Anti-racism protesters defy curfew for fourth night in Minneapolis

Minneapolis, April 15 (RHC)-- Protesters in the U.S. city of Minneapolis have defied a curfew, taking to the streets for the fourth night in a row over the shooting death of another African-American man by the police.

Just hours after a tense curfew went into effect on Wednesday night in Brooklyn Center, a suburb of Minneapolis, protesters gathered outside the city's police headquarter.  More than 3,000 Minnesota National Guard members were deployed to the area.

Police fired tear gas and flash bombs to disperse the peaceful protesters and arrested over two dozen people.  Protesters in response formed a large makeshift tent-shelter against the fence separating the police from the demonstrators, with some of them hurling objects at police.

Demonstrations have taken place each night in and around Brooklyn Center, since white Police officer Kim Potter shot 20-year old African-American Daunte Wright during a traffic stop on Sunday.

On Tuesday night, more than 70 people were arrested after law enforcement moved in with heavy force against the protesters.  

Protesters and Wright's family demanded that more serious charges be brought against Potter, who has been charged with second-degree manslaughter.  She is due to appear in court Thursday for a preliminary hearing after being released on bail, according to local media.  The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years behind bars.

The killing of Wright is at least the third death of a Black man by the police in the Minneapolis area in the past five years.  Wright was shot about 10 miles from where African-American George Floyd was killed during a police arrest in the city last May.