Daunte Wright Protester Says He's Brought 'Soup For My Family,' Winks at Camera
A man protesting the fatal police shooting of Daunte Wright appeared to taunt authorities on Wednesday when he said he was carrying a can of "soup for my family," in a nod to complaints former President Donald Trump once made about demonstrators.
Appearing on CNN on Wednesday, the unnamed protester said the can in his hand was for his family as he winked into the camera.
Last year, Trump suggested those protesting the killing of George Floyd brought soup cans in order to throw at police under the guise of carrying food for their loved ones.
Protests over the police killing of Wright have been held in Brooklyn Center, Minneapolis, for four consecutive nights. The 20-year-old was shot by police after allegedly refusing arrest during a traffic stop. Police say there was a warrant for his arrest.
Speaking to CNN last night, the protester said: "I've been here all four nights. I'm just standing here today with soup for my family. And we're just watching all of this unfold. It's very unfortunate."
The reporter then asked the protester whether they planned to throw their can at the police. "Like I said, it's for my family," he replied. "It's literally for your family?" the reporter asked. "Yeah," the protester said again.
The protester's remarks seemed to be a nod to comments Trump made at a meeting with the National Association of Police Organizations in late July 2020 amid nationwide protests over the killing of Floyd, which also took place in Minneapolis.
Speaking about those protesters, Trump said: "And then they have cans of soup. Soup. And they throw the cans of soup. That's better than a brick because you can't throw a brick—it's too heavy. But a can of soup, you can really put some power into that right.
"And then when they get caught they say, 'no this is soup for my family.' Their so innocent. This is soup for my family. It's incredible. You have people coming over with bags of soup—big bags of soup—and they lay it on the ground, and the anarchists take it and they start throwing it at our cops."
There have been no reports of police being struck with cans of soup in Brooklyn Center.
Protesters gathered outside the police station in Brooklyn Center on Wednesday after Kim Potter, the officer who shot Wright, was charged with manslaughter. The chief of the force Tim Gannon also stepped down from his role.
Releasing a statement on Sunday, the Brooklyn Center Police Department said the 20-year-old Black man was shot in his car, which traveled several blocks before hitting another car and coming to a halt.
A passenger in Wright's car suffered non-life threatening injuries. Nobody in the other car was reportedly injured in the incident.
