Chicago police officers have been ordered to "no longer use force to disperse large gatherings," as tensions mount over the months-long stay-at-home order, and protests continue nationwide over the death of George Floyd, a handcuffed black man who pleaded for air as a white police officer kneeled on his neck

"Until further notice, large gatherings will only be monitored until the crowd disperse on it's own. Please ensure that all supervisors under your command are made aware of this instruction," top brass wrote in a memo to commanders and officers Thursday night.

In addition to mounting protests over Floyd's death, the order comes amid a statewide stay-at-home order that prohibits gatherings of more than 10 people.

Officers confronted a large gathering Tuesday night in the Grand Crossing neighborhood, as hundreds of people gathered in the streets near 75th and Drexel.

Two days later, officers got into a brief scuffle with protesters in the Englewood neighborhood, as dozens of people marched in protest of Floyd's death.

Floyd, 46, died Sunday night outside of a store in Minneapolis as a white police officer knelt on his neck for more than seven minutes, and Floyd repeatedly said he couldn't breathe. The officer, Derek Chauvin, and three others involved in the incident have been fired.