New York Police Department activists and Black Lives Matters demonstrators clashed over the weekend in Bay Ridge, a Brooklyn neighborhood where many law enforcement officers live.
Videos posted on social media between Saturday and Sunday showed brawls break out between the “Back the Blue” supporters and Black Lives Matter activists on Fourth Avenue and 65th Street until law enforcement stepped in and arrested five individuals.
“Massive police presence in Bay Ridge. Bike police shove the crowd, but the protesters do not disperse,” tweeted NYC Protest Updates 2020 (@protest_nyc).
One video features an officer being hit with an egg, and other videos show protesters blocking a police vehicle with an arrested BLM protester inside from moving through a crowd. However, the fracas escalated when one BLM protester’s confrontation with an NYPD officer ended with the protester being tased, handcuffed, and arrested.
“The NYPD no longer enforces the law. Cops are NOT allowed to make these arrest because Mayor DeBlasio prohibits arrest & encourages attacks, calling it peaceful protests he lies. When NYPD retreats the violence will come to YOU the people. BEWARE you’ve been WARNED!” Ed Mullins, president of the Sergeants Benevolent Association, tweeted Sunday.
New York City Councilman Justin Brannan, who represents the area, condemned the violence in a tweet and announced that he will meet with the NYPD at the 60th Precinct today to discuss the constant protests and the NYPD response.
