A video posted on Twitter appears to capture a Richmond, Virginia, police officer spitting on a protester multiple times.
The video, which has been watched by more than 35,000 people, shows a protester detained on the ground surrounded by 10 police officers, and another law-enforcement officer fully outfitted in riot gear is stationed nearby.
One police officer appears to lean over and spit on the man.
“Yup, got that,” a woman shouts.
“We got that on camera, a–hole!” another yells.
Seemingly unperturbed, the officer repeats the action.
“Hey, we see you,” a woman says loudly.
The officer does it a third time.
“Yup, still doing it,” she says.
It’s unknown whether the officer had the novel coronavirus — which spreads via droplets from an infected person’s coughs, speech, or sneezes — or was otherwise trying to threaten the demonstrator’s health.
The Department of Justice has categorized the coronavirus as a “biological agent,” so “threats targeting specific individuals” can be prosecuted as acts of terrorism.
Take a look:
Watch this officer in Richmond, VA spits on a protestor during a global #pandemic multiple times.
People are getting arrested just for threatening to spread the #coronavirus, but I guess it doesnt apply to cops. pic.twitter.com/4pTzf33Pqe
— Brutum Fulmen Growing For Humanity🧢 (@BrutumF) June 2, 2020
The Richmond Police Department is investigating the incident according to Business Insider.
