Two NYPD officers were reportedly assaulted, one woman hospitalized, and more than forty people were arrested after protests against police brutality turned violent Tuesday.
Rallying under the hashtag #ShutDownA14—a nod to the protest’s date—protesters met in New York City’s Union Square and marched south, part of a cross-country effort organized by the Stop Mass Incarceration Network. Cofounded by Cornell West, the organization seeks to “accelerate the movement to stop the injustice of mass incarceration and police brutality; and the racially biased policies and practices of the police, the courts and the U.S. legal system; and to support prisoners’ human rights, and of the formerly incarcerated.”
Citizens outraged at the rash of black men killed by police officers in recent months began their demonstration by reading a list of names of people killed by police. One boy wore a board displaying their photos.
Murdered by police since 2015 #ShutDownA14 pic.twitter.com/yfSCKkbBbK
— Jasiri X (@jasiri_x) April 14, 2015
West walked at the head of the march through Manhattan.
https://twitter.com/AlwaysActions/status/588057996061712384
The march against police murder makes its way down Broadway. Cornel West in center. #ShutDownA14 pic.twitter.com/VFhIgz7x39
— allisonb (@irl) April 14, 2015
Meanwhile, in other cities across the country, similar demonstrations were simultaneously underway.
On the other coast, in Oakland, protestors stormed their city council.
#ShutDownA14 protesters on the move again after storming Oakland City Council chambers pic.twitter.com/tQaA93bndS
— Scott Morris ☀️ (@OakMorr) April 14, 2015
And protestors blocking streets in Seattle caused traffic delays.
#ShutDownA14 protesters hit #Seattle streets. https://t.co/my6BN3rmEC
— KIRO 7 (@KIRO7Seattle) April 14, 2015
But tensions were much higher in New York. The event turned ugly when police attempted to block protesters from marching over the Brooklyn Bridge. Some protesters took to pedestrians walkways, but others demonstrators marched in the middle of traffic.
Tired of the protests? Want to drive on the Brooklyn Bridge? Stop extrajudicially executing black people. #ShutDownA14
— immunocommunist (@leftjew) April 14, 2015
When marches blocked an oncoming motorist who happened to be an off-duty officer, an altercation ensued.
Upset, he exited his vehicle and engaged in a verbal altercation with protestors that ended in the off-duty police officer being punched in the face, at which point he purportedly pulled his gun and pointed it at other peaceful protesters.
https://www.instagram.com/p/1eC6vMA3PF/
Tensions escalated and scuffles broke out.
RAW: #NYPD, #ShutdownA14 protesters clash on Brooklyn Bridge [VIDEO] https://t.co/1aeKEySYED http://t.co/GKMwe8D5HD
— RT America (@RT_America) April 14, 2015
One woman reportedly fell onto a railing and was hospitalized with broken ribs.
NYPD broke my friend Elsa’s ribs by slamming her on the sidewalk. Didn’t arrest her, just left her. #ShutDownA14 pic.twitter.com/DrEhpzcG89
— Keegan Stephan (@KeeganNYC) April 15, 2015
The New York City Police Department arrested as many as 42 people, according to Gothamist.
Though the NYPD press office said none of the journalists who were arrested were charged, even media with proper press passes were prevented from performing their duty and reportedly detained.
https://twitter.com/NoahHurowitz/status/588113897552535552
An NYPD spokesperson said that in addition to the off-duty officer who was punched in the face after exiting his vehicle to engage in a verbal altercation with protestors, another officer injured his knee while attempting to arrest someone.
Mayor Bill De Blasio responded to the protests against police brutality by insisting attacks against NYPD officers stop.
Reports this evening that two of our NYPD officers were assaulted by protestors reminds us that here in New York City, violence or threats of violence against the police are unacceptable and will absolutely not be tolerated. These attacks will be thoroughly investigated, and we will urge the full prosecution of the perpetrators. And any other person who might use the right to peaceful protest as cover to initiate violence, cause mayhem or incite disorder – whether against the police, the people or property of our great City – should consider themselves on notice that New York City will not stand for it. Anyone who decides foolishly to engage in such destructive acts can expect a swift arrest and aggressive prosecution. As I have said before, such activity is beneath the dignity of New York City.
In response, the Stop Massive Incarceration Network issued a statement accusing the mayor and media of “outrageous lies” and calling for another protest outside city Hall next Thursday.
H/T Gothamist | Photo via André Gustavo Stumpf/Flickr (CC BY SA 2.0) | Remix by Jason Reed
