Kansas City cops drag peaceful protester from crowd and pepper spray him

Shocking video captured the moment Kansas City cops dragged a protester from a crowd and pepper sprayed him for peacefully confronting them about police brutality.  

The stunning scene unfolded at a demonstration over the weekend as cities across the nation were roiled by protests following the death of George Floyd, a black man who was killed when a white Minneapolis cop knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes during an arrest. 

In the video, which has racked up more than 7.7 million views since it was first posted to Twitter by @Elise_Villa on Saturday night, a line of dozens of police officers wearing riot gear are seen staring out at the protesters. 

A man standing at the front of the crowd is heard yelling at the officers, saying that they ‘overreact in the moment’ and accusing them of ‘prematurely shooting people’ and ‘prematurely using excessive force’.  

‘You ain’t got the balls to protect the streets and protect and serve like you were paid to do,’ he says.  

Suddenly a group of six officers rush over to the man as the protesters cry out in fear of the impending altercation. 

In the video a man is seen yelling at a line of dozens of police officers, saying that that they ‘overreact in the moment’ and accusing them of ‘prematurely shooting people’ and ‘prematurely using excessive force’

A group of six officers walk over as the protesters cry out in fear of the impending altercation

One of the officers wielding a can of pepper spray motions to the person behind the camera as if to tell them to stop recording 

The officer then fires a jet of chemicals into the faces of several people as he and another officer pull the man who was yelling at them out of the crowd and into the street

One of the officers clutching a can of pepper spray motions at the person holding the camera to back off before he fires a jet of chemicals into the faces of several people.  

He and the other officers then pull the man into the street by his shirt, throwing him to the ground. 

While two of the officers put the man in handcuffs, the others form a barrier around them. 

Protesters are heard screaming: ‘What the f**k!’ as several open water bottles are launched at the officers.  

Two of the officers respond by firing streams of pepper spray toward the crowd in a defiant display of power.   

Some of the protesters appear to fall back while most stand their crowd and heighten their cries of outrage.   

While two of the officers put the man in handcuffs, the others form a barrier around them

Protesters are heard screaming: ‘What the f**k!’ as several open water bottles are launched at the officers. Two of the officers respond by firing streams of pepper spray toward the crowd

Kansas City police spokesman Sgt Jacob Becchina later said that the man was arrested for ‘municipal/city protest-related charges’.

More than 9,800 people have been arrested nationwide in connection with George Floyd protests in the past week, according to a CNN tally.   

In many cases like the one in Kansas City, bystander video showed police using excessive force against people who did not pose a threat and were merely voicing their anger and frustration. 

Officers have relied on aggressive tactics such as tear gas, pepper spray and rubber bullets to disperse crowds, often creating chaos amid previously peaceful demonstrations.  

Law enforcement advocates argue that the tactics are necessary to avoid protests devolving into violence as many cities have been roiled by riots and looting.