Police forces in Buffalo, New York used excessive force to disperse a protest against police brutality on Thursday, shoving a 75-year-old protester who posed no threat to them so hard that he fell to the ground and sustained a bloody head wound.

Iran PressAmerica: The video of two police officers appearing to shove an elderly protester who falls and cracks his head in Buffalo drew widespread condemnation.

The incident happened on Thursday night of protests in New York City following the death of George Floyd at the hands of the police.

The 75-year-old man was taken to ECMC for serious injuries and now two officers have been suspended for their actions leading up to the incident. He is currently in serious but stable condition.

The video quickly went viral on social media, spurring outrage. Buffalo police initially said in a statement that a person "was injured when he tripped & fell," WIVB-TV reported, but Capt. Jeff Rinaldo later told the TV station that an internal affairs investigation was opened. The police commissioner subsequently suspended two police officers without pay, Mayor Byron Brown said in a statement.

Prior to the incident, the man could be seen facing officers as they were slowly moving toward demonstrators and multiple video accounts show the officers pushed the demonstrator before he fell.  Emergency medical attention was administered to the victim, who was conscious and visibly bleeding, and taken via ambulance for treatment.

The incident quickly prompted national and international condemnation.

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