Riverdale actor Cole Spouse says he was arrested by police after attending a Black Lives Matter protest over the weekend.
The 27-year-old television actor was taking part in a peaceful protest on Sunday when he was arrested by cops.
Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of the seaside suburb of Los Angeles on Sunday – with the event descending into chaos when police arrived en mass.
Scenes of looting and violent altercations were seen as local law enforcement declared a 4pm curfew amid ongoing protests that have swept the USA since the death of George Floyd last week.
Taking to Instagram on Monday, Cole revealed he had been endured a run-in with the law, writing: “A group of peaceful protesters, myself included, were arrested yesterday in Santa Monica.
The teen drama star wrote that he didn’t want his fame to detract from the fact that the protest had been in support of the Black Lives Matter cause.
He continued: “Peace, riots, looting, are an absolutely legitimate form of protest. the media is by nature only going to show the most sensational, which only proves a long standing racist agenda.
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“I was detained when standing in solidarity, as were many of the final vanguard within Santa Monica. We were given the option to leave, and were informed that if we did not retreat, we would be arrested.
“When many did turn to leave, we found another line of police officers blocking our route, at which point, they started zip tying us.
“It needs to be stated that as a straight white man, and a public figure, the institutional consequences of my detainment are nothing in comparison to others within the movement.
“This is ABSOLUTELY not a narrative about me, and I hope the media doesn’t make it such. This is, and will be, a time about standing ground near others as a situation escalates, providing educated support, demonstrating and doing the right thing.
“This is precisely the time to contemplate what it means to stand as an ally. I hope others in my position do as well.”
George Floyd died on 25 May 2020 after police officer Derek Chauvin was filmed kneeling on his neck for almost nine minutes.
Four officers were fired from the Minneapolis Police Department in connection with the incident, while now ex-officer Derek was charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter.
Violence has erupted at the scene of many protests, with buildings set ablaze and stores looted.
Social media users have shared shocking videos and photos of looting, violence and the burning of buildings by some participants of the protests.
While other troubling footage has shown police in NYC ramming demonstrators with SUVs, and police in other cities violently clashing with protestors.