The parents of a seven-year-old boy who was maced by police during a Black Lives Matter protest in Seattle say he has been left traumatised by the incident.
Mando Avery said he and his son had just finished praying with a group of protesters when a police officer fired mace towards the group, hitting his son in the face.
Another protester, Evan Hreha, quickly started filming as the young boy screamed in pain and bystanders poured milk on his eyes in a bid to ease the stinging.
Mr Avery said he did not know how the officers involved could sleep at night.
“No officer, who’s paid to protect, chose to stand up, break the ranks, go help this child,” he told the Guardian.
“I don’t know if you were trying to set an example and strike fear into him. You did a great job.”
The protest, held on 30 May, was in response to the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Hundreds of peaceful protesters attending the Seattle demonstration on 30 May. Source: The Seattle Times
The boy's mother, Shenelle Williams, said hearing her son's cries after he was maces was the "most gut-wrenching feeling" she had felt.
“I kind of feel like a failure as well,” Ms Williams said.
“ I feel like I couldn’t protect him, but there was nothing that we could do at that time to prevent it.”
Mr Hrera, who is white, posted his video of the incident online and was then arrested and spent two days in police custody.
He believes his arrest was a form of "pay-back" for posting the now-viral video.
"It's woken me up a bit," Mr Hrera told the Guardian.
“It just kind of shattered that false narrative that was in my head that cops always protect and serve.”
Mr Avery said the family contacted a lawyer after the incident, and Seattle's Office of Police Accountability said it is now investigating the case.
Protesters in Seattle raise their arms to the chants of "hands up, don't shoot". Source: The Seattle Times
"We just wanted to stand up for what was right," Mr Avery said.
"Ultimately, our boys will become men and our daughters will become women, and they will ultimately have to face some of the same racial injustices. Enough is enough. Black lives matter.”
Mr Avery said his seven-year-old son has already told him "One day, daddy, we're going to get back out there".
