Seven police officers were suspended Thursday over the arrest and asphyxiation death of Black man Daniel Prude in Rochester, New York, after video of the March incident was released, the city's mayor said, calling it an act of racism.

Prude, 41, died when he was taken off life support March 30, seven days after officers who encountered him running naked through the street put a hood over his head to stop him from spitting, then held him down for about two minutes, until he stopped breathing.

Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren announced the suspensions at a news conference amid criticism that the city kept quiet about Prude's death for months.

"Mr. Daniel Prude was failed by our police department, our mental health care system, our society, and he was failed by me," Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren, who is Black, told reporters. "I'm filled with grief, and anger at myself for all the failures that lead to his death."

Warren said she only became aware that Prude's death involved the use of force on August 4, and that Police Chief La'Ron Singletary initially portrayed it as a drug overdose, which is "entirely different" than what she witnessed in body camera video.

Warren also said the seven officers would still be paid because of contract rules.

Prude's asphyxiation occurred two months before the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, which spurred international protests against police brutality and racial injustice in the United States.

Singletary, who is Black, told reporters on Wednesday that internal and criminal investigations were underway.

Rochester police declined further comment on Thursday, and a lawyer for Prude's family did not respond to a request for comment.

The office of New York Attorney General Letitia James is investigating, as state law requires whenever police are involved in a civilian's death.

In the video, an officer placed a "spit hood" over Prude's head. Prude could be heard shouting, "Take this...off my face!" and "You're trying to kill me!" before his shouts turned to cries and became muffled. Officers were heard saying "Calm down" and "stop spitting."

Later, the video showed an officer kneeling on Prude's back while Prude was silent and snow fell around them. Someone was heard saying, "start CPR." Minutes later, the video showed Prude being loaded into an ambulance on a stretcher.

Activists were planning protests in Rochester and New York City's Times Square on Thursday calling for the officers to be charged.

Protests broke out on Wednesday in downtown Rochester, a city near Lake Ontario about 300 miles (480 km) north of New York City. Police released pepper spray on the demonstrators and arrested nine people, the Democrat and Chronicle reported.

Mayor Warren said she was joined by City Council in calling for the charges against the protesters to be dropped on Thursday.

Prude's family told reporters that Prude had been struggling with mental health. His brother, Joe Prude, said he had called police because he was worried when his brother left home that night.

"I placed a phone call for my brother to get help, not for my brother to get lynched," Joe Prude said.

(With input from agencies)