While demonstrations were happening around them, North Carolina firefighters rescued one apparent protester who fell through a sidewalk grate Saturday.
Crews were called to the Omni Charlotte Hotel shortly after 11 p.m. in response to a person who fell through a sidewalk grate, WCNC-TV reports. Once at the scene, firefighters were told by several witnesses that the person trapped under the grate had been protesting earlier.
Rescuers began by removing the steel grate shortly before 11:45 p.m. as police in riot gear provided protection for firefighters as they worked. An aerial then was used to help lower a firefighter, a stretcher and other equipment in order to safely return the man to street level.
Details concerning how the man fell through the grate and the extent of his injuries were not disclosed. He was seen moving his hands and fingers as he was taken to the hospital by Mecklenburg EMS was not able to confirm how serious the injuries were.
Protesters had thrown rocks at firefighters while they responded to a previous emergency call earlier Saturday night, according to police. No firefighters had been reported injured in that incident.
Charlotte was one of many U.S. cities that had demonstrations to protest police brutality and racism. The rallies many that began peaceful but turned violent throughout the night were in response to the Memorial Day death of George Floyd, who died from injuries he suffered while being arrested by Minneapolis police.
