About 70 People Arrested During George Floyd Rally In NYC: Cops

NEW YORK CITY — Roughly 70 people were arrested during a massive Union Square protest spurred by the death of Minneapolis man George Floyd, who died with a local police officer's knee on his throat, according to the NYPD.

Police did not release the exact number of arrests or what charges protesters would face for marching Thursday night in a protest that started in Union Square and spread through Lower Manhattan, but it is possible they'll be charged with disobeying social distancing rules amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.

In New York City, police and protesters came to blows, with one officer seen breaking his baton on one of the marchers, social media video shows.

Warning, graphic language used:

One person was arrested for assaulting a police officer by throwing a trash can at a crowd and another tried to grab a deputy inspector's gun from its holster, according to ABC News.

President Donald Trump called the protesters "thugs" in a message that Twitter initially unpublished for "glorifying violence" then republished because it was of "public interest."

"When the looting starts, the shooting starts," wrote the president.

Protests began at Union Square about 3 p.m. then scattered toward Foley Square, City Hall, Zucotti Park and the West Side Highway, social media video show.

Floyd's death is eerily similar to that of Eric Garner, who also tried to tell his arresting officer he couldn't breathe before his death.

A former NYPD officer placed Garner in a chokehold for allegedly selling loose cigarettes on Staten Island. It took the NYPD five years to fire Pantaleo.

Four police officers involved in Floyd's arrest were fired in Minneapolis on Tuesday.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said he was "horrified" by the video of Floyd's death and called for the officer should be charged.

"I couldn't believe the officer's lack of concern," de Blasio said during his Friday press briefing. "This kinda thing just can't happen."

A vigil is slated to take place Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. in Foley Square, according to Pix 11.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo declined to comment on the safety of protesting during the pandemic during his daily press briefing, saying New Yorkers had a right to protest.

"I get it," said Cuomo. "I'm with the protesters."