NEW YORK (AP) — Hundreds of protesters camped outside City Hall are demanding that lawmakers slash the New York City police budget.
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The encampment in City Hall Park in lower Manhattan began forming earlier this week following weeks of street protests sparked by the death of George Floyd and other Black Americans killed by law enforcement. The protesters are part of a national “defund the police” movement seeking more spending on other needs like housing and education.
Demonstrators are demanding that the City Council cut at least $1 billion in from the police department’s current $6 billion budget when it begins considering a new city budget next week. Organizers have called it “Occupy City Hall” — a nod to the 2010 Occupy Wall Street movement a few blocks away in Zuccotti Park.
Police officials warned the budget cut would come at a time when the city has seen a surge in shootings during the first three weeks in June. Mayor Bill de Blasio has committed to reducing the police budget, but hasn’t said by how much.
“We need safety and we need fairness. We need safety and we need justice. We have to do both,” the mayor said.
Floyd, a Black man, died on May 25 after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed a knee on Floyd’s neck even after he stopped moving and pleading for air. His death prompted global demonstrations about police brutality and slayings of people of color.
to defund the police is a good solution mr. mayor
The signs in the photo say abolish the police. That is much more than just budget cuts.
Since when are people allowed to camp in NYC parks?
Is it allowed in other parks? If not, why is this case tolerated?
The illegal occupiers should be evicted and arrested.
Maybe the traffic police should be replaced with social workers that will explain to you the importance of public health, and the importance of sweeping the streets twice a week.
Defund parking tickets!
I see there is a movement afoot to return traffic enforcement to the DoT from the NYPD. You could do that, maybe cut the police by a billion and have no real impact on their operations.
I guess that public gathering is ok with Herr DeBlasio. His dreams of destroying NYC are coming true courtesy of leftist losers.
Keep the fool out of city hall isn’t a bad idea
disband the police is great idea
Murder up
Rapes up
robberies Up
Anti Semitics up
Only thing still being done is summonses for parking and speeding
Can someone please ascertain who the bulk of these demonstrators (from all over the country) are? Are they all anarchists? Are they all unemployed? What do they do when they are not demonstrating? Who is paying for their transportation, food, lodging, etc?