A New York state judge ruled NYPD officers can now keep any peaceful protester arrested for violating the New York City curfew for over 24 hours.
The ruling also extends to keeping criminal looters detained for more than 24 hours, given the outbreak of rioting that took place over several nights.
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“It’s a crisis within a crisis,” Judge James Burke said. “All writs are denied: Brooklyn, Bronx, and Manhattan.”
New York has seen large protests take place over the death of George Floyd, a black man who died in police custody. Protests that have been largely peaceful also spread into incidents of looting and violence.
Legal aide Marlen Bodden had previously spoke out against police for holding detainees for over 24 hours, saying, “They have no excuse for not processing them,” reports 1010 Wins, a New York radio station.
“The reason they are doing it is because the people are protesting police brutality,” Bodden said.
Burke said he ruled in favor of the police for public health reasons given the coronavirus pandemic.
“I find it is necessary because we are in a crisis caused by the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic which prevents live arraignments, which in turn requires virtual arraignment which causes delay,” he said.
