Mississippi mayor faces backlash over remarks on George Floyd’s death: “If you can talk, you can breathe”

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• A Mississippi mayor was heavily criticized for his comments related to the arrest and death of George Floyd.
• “If you say you can’t breathe, you’re breathing. Most likely that man died of overdose or heart attack,” Marx tweeted.
• The mayor clarified that the public should not judge the police based only on a video showing a white police officer kneeling on Floyd’s neck, restricting his breathing.

A mayor from Mississippi is facing criticisms for his comments about the death of George Floyd while under arrest by police officers, particularly his remark saying if someone can talk, it means that person can breathe.

Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died at the hands of Minneapolis police after a white officer kneeled on his neck for about eight minutes to restrain him.

On the video recording that surfaced, Floyd was heard complaining he can’t breathe while his face was held to the ground.

The mayor of Petal city of Forrest County, Mississippi, Hal Marx, reviewed the video on Tuesday and asked through Twitter why would anyone want to become a police officer in this world today. His remark was with reference to the criticisms thrown at the arresting police officers during the incident.

On Thursday morning, NBC News tried to reach out with Marx, who also said earlier that he did not saw any irregularities about the arrest. On Tuesday, the four Minneapolis police officers involved in the incident were sacked as the barrage of criticism continues.

Marx added that Floyd has likely died of a heart attack or overdose.

“If you say you can’t breathe, you’re breathing. Most likely that man died of overdose or heart attack,” Marx wrote, following up with another tweet that said, “officers were not restricting his breathing.”

Marx’s comments immediately received backlash on social media; some people saying that his reaction to the situation was troubling.

Alumni of Petal High School and outfielder for the Toronto Blue Jays Anthony Alford also responded to Marx’s comments, saying that it was insensitive for anyone to say after seeing the video.

NBC Jackson affiliate WLBT reported that Marx reacted to the backlash by saying he was only stating facts. Open-minded left-wingers can’t accept it, adding that no one knew exactly the reason behind the death of Floyd or the conditions he has before his apprehension. 

“I think that people are so quick to judge the police before they have all the facts,” Marx said. “I can’t say whether a crime was committed or whether they did anything right or wrong, all I’m saying is don’t rush to judgment based on what you see in that video.”

On Wednesday, the city of Petal posted a statement on Facebook saying the mayor’s pronouncement does not represent all of its leaders, noting that Marx is free to express his personal views.

On Tuesday night, the four police officers involved in Floyd’s apprehension were removed from their posts.  Floyd’s family wanted the cops to face charges as protests erupted on Tuesday and Wednesday in Minneapolis.

Source: AOL