New York, NY — The New York City Council Progressive Caucus’ Executive Committee calls on Governor Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio to put an immediate end to the city-wide curfew and increased police presence that has only worsened the conditions that many New Yorkers are taking to the streets to protest.
Protest and civil disobedience is an inalienable right for all New Yorkers. Stifling the justified outcry from Black communities and allies in response to yet another instance of lethal police brutality against Black Americans is unlawful and egregious. The response from the NYPD has been to meet these demands for justice with even more police violence against peaceful protests, unlawful detention, confusing and dangerous directives on the specifics of the curfew, and disregard for essential workers and those providing support to detained protesters. This cannot stand. In short, these curfews have worsened the conditions they purport to solve.
We are calling for an end to this curfew and demand that the Mayor and Governor immediately reign in the NYPD’s disproportionate and violent tactics of suppression. We must give back control of the city to the citizens of New York and those calling for an end to racist policing policies and practices. We stand with our constituents on the streets asking for real structural changes and rethinking of what safety and security truly means and how we can achieve justice not for a few, but for all of us.
Council Member Diana Ayala, District 8 (Co-Chair)
Council Member Ben Kallos, District 5 (Co-Chair)
Council Member Carlos Menchaca, District 38 (Vice Co-Chair)
Council Member Keith Powers, District 8 (Vice Co-Chair)