Although an investigation is still gathering the facts about this incident, I’m deeply disturbed by what appears to be racially disparate treatment in this video," Gov. Phil Murphy said.
Feb. 16, 2022, 1:22 PM EST / Updated Feb. 18, 2022, 10:36 AM EST
New Jersey police are under fire for their response to a fistfight after a Black eighth grader was pinned to the ground and handcuffed while a white teen involved in the weekend mall scuffle was left seated on a couch.
The fight, which took place Saturday at Bridgewater Commons in Bridgewater Township, New Jersey, was captured on video and prompted a review of the officers’ conduct, as well as strong words from the governor.
Video of the incident shows a group of young people gathered in a seating area at the mall and two boys, one white and one Black, standing up in a verbal altercation.
The Black teen, Z’Kye Husain, 14, said the dispute started when he stood up to the other boy, who is older, for picking on his friend.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/police-response-nj-mall-fight-sparks-outrage-black-teen-cuffed-white-t-rcna16459