New York Attorney General Letitia James will conduct a review of actions that took place during Friday night’s protests in Brooklyn at the direction of Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Protests boiled across the nation this week in response to the death of George Floyd, a black man who died in Minneapolis after a police officer detained him and knelt on his neck. The police officer, Derek Chauvin, lost his job following the incident and was charged with murder Friday.
A large crowd gathered at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Friday night, and in the ensuing protest, bottles and debris were thrown at police and several police vehicles were vandalized, according to the New York Times. Police used pepper spray and made about 200 arrests.
Cuomo called the situation “disturbing” in his briefing Saturday on the coronavirus pandemic.
“I’m asking Attorney General James to review the actions from last night,” he said, adding that New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio also asked for an independent report on the situation. “There’s a significant amount of concern about what actions were taken.”
He did not specify whether the “actions” he referenced were on the part of the police, the protesters, or both.
State Sen. Zellnor Myrie and Assemblywoman Diana Richardson, both of whom are black and represent parts of Brooklyn, were pepper sprayed and handcuffed during the protests, according to a release from the New York Working Families party Saturday.
Minneapolis has erupted in protests for four nights running, People in the crowd setting fire to buildings, furniture and other items.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey pleaded for people to "do right by our city" and help restore peace.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said Saturday that people from outside the Minneapolis community were mounting an “attack” on civil society in the midst of the Floyd protests, and that he was "fully mobilizing" the National Guard in response.
Cuomo urged those involved in the protests across the U.S. to peacefully pursue justice, and refrain from violence.
“Violence is not the answer,” he said. “It is counterproductive, because the violence then obscures the righteousness of the message and the mission.”
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Tensions are running high because Floyd's death was not an isolated incident, Cuomo continued; many other black men, some in New York, have died under similar circumstances.
“We have an injustice in the criminal justice system that is abhorrent,” he said.
“How many times have we seen the same situation? The names change, but the color doesn’t. It’s this nation’s history, dating back hundreds of years. That is the honest truth, and that’s what’s behind this anger and frustration.”
Add in fear and tension around the coronavirus pandemic and healthcare disparities across racial and socioeconomic lines, and it’s a recipe for pent-up distress, he said.
Now is the time for governments at all levels to help unite their citizens, the New York State Bar Association said Saturday.
"Understandably, outraged citizens are exercising the right to protest and express their anger and grief in the public square," its statement read. "In a nation governed by laws, however, no one has the right to loot and engage in acts of violence to persons and property."
Violence detracts from an honest reckoning with the underlying issues, as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. so often taught, Cuomo said.
“He knew better than anyone who is speaking to us today on this issue,” said Cuomo, reciting one of King’s most famous quotes; “Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that.”
More: Coronavirus in NY: COVID-19 race, ethnicity data show black, Hispanic population at higher risk
More: New York had its lowest daily death toll from coronavirus in more than two months
More: Andrew Cuomo: 'I stand with the protesters' over George Floyd's death
Sarah Taddeo is the consumer watchdog reporter for USA Today Network's New York State Team. She investigates stories about your consumer rights, including scams, negligent landlords, safety issues and wayward businesses.
Got a story tip or comment? Contact Sarah at STADDEO@Gannett.com or (585) 258-2774. Follow her on Twitter @Sjtaddeo. This coverage is only possible with support from our readers. Sign up today for a digital subscription.
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Cuomo directs AG's Office to review actions during Brooklyn protests of George Floyd death - Democrat & Chronicle
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