Protestors Against Racial Injustice Gather In Bridgewater

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Protestors gathered on Saturday outside of the police department in response to Bridgewater Police's handling of a teen mall fight that has raised questions of racial disparity.

The protest was organized by Stage Friends USA, a community organization that uses theater to raise funds to promote community initiatives.

"We, like every responsible citizen, we're equally outraged watching the video of the despicable racial profiling by two Bridgewater Police officers and could not stand by idly without reacting to it," previously said Venkat Venkataramanan, President of Stage Friends USA, who organized the event.

Protestors held signs with statements "Justice For All," No Justice No Peace," "No More Racial Profiling," and " I Can't Breathe."

The "I Can't Breathe" sign is representing the death of George Floyd, 46, after then Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes. Video, which captured Floyd saying "I can't breathe," went viral, and sparked the nationwide protests.

A video began circulating on Sunday showing the fight between a white teen and a Black teen at the Bridgewater Commons mall. The video also shows township police officers kneeling on and handcuffing the Black teen while the white-skinned teen is left sitting on a couch. Read More: Cops Criticized After Stopping Teen Fight At Bridgewater Mall

Since then Murphy has said he was "deeply disturbed" by the video and the New Jersey chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, a civil rights organization, is now calling for the Bridgewater officers involved to be immediately removed from the police force pending an investigation.

The Somerset County Prosecutor's Office is helping Bridgewater with the investigation as they strictly adhere to the New Jersey Attorney General's Internal Affairs Directive. The SCPO has 45 days to complete the investigation. Read More: Murphy 'Disturbed' By Bridgewater Cops' Handling Of Mall Fight

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