Viral video of Arizona cheerleader slammed to ground by police and punched draws national outcry

Nationally recognized civil rights attorneys are questioning the circumstances around the viral video of Eryn Bonner, an Arizona State University cheerleader, who’s seen appearing to be shoved, slammed to the ground and punched by Tempe, Arizona, police after she tried to stop them from arresting her boyfriend.

Ben Crump, who has represented multiple families in civil rights cases, including those of Trayvon Martin and George Floyd, posted a copy of the video on social media and asked, “Did this encounter really warrant this level of force?!” He added that officers “must prioritize restraint and de-escalation whenever possible.”