A black congresswoman was pepper-sprayed by police while marching with George Floyd protesters in Ohio

• Congresswoman Joyce Beatty represents Ohio's 3rd Congressional District in the House of Representatives.
• While marching in a protest regarding the death of George Floyd, Beatty, who is black, tried to deescalate a confrontation between protesters and police and was hit with pepper spray.
• "While it was peaceful, there were times when people got off the curb, into the streets, but too much force is not the answer to this," Beatty said.

Protests broke out across the US after a George Floyd, a black man, died after a white police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. Many of the protests turned violent, with law enforcement's heavy-handed response drawing criticism.

Joyce Beatty, a black congresswoman who represents Ohio's 3rd Congressional District in the House of Representatives, was marching in a demonstration in Columbus when a confrontation broke out between protesters and police. When she tried to deescalate the situation, she was hit with pepper spray. Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin and Franklin County Commissioner Kevin Boyce were also pepper-sprayed in the incident.

Hardin posted a video to Twitter featuring Beatty and Boyce saying that they are okay and encouraging both protesters and police to keep demonstrations peaceful.

"While it was peaceful, there were times when people got off the curb, into the streets, but too much force is not the answer to this," Beatty said.

• Read more:
• NY police commissioner says he's 'extremely proud' of department as videos surface showing officers using excessive force and plowing cars into protesters
• Across America, police violently arrested and shot less-lethal rounds at journalists covering George Floyd and Black Lives Matter protests
• Pain and anger: 19 powerful photos show the fury of US protests over the death of George Floyd