A disturbing video has emerged online from the US protests showing a young girl in distress after she was allegedly pepper-sprayed by a police officer.
The 9-year-old girl, who is from Seattle, is heard screaming in pain and shouting "I can't see" before a bystander pours milk over her head during a demonstration on Saturday.
The milk is used to counter the effects of pepper-spray, and as it streams down her face she cries out in pain again. Another onlooker then sprays her face with an unknown substance to try and stop the burning.
The incident happened during a protest over the death of George Floyd, who died last week after a police officer knelt on his neck for nine minutes while he was under arrest.
Seattle Police haven't confirmed the identity of the officer who allegedly pepper-sprayed the girl, but it has launched an investigation into the event, BuzzFeed News reports.
It follows six days of protests in the US over Floyd's death, which on Tuesday (NZ time) prompted President Donald Trump to mobilise the military and get them to take to the streets to stop the riots. He said he'll be dispatching "thousands and thousands of heavily-armed soldiers" in an attempt to stop the violence.
"I am taking immediate Presidential action... I am mobilising all available federal resources, civilian and military, to stop the rioting and looting... and protect the rights of law-abiding Americans including your second amendment rights," he said during his national address.
"As we speak, I am dispatching thousands and thousands of heavily armed soldiers, military personnel and law enforcement officers to stop the rioting, looting, vandalism, assaults and the wanton destruction of property."
Trump said a number of states and local governments have "failed to take action" after "violent mobs" of "thugs" and "Antifa" attacked civilians.
"We cannot allow the righteous cries of peaceful protesters to be drowned out by an angry mob," Trump said. "We will end it now."
