NY Black Lives Matter leader speaks on protests, riots after returning from Minneapolis

ALBANY NY (WRGB) - The death of George Floyd has created a rift between police and the community.

Across the country, members of the Black Lives Matter movement are speaking out and taking peaceful action in the wake of Floyd’s death.

The president of the local black lives matter movement in New York recently returned from a trip to Minneapolis. He says the events in Minneapolis could be a turning point in police community relations, but he says more must be done.

Hawk Newsome is the president of New York’s chapter of Black Lives Matter. He took a group of members up to Minneapolis over the weekend to rally for justice, after George Floyd died in police custody. He captured various images of the event.

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“When the fires were burning, and people were chanting, I just felt liberated for a brief moment, and I felt for one of the only times in my life that the government had no control over me," said Newsome.

Newsome was there as the protests hit a boiling point on Saturday night. A Minneapolis police precinct and squad cars went up in flames. Police in full riot gear clashed with protesters. Video surfaced all over the country of people breaking into and looting stores.

MORE: Powerful scenes from the police protests in Minneapolis

Newsome says his group didn’t engage in any of those acts.

People just manifested it in different ways. Some people there just raised their fists and said 'I stand with the masses.' Other people were there to destroy things.

Across the country, some police officers have been seen standing in solidarity with protesters.

Here in Schenectady, Police Chief Eric Clifford has condemned Floyd's death. This past weekend, he took a knee in solidarity with protesters, and marched alongside them with a Black Lives Matter sign given to him by one of the activists.

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“We are here to listen and learn and were not just be standing by without learning what’s going on here," Schenectady Police Chief Eric Clifford said.

And Hudson Police Chief Ed Moore spoke during a rally in his city.

“I do not see an event happening like this in our city," Moore said.

Newsome says these actions are a step in the right direction, but he says more must be done.

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“That goes a long way, but it’s too little too late now that police officers are out here now apologizing.”

Chief Clifford said that he met with every shift, and says what was done to George Floyd will not be tolerated in his department.