New York mayor Bill de Blasio declared a 11:00 am to 5:00 am curfew on Monday.
New York, United States:
New York mayor Bill de Blasio said a curfew from 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. on Monday as anti-racism protests take over the United States with regular outbreaks of violence and looting.
Saying “we support a peaceful protest,” De Blasio said he had made the decision in consultation with state governor Andrew Cuomo, following the example of many major American cities.
In a joint statement, the mayor and the governor said the city would double its police presence “to help prevent violence and property damage”, particularly in commercial areas, including lower Manhattan which has seen broken storefronts and looting during the night.
“We cannot let violence undermine the message of this moment. It is too important and the message must be heard,” de Blasio said.
Speaking on MSNBC shortly after the announcement, Governor Cuomo expressed concern that protests attracting thousands of people could spread COVID-19, such as a pandemic that once saw New York City when its epicenter continues to spread worldwide.
Cuomo said “behind the protesters and their message,” Cuomo said in the statement that “the violence and looting that took place in New York was bad for the city, the state and together of this national movement, undermining and distracting from this just cause. “
National unrest broke out last week after the murder of an unarmed black man in Minneapolis who saw a policeman kneel on George Floyd’s neck for nine minutes after arresting him for allegedly buying cigarettes with a counterfeit invoice.
Protests erupted from coast to coast and sometimes became violent.
An internal investigation is underway after a video clip showed a New York police ram in a crowd of protesters over the weekend.
On Monday afternoon, about 1,000 people gathered in Times Square for a demonstration that remained peaceful in front of the police in riot gear.
“I’m here today because my life matters,” said Shina Moore, 23, a black woman.
“I have the right to live and they don’t think so, so I’m going to be here every day until they find out, period.”
Moore said she would challenge the evening curfew, saying “people won’t buy it.”
“These protests will last as long as it takes – a day, a week, a month, a year,” she said.
“It’s been too long – you can’t oppress us, then tell us how to react.”
