This archive report was first published on 7 June 2020.
Protests in New York City Continue Amid Calls for Police Reform ¶
As the sun set on New York City on Saturday, June 6, 2020, thousands of protesters against racism and police brutality remained on the streets, defying a nightly curfew imposed by Mayor Bill de Blasio. The protests, which began on May 28, 2020, in response to the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, have continued for 10 days, with no signs of slowing down.
On a mostly sunny Saturday, the overwhelmingly peaceful protesters had thronged bridges, blocked streets, and shouted slogans all afternoon, as motorists honked in support and the police watched. At least two dozen events crisscrossed the city, from the Bronx and Queens to Manhattan and Staten Island.
The protesters, who are demanding changes to a New York State law that keeps police discipline records secret, reducing funding for the New York Police Department, and an end to systemic racism, showed no sign of flagging energy. Their goals include making police discipline records public and reducing funding for the NYPD.
“Enough is enough,” said Ji’Mie Lane, a protester who marched in a demonstration along Central Park in Manhattan with her 6-year-old son. “We want fair rights as everyone. I’m a mom, and the way George Floyd cried, it just broke my heart.”
Mayor de Blasio imposed the nightly curfew, from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., early in the week after a spree of looting and other violence. However, the police have tended to let protests continue past curfew as long as they are peaceful, but only up to a point. Eventually, most nights, there have been sporadic clashes between police and protesters after dark, ending in hundreds of arrests. More than 2,000 people have been arrested over the course of the protests in the city.
Mr. de Blasio has continued to defend the police’s actions in breaking up demonstrations, even as videos and photos showed officers employing aggressive and sometimes violent tactics to do so. However, facing mounting criticism, he said for the first time on Friday that some officers would be disciplined, and later in the day, two officers were suspended without pay.
The police commissioner, Dermot F. Shea, announced the arrest of two men in Brooklyn who had attended a rally and were carrying gasoline, knives, and a machete in their car. The men are facing weapons possession charges.
As the protests continue, organizers are urging people to keep the momentum going, both on the streets and at the ballot box. “Make sure that this does not stop here,” said Timothy Hunter, an organizer with the activist group Strategy for Black Lives. “The democratic primary is June 23. Vote them out! Vote them out!” the crowd chanted in response.
Despite the challenges, the protesters remain determined to bring about change. At Washington Square Park, a group of people set up a makeshift station, offering water, snacks, and hand sanitizer to protesters. “We’re going to stay and do this as long as we’re needed today,” said Frank Portella, a teacher at the school. “I think that’s a way we can be a good ally today.”
As the city continues to grapple with the aftermath of George Floyd’s killing, the protests remain a powerful symbol of the demand for justice and equality.
