George Floyd protests: Man assaults teenagers putting up signs calling for justice

An adult man was videoed assaulting American teenagers who were posting signs calling for justice for George Floyd, whose death in Minneapolis police custody last week has sparked mass protests against police brutality and institutionalised racism across the US.

Three teenagers were posting signs along the Capital Crescent Trail in Bethesda, Maryland, on Monday morning when the assault took place, said NBC News.

One victim, who shared the 16-second video online, wrote that he “Just had this man assault me (and some friends who wish to remain anonymous) for putting up signs calling for justice for George Floyd.”

The cyclist appeared to pursue the teenager down a trail path and push him to the ground, in the video posted online.

The teen can be heard shouting “what?, hey, what the f**k?” before he hits the ground and the video ends.

He told NBC News that he had been taping posters to poles along the trail with two friends, when the cyclist came up behind them.

“[He] ripped the posters and tape out of our hands before eventually throwing his bike into me and trying to hold me to the ground with it,” said the victim.

The group were posting signs with information that allowed people to donate to the Colour of Change petition.

It read: “A MAN WAS LYNCHED BY THE POLICE. WHAT ARE YOU DOING ABOUT IT? Text “Floyd” to 55156 Use your privilege for good.”

Park Police Montgomery County Division issued a statement on Twitter on Tuesday calling for anyone with information to come forward so they could identify the suspect in the video.

“I’ve been putting up signs in my neighbourhood and neighbourhoods around mine to bring attention to the fact that a lot of these neighbourhoods are in a position of huge privilege,” the teenager told NBC News.

“[They] can make a big difference in terms of both monetary donations and resources to fight against injustice,” he added.