USA: McKinney tense as pro-police rally disrupts demo decrying institutional racism

Hundreds of protesters decrying police brutality and racial profiling were interrupted by a so-called solidarity demo for Sergeant David Eric Casebolt in the Texan city of McKinney, Friday. The police officer was placed on administrative leave earlier in the week after footage emerged of him using excessive force and pointing his gun at black teenagers during a graduation day pool party. Tensions were high as protesters argued on the steps of Mckinney Police Department, many demonstrators criticising support for what they see as institutional racism in the city's police department. The predominantly white pro-Casebolt protesters, many carrying Texan flags, attempted to disrupt the rally, one man asking police to remove 'outside agitators.' The pool party incident involving Casebolt occurred at a teenage birthday party on June 5 after police were called to the area following reports of an altercation. The video of the incident went viral on social media after being posted on YouTube on June 6. An investigation into the incident is ongoing.