Tear gas fired in US at Confederate statue protest

Tear gas was used on a group of peaceful protesters gathered near Richmond's statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee on Monday, during the fourth night of protests over the killing of George Floyd.

Floyd was a handcuffed black man who died after a Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee on his neck for more than eight minutes as he pleaded for air.

Protesters returned to downtown Richmond on Tuesday, chanting "Tear them down" in front of City Hall and demanding the removal of Lee's statue as well as other confederate monuments.

Lee commanded the Confederate States Army during the Civil War.

The Richmond Police Department initially defended its use of tear gas shortly before Monday's 8 p.m. curfew.

It tweeted that some officers "were cut off by violent protesters" and the tear gas "was necessary to get them to safety."

About two hours later, the department retreated from that position after Police Chief William Smith reviewed video of the incident.

In a tweet, the department apologized "for this unwarranted action."

The tweet said the officers who used the tear gas "have been pulled from the field" and will be disciplined.