New York Protests: Curfews Introduced in City

New York will join a number of other US cities where curfews have been imposed due to violent protests. It will be valid from 23:00 on Monday (June 1) to 5:00 on Tuesday (June 2), writes Business Insider.

“New York will have a curfew that we think will be helpful,” said Gov. Andrew Cuomo, adding that NYPD will double its activity in the city - instead of 4 officers, 000 will take to the streets.

At the same time, the details of the curfew rules are not yet completely clear. It is unclear whether exceptions will be made for the city’s livelihood workers, who often move around the streets at night, or whether anyone caught after 23:00 will be punished.

On the subject: The situation in New York is heating up: among the thousands arrested during the protests - the daughter of Bill de Blasio

“I support the protesters and their message, but unfortunately there are people who want to distract us from the main message and discredit this moment,” Cuomo said. - Violence and robbery damages the city, the state and the entire national movement, undermining and distracting attention from the right idea. We support people who peacefully protest and voice their opinions, but the safety of the general public is paramount and cannot be jeopardized. ”

More than 20 cities in the United States imposed curfews on weekends and on Monday due to fierce protests over the death of a black man in Minneapolis (Minnesota), who is believed to have been guilty of a policeman who used a dangerous takeover.

Uber and Lyft said they suspend their services during curfews in cities where such a request was made from the authorities.

Curfews are relatively rare in American cities. Usually this measure is used during periods of protests and riots, as well as natural disasters. In New York, the last curfew was imposed in 2011 during the Occupy Wall Street protest. During Hurricane Sandy in 2012, curfews were imposed in many cities surrounding New York to avoid looting, but they were not introduced in the metropolis itself.

What is happening and who is blamed

Demonstrations started on Tuesday May 26th in Minneapoliswhere a 46-year-old black man, George Floyd, died after being detained, handcuffed, laid down on the ground, and a policeman pressed his neck with his knee for more than eight minutes.

Demonstrators claim that they are protesting not only against police brutality against blacks, but also against systemic racism in the United States.

Minnesota governor says protests are already not related to murder, but provoked by visiting radicals.

Houston Police Chief Art Aceveto told CNN that he wants his department to escort Floyd's body home in support of the deceased's family. According to Acevedo, many police cities knew Floyd well.

Demonstrators in Minneapolis and across the country picked up the already familiar chant “No justice, no peace.” Others echoed Floyd's words: “I can't breathe.”

On the subject: De Blasio wants to take a big loan to close a hole in the city budget: analysts sound the alarm

Four days after the incident, police officer Derek Chovin, who detained Floyd, was charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. He and three other police officers, who stood nearby and did not intervene, were fired on the day of the incident. June 1 Chovin is due to appear in court in Minneapolis. The Minnesota Attorney General’s Office will take the lead.

“We want justice to prevail, we strive for it tirelessly,” said Attorney General Keith Ellison.

Protests in Minneapolis sharply intensified in the evening of May 27when city police took action in response to looted and burned shops in the city, as well as fatal shooting at a protest venue.

The situation further escalated on May 31, when truck drove into a crowd of protesters in Minneapolis. At the wheel of a car was a US citizen, presumably of Ukrainian origin Bogdan Vechirko.

During the protests In New York City Mayor's Daughter Arrested.

Read about the protests throughout the country. here.