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Demonstrators, police clash at Albany South Station

Apr 15, 2021 6:00 am

Eduardo Medina is reporting for the Times Union demonstrators and police clashed on the steps of the Albany Police Department's South Station the evening of April 14. Approximately 50 men and women were there to protest the killing of Daunte Wright, the young Minnesota man shot down by police this week. The protesters were shouting at a handful of police officers guarding the entrance to the police station. An officer appeared to push at the megaphone being used by one of the protesters, sending the person to the ground. Then another protester climbed over the short fence around the entrance, and an officer pepper sprayed him in the face. At the same time at least two other officers physically began to push protesters away from the entrance, sending them to the ground. Pepper spray continued to be shot at protesters as they continued to approach police at the entrance. Roughly 10 people were being treated for face burns; one of the people pepper-sprayed was a 14-year-old girl. Albany police spokesperson Steve Smith said one person in the group at South Station broke a window. Arch Street was closed to all traffic as of early evening. As this was going on and protesters were pepper sprayed, David Howard King reports at 518 Independent that members of the Albany Common Council were at the same time discussing a ban on Albany police using tear gas during a caucus work session, with the legislation expected to come to a vote before the full council meeting at 6:30 p.m. April 19. Read the full story in the Times Union.