Mayor defends NYPD response after officers seen beating pro-Palestinian protesters

Norman Ray

World Courant

NEW YORK — New York Metropolis Mayor Eric Adams defended the police division’s response to a pro-Palestinian avenue demonstration in Brooklyn final weekend, calling the video of officers repeatedly punching males mendacity on the bottom an “remoted incident.”

“Take a look at that complete incident,” Adams stated on the “Mornings on 1” program on native cable information channel NY1. He complained that protesters marching by means of Brooklyn’s Bay Ridge neighborhood on Saturday had blocked site visitors, spat at officers and, in a single case, climbed on high of a shifting metropolis bus. “I take my hat off to the police for a way they handled an unruly group of individuals.”

“Persons are eager to take that one remoted incident that we’re investigating. They want to take a look at the whole thing of what occurred in that bed room group,” Adams added.

Footage captured by bystanders and impartial journalists exhibits cops intercepting a march on the road, pushing individuals to the sidewalk after which grabbing some individuals from the gang and dragging them to the asphalt. Officers are seen repeatedly hitting no less than three protesters, in separate incidents, as they lay on the bottom.

A video taken by videographer Peter Hambrecht and posted on X exhibits an officer in a white shirt punching a protester whereas holding his throat. Hambrecht stated the arrests occurred after police ordered the gang to disperse.

“They have been conscious that they may very well be arrested, however typically individuals use that to justify the assault, which is clearly ridiculous,” Hambrecht instructed The Related Press in a textual content message.

Unbiased journalist Katie Smith individually recorded video of an officer unleashing a volley of punches at a person pinned to the bottom, placing him no less than 5 occasions with a closed fist.

In accordance with the police, no less than 41 individuals have been arrested.

The NYPD later launched its personal video displaying misconduct by protesters, together with individuals throwing empty water bottles at officers, splashing them with liquids and lighting flares and smoke bombs. A protester is also seen sitting on the roof of a shifting transit bus and waving a Palestinian flag.

“We won’t settle for the narrative that arrested people have been victims, nor will we condone unlawful conduct,” NYPD Deputy Commissioner Kaz Daughtry stated in a press release about X.

Town council member representing Bay Ridge, Justin Brannan, stated the demonstration that was damaged up by police was an indication held yearly within the neighborhood to protest the displacement of the Palestinian individuals after Israel’s creation in 1948.

“Bay Ridge is dwelling to the biggest Palestinian group in New York,” Brannan wrote on X. “There was a Nakba Day demonstration right here yearly for the previous decade with out incident. “I’ve seen no proof right this moment of actions by protesters that warranted such an aggressive response from the NYPD.”

Donna Lieberman, govt director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, criticized the arrests, calling them an escalation of police techniques towards protesters.

“The aggressive escalation by the NYPD Strategic Response Group yesterday in Bay Ridge violated New Yorkers’ proper to talk out and dangers chilling political expression,” Lieberman stated, naming the NYPD unit that protests are sometimes referred to as for.

Mayor defends NYPD response after officers seen beating pro-Palestinian protesters

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