A Minnesota National Guardsman knelt with protesters outside the statehouse in St. Paul — telling them his “heart hurts as a human being” — in a touching moment caught on video.
“I’m sorry for your loss. As a citizen of Minnesota, I’m sorry for the loss of George Floyd,” the soldier, identified as Lt. Col. Sam Andrews by local NBC affiliate KARE 11, told the crowd on the steps of the statehouse Monday evening, according to video posted by ABC.
“My heart hurts as a human being,” Andrews said, referring to Floyd’s death during a shocking, racially charged police-brutality case last week.
Andrews said the protesters had asked Sunday night “to have the officers and army removed” from outside the statehouse while they peacefully marched.
“So we’re off,” he said. “We heard it, and we’re going to stay back, behind, invisible, so you can’t see us. OK?”
The crowd cheered, “Yes!”
Andrews said, “Thank you” — then accepted hugs from two protesters.
