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Curfew Lifts for 11th Day of Protests in N.Y.C.: Live Updates Peaceful Marchers Roam a City Without Curfew: Live Updates
(about 2 hours later)
The 11th day of protests in New York City set off in several locations with sunny skies and having already won two significant accomplishments. The 11th day of protests in New York City set off in several locations with sunny skies and two significant accomplishments already won.
Mayor Bill de Blasio lifted the citywide curfew he had ordered last week after a spree of looting and other violence. And he pledged for the first time to cut the city’s police funding and redirect some of the money to social services. Mayor Bill de Blasio lifted the citywide curfew he had ordered last week after a spree of looting and other violence. And he pledged for the first time to cut the city’s police funding and redirect some of the money to social services, a major concession to the protesters’ demands.
On Sunday, the eve of New York City’s first phase of re-opening after more than two months of lockdown due to the coronavirus, the marches were largely jubilant, with the police taking a more passive role with protesters. On Sunday, the eve of New York City’s first phase of reopening after more than two months of lockdown because of the coronavirus, the marches were largely jubilant, with the police taking a more passive role with protesters.
As of 7 p.m. on Sunday, there were no reports of major confrontations or mass arrests. As of 9 p.m., there were no reports of major confrontations or mass arrests.
As thousands of protesters marched near Columbus Circle in the afternoon, the police kept a distance and did not trail the march with vehicles, as they had for numerous marches in previous days.As thousands of protesters marched near Columbus Circle in the afternoon, the police kept a distance and did not trail the march with vehicles, as they had for numerous marches in previous days.
But several police officers in riot gear were stationed across the street from Trump International Hotel and Tower, where protesters stopped and cursed President Trump and chanted, “Vote him out!”But several police officers in riot gear were stationed across the street from Trump International Hotel and Tower, where protesters stopped and cursed President Trump and chanted, “Vote him out!”
The racially diverse group collectively took a knee and raised their fists, observing a minute of silence. They continued to chant: “Black lives matter!”The racially diverse group collectively took a knee and raised their fists, observing a minute of silence. They continued to chant: “Black lives matter!”
Further uptown, thousands of protesters cut across Central Park along the 79th Street Transverse. The crowd cheered and chanted as they marched, occupying both traffic lanes. Protests and marches in Brooklyn took place in McCarren Park, Grand Army Plaza, Crown Heights and Dumbo, among other locations. In Manhattan, a group that began marching from Bryant Park reached the West Side Highway in the West Village and blocked parts of it.
As has happened every night, a demonstration that began in one location would sometimes end miles away, often combining with another protest, which itself would then divide into separate marches, forcing the police to constantly redeploy forces.
Thousands of protesters who began the day in Union Square moved up to Central Park and then cut across using the 79th Street Transverse. The crowd cheered and chanted as they marched, occupying both traffic lanes.
At one point, they took a knee and chanted: “Let’s make history! Let’s make history! Let’s make history!”At one point, they took a knee and chanted: “Let’s make history! Let’s make history! Let’s make history!”
A group of protesters that began marching from Bryant Park reached the West Side Highway in the West Village and blocked of parts of it. The crowd moved on to Gracie Mansion, the mayor’s residence on East End Avenue, where protesters have gathered on several nights. Some then joined a nearby protest at Carl Schurz Park, which soon grew thanks to a group of around 100 people arriving from the north.
Other protesters began gathering in McCarren Park in Brooklyn and outside Gracie Mansion on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. “We came all the way from the Bronx,” said a member of the Bronx group, which promptly invited the Upper East Side group to join them.
The demonstrations against racism and police brutality were set off by the killing of a black man, George Floyd, in police custody in Minneapolis. “March with us!” they yelled, and soon, a group made up of Bronx and Manhattan marchers splintered off and headed south on York Avenue.
The group that crossed Central Park began marching in Union Square earlier in the afternoon, led by a dozen people on bikes. As the group encountered several police on scooters near Fifth Avenue, a young man chanted on a loudspeaker, “Wake up, come out to play!” In Fort Greene, Brooklyn, a crowd of several hundred marchers took to the streets and chanted, “Black lives matter” and “Black is beautiful.”
The group marched up the East Side chanting, “Whose streets? Our streets!” From windows and balconies, residents applauded and banged pots and pans; one blew a trumpet. Motorists honked their support, passers-by whistled and held fists in the air.
The air smelled of burning sage. A woman handed out free soup and bread. A group of men danced around a car blasting the rap song “Changes,” by Tupac Shakur.
Marchers began chanting against Mr. de Blasio as they passed a group of police officers at Washington Avenue and Park Place.
“Hey-hey, ho-ho,” they chanted. “De Blasio has got to go!”
The officers cheered.
A confounding scene has played out again and again during 11 days of largely peaceful protests in New York City. The protesters marching across bridges and down avenues are mostly wearing masks. But many of the police are not, according to numerous reports from journalists on the ground — and even the mayor.
Mask compliance has “not been happening consistently,” Mr. de Blasio said during a radio appearance on Friday. “I have had this conversation with Commissioner Shea multiple times,” he added, referring to the chief of the New York Police Department. “It has to be fixed and that bothers me.”
The lack of face coverings among police officers has created yet another urgent problem for Mr. de Blasio, who has been sharply criticized for his handling of both the local coronavirus crisis and the police response to massive protests over police brutality.
Mr. de Blasio has warned that the coronavirus could easily spread at the protests, which have swelled to tens of thousands of demonstrators over the last week, and he encouraged protesters to wear masks and try to practice social distancing. And Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has required every New Yorker to wear a mask when they cannot maintain six feet of separation.
Protesters have said officers’ lack of masks and handling of arrests has made them feel unsafe.
Kiarah Brown, 20, said an officer refused to help her adjust her mask after she was arrested and put in handcuffs last week in Brooklyn. She noted that many of the officers that escorted her and others into a stuffy police van were unmasked.
Another protester, Chi Ossé, 22, said he found it ironic that before the protests began, the police had issued summonses to people who were not following guidelines and had even occasionally used force against them.
“And here they are, day after day, with no masks,” he said. “If they are there to protect us they should be protecting us against Covid, too.”
One unmasked officer stationed in Downtown Brooklyn on Saturday said he kept his mask in his pocket if he ever felt he needed it. The officer, who declined to be named, said, “If I have to engage with people I don’t know, I’m going to wear my mask.” He added, “If I go in, I’m putting my mask on.”
In Union Square over the weekend, one demonstrator held up a sign that read, “Crowded cells, no masks, tear gas: NYPD Bio Warfare.”
In a march across the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday evening, Justina Heckard chastised police officers who stood unmasked outside the pathway.
“Wear your masks,” she shouted. “You’re not keeping the peace!” Ms. Heckard, a music manager, said that she had been protesting for eight days and was reporting the lack of face coverings among officers to the New York attorney general’s office.
“I had an experience where I asked a group of officers why they weren’t wearing masks,” Ms. Heckard said. “And they told me it was because they couldn’t breathe. And I thought that was the most ironic thing.”
Mayor Bill de Blasio on Sunday pledged for the first time to cut the city’s police funding, following 10 nights of mass protests against police violence and mounting demands that he overhaul a department whose tactics have caused widespread consternation.Mayor Bill de Blasio on Sunday pledged for the first time to cut the city’s police funding, following 10 nights of mass protests against police violence and mounting demands that he overhaul a department whose tactics have caused widespread consternation.
The mayor on Sunday declined to say precisely how much funding he planned to divert to social services from the New York Police Department, which has an annual budget of $6 billion, representing more than 6 percent of Mr. de Blasio’s proposed $90 billion budget.The mayor on Sunday declined to say precisely how much funding he planned to divert to social services from the New York Police Department, which has an annual budget of $6 billion, representing more than 6 percent of Mr. de Blasio’s proposed $90 billion budget.
Mr. de Blasio said the details would be worked out with the City Council in advance of the July 1 budget deadline.Mr. de Blasio said the details would be worked out with the City Council in advance of the July 1 budget deadline.
“We’re committed to seeing a shift of funding to youth services, to social services, that will happen literally in the course of the next three weeks, but I’m not going to go into detail because it is subject to negotiation and we want to figure out what makes sense,” Mr. de Blasio said.“We’re committed to seeing a shift of funding to youth services, to social services, that will happen literally in the course of the next three weeks, but I’m not going to go into detail because it is subject to negotiation and we want to figure out what makes sense,” Mr. de Blasio said.
As recently as Friday, Mr. de Blasio had expressed skepticism about cutting police funding, even as he noted that all city agencies might face cuts, absent more financial assistance from the federal government.As recently as Friday, Mr. de Blasio had expressed skepticism about cutting police funding, even as he noted that all city agencies might face cuts, absent more financial assistance from the federal government.
Mr. de Blasio is facing a possible $9 billion budget gap and significant unrest within his own administration over his handling of both the coronavirus crisis and the mass demonstrations following the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd.Mr. de Blasio is facing a possible $9 billion budget gap and significant unrest within his own administration over his handling of both the coronavirus crisis and the mass demonstrations following the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd.
Mr. de Blasio’s assertion on Sunday that he would redirect some police funding was met with skepticism from both protesters and police leaders.Mr. de Blasio’s assertion on Sunday that he would redirect some police funding was met with skepticism from both protesters and police leaders.
At Mass on Sunday, Roman Catholic leaders in New York City appealed for calm and expressed their support for peaceful protest as the demonstrations continued for an 11th day.At Mass on Sunday, Roman Catholic leaders in New York City appealed for calm and expressed their support for peaceful protest as the demonstrations continued for an 11th day.
Celebrating Mass not far from where thousands of protesters have gathered every night, Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio of the Diocese of Brooklyn compared the unrest in the United States to the 19th-century France as depicted in the Broadway musical Les Misérables. Celebrating Mass at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph in Prospect Heights, not far from where thousands of protesters have gathered every night, Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio of the Diocese of Brooklyn compared the unrest in the United States to 19th-century France as depicted in the Broadway musical “Les Misérables.”
The protests may have been sparked by the death of George Floyd, he said, but they were fueled by “the anguish that comes from a deeper understanding of the inequality that still exists in our society and the burden that people of color must bear.”The protests may have been sparked by the death of George Floyd, he said, but they were fueled by “the anguish that comes from a deeper understanding of the inequality that still exists in our society and the burden that people of color must bear.”
And while the bishop condemned the violence and looting that marred some demonstrations last week, he said parishioners must focus on “what is truly at stake.”And while the bishop condemned the violence and looting that marred some demonstrations last week, he said parishioners must focus on “what is truly at stake.”
“We must understand that societal change of the evil of racism must happen perhaps more rapidly than we thought in the past,” the bishop said. “Any incident today can spark these types of demonstrations because they underline the feelings of discrimination that so many people of color feel.”“We must understand that societal change of the evil of racism must happen perhaps more rapidly than we thought in the past,” the bishop said. “Any incident today can spark these types of demonstrations because they underline the feelings of discrimination that so many people of color feel.”
And he praised the diverse, multiracial character of the protest moment, saying the demonstrations “certainly are not attended only by people of color.”And he praised the diverse, multiracial character of the protest moment, saying the demonstrations “certainly are not attended only by people of color.”
“Many other young people of different races are there,” the bishop said. “Perhaps the tide has already turned, and our young people do not see things the way people saw them in the past.”“Many other young people of different races are there,” the bishop said. “Perhaps the tide has already turned, and our young people do not see things the way people saw them in the past.”
The unrest was also addressed in Sunday, in less direct terms, by Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, the Archbishop of New York, during Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, whose exterior was defaced by spray-painted protest slogans earlier in the week. The unrest was also addressed on Sunday, in less direct terms, by Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, the archbishop of New York, during Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, whose exterior was defaced by spray-painted protest slogans earlier in the week.
If we believe that God lives within each of us, the cardinal asked, then “how could I ever hit him by crushing his neck with my knee or by throwing a firebomb into his car or his home or his business?”If we believe that God lives within each of us, the cardinal asked, then “how could I ever hit him by crushing his neck with my knee or by throwing a firebomb into his car or his home or his business?”
“If God thinks so highly of us that he makes his home within us, well then literally for God’s sake, we should only treat ourselves and one another with immense dignity and respect,” he said. “If God thinks so highly of us that he makes his home within us, well, then literally for God’s sake, we should only treat ourselves and one another with immense dignity and respect,” he said.
“I am convinced that Jesus is inviting us to a spiritual and moral renewal through the trauma of the virus and the tensions on our streets these days,” he said. “Let that renewal begin.”“I am convinced that Jesus is inviting us to a spiritual and moral renewal through the trauma of the virus and the tensions on our streets these days,” he said. “Let that renewal begin.”
On Saturday, the police commissioner, Dermot F. Shea, took to Twitter to announce the arrest of two men in Brooklyn who had attended a rally and were carrying gasoline, knives and a machete in their car.On Saturday, the police commissioner, Dermot F. Shea, took to Twitter to announce the arrest of two men in Brooklyn who had attended a rally and were carrying gasoline, knives and a machete in their car.
Mr. Shea shared a news article that showed a photo of the ominous items displayed on a table. The police said that on Thursday a tip from a protester led them to a black Chrysler with Ohio plates.Mr. Shea shared a news article that showed a photo of the ominous items displayed on a table. The police said that on Thursday a tip from a protester led them to a black Chrysler with Ohio plates.
When police stopped the car, one of the men told an officer, “there is a knife in the car,” the police said. The police recovered a tank of gasoline, knives, a machete and two-way radios, Mr. Shea said on Twitter Saturday. The men are facing weapons possession charges, the police said. When police stopped the car, one of the men told an officer, “There is a knife in the car,” the police said. The police recovered a tank of gasoline, knives, a machete and two-way radios, Mr. Shea said on Twitter Saturday. The men are facing weapons possession charges, the police said.
“All thanks to the community & cops working together,” Mr. Shea said on Twitter.“All thanks to the community & cops working together,” Mr. Shea said on Twitter.
The police said also on Saturday they had also arrested a man in connection with an act of vandalism at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The police said someone scrawled George Floyd’s name and “BLM,” for Black Lives Matter, on the exterior walls of cathedral May 30, just as protests were underway.The police said also on Saturday they had also arrested a man in connection with an act of vandalism at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The police said someone scrawled George Floyd’s name and “BLM,” for Black Lives Matter, on the exterior walls of cathedral May 30, just as protests were underway.
At some point, history may show us that after years of aggression, after so much brutality that suggested so little fear of repercussion, it took the looting of Chanel and the reversion of SoHo to a wasteland to disable a law that has made real police accountability so difficult in New York City. It required a political class moved by fear — of disorder and desecration — rather than compelled by the logic of justice, which had been apparent for so long.
The law, known by its identification in the state’s civil code — 50-a — has protected habitually delinquent police officers for decades. However unlikely it would have been just a few weeks ago, 50-a now faces the overdue prospect of erasure.
For several years, there has been no work more vital to ending police brutality than abolishing laws and policies that weaken transparency and soften repercussion.
Chief among them are the statutes, like 50-a, that enshrine police misconduct in secrecy, shielding the personnel and disciplinary records of police officers from public view so that there is often no way for a victim to know if an abusive officer has a history of dubious behavior unless someone has happened to sue him.
Many officers dispatched to the protests this week have concealed their badge numbers with strips of elastic or electrical tape. The department said that these were mourning bands, worn to honor colleagues who have died from Covid-19, but a civil liberties group demanded they be removed so that bad actors could be easily identified.
In some sense, the law makes any attempt at obscuring unnecessary. Protesters who had their masks pulled off by officers or were shoved to the ground would not be able to find out whether they had ever done anything similar in the past anyway.
Beth Leonard, 67, stood alone on the Grand Army Plaza traffic circle on Saturday holding a sign that said, “Black Lives Matter.” The first time she protested was when she was a teenager, and it was against the Vietnam War, she said.Beth Leonard, 67, stood alone on the Grand Army Plaza traffic circle on Saturday holding a sign that said, “Black Lives Matter.” The first time she protested was when she was a teenager, and it was against the Vietnam War, she said.
But in recent days she said she has felt an imperative to represent her generation in a new generation’s fight.But in recent days she said she has felt an imperative to represent her generation in a new generation’s fight.
Saturday was her third time on the streets since Mr. Floyd’s death.Saturday was her third time on the streets since Mr. Floyd’s death.
“It’s nice for people to see an older person here,” said Ms. Leonard, a dancer and choreographer who lives in Gowanus. “Young people are always the most important. I’m telling them I’m going to back them up. I will be there for them.” “It’s nice for people to see an older person here,” said Ms. Leonard, a dancer and choreographer who lives in Gowanus, Brooklyn. “Young people are always the most important. I’m telling them I’m going to back them up. I will be there for them.”
She began to weep as she discussed the similarities and the differences between the era in which she grew up and the one she now finds herself in.She began to weep as she discussed the similarities and the differences between the era in which she grew up and the one she now finds herself in.
“I wasn’t politically sophisticated when I was 17,” Ms. Leonard said. “Now, I feel much more able to counterargue. I don’t know if I could convince anybody, but I think I could respectfully oppose somebody.”“I wasn’t politically sophisticated when I was 17,” Ms. Leonard said. “Now, I feel much more able to counterargue. I don’t know if I could convince anybody, but I think I could respectfully oppose somebody.”
“This must happen,” she added, blinking through her tears. “We can’t wait any longer.”“This must happen,” she added, blinking through her tears. “We can’t wait any longer.”
Reporting was contributed by Sheri Fink, Corey Kilgannon, Eliza Shapiro and Liam Stack. Reporting was contributed by Sheri Fink, Corey Kilgannon, Eliza Shapiro, Liam Stack, Anjali Tsui, Alex Traub and Matthew Haag.