Actor Kendrick Sampson Says He Was Shot With Rubber Bullets During Protest

Wire Service
By Wire Service
June 1, 2020US News
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Actor Kendrick Sampson Says He Was Shot With Rubber Bullets During Protest
Kendrick Sampson attends the Celebration of Black Cinema at Landmark Annex in Los Angeles, Calif., on Dec. 2, 2019 (Randy Shropshire/Getty Images for the Celebration of Black Cinema)

Actor Kendrick Sampson said he was shot seven times with rubber bullets by police in Los Angeles on May 30 during a protest over the death of George Floyd.

“He pointed the gun DIRECTLY AT ME,” Sampson wrote on Twitter, linking to a news report about his experience. “I actually got hit 7 times with rubber bullets and many with batons. My boy has stitches.”

Sampson, a vocal activist, was among thousands of people across the United States who protested Floyd’s death this weekend.

Floyd, a 46-year-old unarmed black man, died in Minneapolis last week while in police custody. Four officers were involved in the incident and all have since been fired from the Minneapolis Police Department.

One former officer, Derek Chauvin, is seen in a video with his knee on Floyd’s neck for over eight minutes. He was charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter on May 29. Protesters say they want to see charges for all four police officers involved in the death of Floyd.

Video of the event Sampson described was posted to Twitter by a friend of Sampson. The actor reshared the video to his own social media.

The Los Angeles Police Department did not immediately respond to CNN’s request for comment.

“If LAPD didn’t know cameras were on they would’ve done much WORSE,” Sampson wrote on Twitter about the incident. “They’re organized crime, continuing the legacy of slave catching.”

Sampson said he went to the emergency room after the incident for his injuries, photos of which he also posted on Instagram.

Sunday marked the sixth day of protests. Though many of the nationwide protests began peacefully, some turned violent. At least 40 cities have imposed curfews and National Guard members have been activated in 15 states and Washington.

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