New York City police officials have made numerous arrests and even resorting to force after a curfew began amid continuous protests against the death of the unarmed African-American man, George Floyd at the hands of a white police officer in Minneapolis last week.
Faced with the third night of demonstrations involving thousands of New Yorkers who defied the curfew to protest against Floyd’s death, the police on Wednesday night decided to act more harshly after giving them an hour’s notice when curfew came into force at 8 p.m., reports Efe news.
New York Police Department (NYPD) Chief of Department Terence Monahan told reporters that the police had adopted a more aggressive approach in order to quickly disperse the groups of protesters.
The police resorted to force in Brooklyn, using batons, rubber bullets, and tear gas with the aim of dispersing protesters and arresting numerous people to enforce the curfew.
The detainees were then loaded onto buses of the city’s Department of Correction.
After protesting peacefully for more than an hour in front of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s residence in Manhattan’s upper east side, the demonstrators began marching south of the city, until the police began charging through the crowd at Third Avenue and 50th Street at about 9 p.m.
It was police officials on bicycles who first charged the protesters and then those on foot began to arrest dozens as loudspeakers on police vehicles reminded the demonstrators of the curfew orders and demand everyone leave the area.
Arrests also took place in Union Square.
The marches on Wednesday seemed to be more organized than the chaotic protests of recent days with private vehicles offering water and food as well as hand gel and masks to try to reduce the spread of coronavirus.
“Hands up, don’t shoot” and “Justice Now” were some of the most heard slogans on the streets.
Protests were also held in other cities around the country, including Washington D.C., Oakland, Chicago, Miami, Tampa and Orlando.
Floyd’s deaths has also triggered protests around the world including in France, the UK, New Zealand, Finland, Denmark, Greece, South Africa and Germany.
