before slapping handcuffs on her.
The New York Daily News reports that Amezquita is 5 feet, 4 inches tall, and five months pregnant.
“Don’t resist! Throw your hands up!” an onlooker warns as Amezquita is grabbed by the arm by an unidentified officer, but the words come too late.
A friend tries to get in between officers and Amezquita, but she is thrown to the ground, too. Cops issued Amezquita a summons for disorderly conduct. Her husband was arrested for allegedly assaulting a police officer.
The video of the incident, which happened in Brooklyn over the weekend, was posted to Facebook by El Grito De Sunset Park, a community action and social justice group that has been in operation since 2002.
Wow! Is this really happening in New York City? Where are the voices shouting out for injustice? At times when I watch these videos, I wonder if these police officers have any wife, daughter, mother, sisters, or even friends?
Yet, this country telling other countries about human rights! Its hypocrisy on the Americans path; because America human rights records is there for public consumption. If these people are paid to protect and served, I would rather put my trust in the criminals. The police are not different from the criminals, based on their actions and behavior.
It is very sad, disheartening and troubling as a people the police are viewed by us as being the enemy. When the police should be our friends, protectors and most of all the most trusted government workers. It is the opposite of what it should be. The police are not behaving like a partner, friends and protectors of the people.
And this is coming from supporters of the police, well said my friend.