A protestor sustains a head wound while being detained. Photo: Ryland West/ ALM

At a public hearing Wednesday hosted by state Attorney General Letitia James, demonstrators recalled stories of police violence at New York City protests that followed the death of George Floyd.

James' office is investigating actions by members of the New York City Police Department during the protests.

James was asked by Gov. Andrew Cuomo to submit a report on the protests, which were against police brutality and focused on the killing of black Americans by law enforcement. 

In sworn testimony, some protesters described seeing people with broken body parts and listed injuries of their own. One protester recalled hearing bones crack. Another reported being choked by an officer. A third described being tackled to the ground by police.

Multiple protesters reported that officers violently went after peaceful protests by rushing at demonstrators.

"A line of NYPD officers in riot gear quickly moved in on the peaceful assembly, screaming to move, physically pushing and hitting with batons anyone who was in their way," one protester testified. 

The man reported being slammed to the pavement by an officer while trying to record protesters who were being beaten. The man said he's still experiencing pain from the incident.

Videos showing violent confrontations from police against protesters have been shared widely on social media.

The protests were part of a wave of demonstrations across the United States that seized national attention following Floyd's death. He died after a white Minneapolis police officer pinned a knee on his neck.

"We take this investigation and its underlying causes very seriously," James said at the hearing. "You have my commitment that we will act independently and transparently to seek answers, to ensure that the truth is laid bare and to demand accountability for any wrongdoing."

A second day of hearings has been added because of the large volume of testimony, according to her office.

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