As a first hand witness to NYPD behaving badly, I wondered if the police department changed much since last summer.
By David Stone
In January, New York State Attorney General blasted the NYPD for its brutal behavior during last summer’s BLM protests. But did it prompt change?
Last summer, Black Lives Matter protesters marched down East 79th Street on their way to raising their voices in front of the mayor’s residence in Carl Schurz Park. This march matched many others across the country, provoked by the police killing of George Floyd and others.
But an undisciplined police force made matters worse by using illegal tactics and brutality in response. And that ended only after emotions cooled.
In another year, awaiting the verdict… NYPD behaving badly.
As New York City braced itself against possible protests after the verdict against Derek Chauvin, accused of killing Floyd, NYPD dispatched officers across the city for quelling potential violence.
Multiple police vehicles and officers waited outside the Metropolitan Museum of Art, along Fifth Avenue in the 80s.
“New York City police officials instructed all officers to wear masks in public or risk discipline…”
New York Times, October, 2020.
One issue raised by BLM protesters concerned many police officers not wearing face masks mandated during the coronavirus pandemic, subjecting countless others to infection.
But as you can see from the photo above, NYPD behaving badly is an ongoing thing, emblematic of the lack of discipline provoking last year’s confrontations.
Not a face mask in sight, and taking the cue, tourists hanging out nearby were also mask free.
If they’re still not listening, who’s really in charge here?
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Having previewed several of your articles, there is evident an all too common theme of parroting the
acceptable narrative and a simplistic interpretation of ideas and events; specifically your fractured
analysis of A Hicks and the BLM movement, respectively. A more studied, intense effort at research would have created more credible, substantive information. For example, you might have addressed the anarchy and violence of BLM towards its own people. Apparently, this is beyond your scope. However, you needn’t be dismayed, for you fit into the acceptable, pedestrian group of writers, of our time. Therefore, are among
many friends.
Ah, the misinformation specialists have arrived. Like most who can’t handle anyone whose opinions don’t echo theirs, you complete the avoid the topic at hand and dance off in semi-intellectual diversion. You read like a troll, by the way. Are you?