US President Donald Trump said in an interview aired on Friday that he would like to see a ban on police choke holds in most instances, although he suggested their use would be understandable in some one-on-one situations.
"I don't like choke holds ... (but) sometimes if you're alone and you're fighting someone, it's tough," Mr Trump told Fox News. "I think the concept of choke holds sounds so innocent and so perfect." he said.
“Generally speaking, it should be ended.”
Mr Trump added the use of the suppression tactic could be understandable “if a police officer is in a bad scuffle and he’s got somebody in a choke hold.”
His comments follow the May 25 death of African American George Floyd, after Minneapolis policeman Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. Mr Floyd’s death ignited a wave of protests in American cities and abroad, and it re-energized the Black Lives Matter racial justice movement.
More than a dozen of Mr Chauvin's fellow officers signed an open letter that condemns his behaviour.
"Derek Chauvin failed as a human and stripped George Floyd of his dignity and life. This is not who we are," the letter from Minneapolis police officers read.
Mr Trump on Thursday announced modest plans for an executive order on policing, while making it clear he would not support sweeping proposals in response to the protests.
Some Republicans in Congress have indicated support for certain measures proposed by Democrats, including a ban on choke holds and eliminating the legal defence of “qualified immunity,” which helps officers evade civil rights lawsuits.
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A demonstrator wearing a protective mask attends a Black Lives Matter protest in Amsterdam, Netherlands. REUTERS -
Philonise Floyd, brother of George Floyd, testifies during the US House Judiciary Committee hearing on "Policing Practices and Law Enforcement Accountability" on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. REUTERS -
George Floyd's brother, Philonise Floyd, reacts during the US House Judiciary Committee hearing. Reuters -
Philonise Floyd marches with other demonstrators near the White House, to protest police brutality and racism, in Washington, DC. AFP -
Protestors take part in a Take The Knee demonstration in solidarity with Black Lives Matter in Windrush Square, Brixton, south west London. AFP -
Children take part in a protest against racism and police violence during a "Black Lives Matter" demonstration in Duque de Caxias, Brazil. AP Photo -
San Francisco Mayor London Breed the first African-American woman mayor in the city's history, takes a knee with protesters for eight minutes and forty-six seconds to participate in a Kneeling for Justice demonstration. EPA -
People walk past a make-shift memorial of people who have died in police custody in Oakland, California, USA. EPA -
Demonstrators lie face down with their hands behind their backs during a protest in Oakland, California. EPA -
Supporters of Black Lives Matter, hold signs during a protest outside the Hall of Justice in Los Angeles, California. AFP -
Demonstrators lie face down with their hands behind their backs during a protest following the death of George Floyd, who died in police custody, in Oakland, California. EPA -
Bubba Wallace, driver of the #43 Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet, wears a "I Can't Breathe - Black Lives Matter" t-shirt under his fire suit in solidarity with protesters around the world, speaks to the media prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway, Virginia. Getty Images -
Cyclists gather for a mass ride in protest of systemic racism in policing in Brooklyn, New York City. Getty Images -
A woman with a red hand painted on her face, which calls attention to the high rates of indigenous women who are murdered or missing, raises a sign in solidarity in Denver, Colorado. Reuters -
Protesters surround a statue of Christopher Columbus before marching, eventually returning and pulling it down in Richmond, Virginia. Another statue of Christopher Columbus was beheaded in Boston. AFP -
People attend a Black Lives Matter Denmark rally in Odense, Denmark. AP -
The White House is seen through the hole of a "Black Lives Matter" banner displaying crosses with the names of black victims who died of police brutality in Washington, DC. AFP
Lawmakers across the US are moving to enact reforms to state law enforcement after nearly 20 consecutive days of protests.
Louisville, Kentucky, banned the use of controversial “no-knock” warrants on Thursday and named the new ordinance for Breonna Taylor, who was fatally shot by officers who burst into her home.
Ms Taylor, who was studying to become a nurse, was shot eight times by officers conducting a narcotics investigation on March 13. No drugs were found at her home.
In Minneapolis, the city council unanimously passed a resolution to pursue a community-led public safety system to replace the police department.
The move comes days after the majority of council members voted to disband the police department.
"No amount of reforms will prevent lethal violence and abuse by some members of the police department against members of our community, especially Black people and people of colour," five council members wrote in the resolution.
The movement to “defund the police,” as some advocates have termed it, predates the current protests. It has won new support since the death of Mr Floyd.
According to the resolution, the city council will begin a year-long process of engaging "with every willing community member in Minneapolis" to come up with a new public safety model.
Meanwhile, in New York state, Governor Andrew Cuomo on Friday said he would end funding for local governments that fail to adopt reforms addressing excess use of force and bias in their police departments by April 2021.
Mr Cuomo signed an executive order mandating that municipalities "reinvent and modernize" their police departments to battle systemic racism.
Boston Mayor Martin Walsh declared racism a health crisis and said he would shift $3 million (Dh 11 million) from the police budget to public health services.
