[Photo credit: Gerard Dalbon]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 5, 2024
Media Contact: Melissa Garriga | [email protected]
CODEPINK Statement Regarding NYPD Police Violence During July 4th Peaceful Protest
On Thursday, peace activists took to the streets in major cities across the country to protest the U.S. supported genocide in Gaza. During the protests, NYPD brutalized and arrested peaceful protesters including CODEPINK’S East Coast organizer, Krys Cerisier. This is state-sanctioned violence against Americans exercising their right to dissent.
During a peaceful protest on the Fourth of July, participants gathered with the intention of being louder than the fireworks, chanting and marching in a space to make their demands to end the genocide in Gaza heard. The protest was entirely non-violent, with no intention of causing damage or breaking into property.
However, the event was marred by the actions of the NYPD’s Strategic Response Group (SRG). This specialized unit, led by Mayor Eric Adams, has been notorious for its violent methods and has incurred millions of dollars in lawsuits since 2020 for inciting chaos in otherwise peaceful demonstrations.
You can watch the brutality here.
The SRG, trained in counter-protest and counter-revolutionary strategies, used excessive brutal force. Their tactics included breaking up the protest line, chasing and cornering participants, and indiscriminately tackling protesters to ground. This unprovoked aggression transformed a peaceful gathering into a scene of violence.
It should be noted that there were more police officers than protestors present. The SRG blocked off streets, trapping protestors and preventing them from dispersing, only to then tackle individuals indiscriminately. These actions are unacceptable and highlight the long, troubling pattern of police violence that must be addressed.
We call for an immediate investigation into the SRG's conduct and demand accountability for their actions. Peaceful protest is a fundamental right, and it is imperative that it be protected from such unwarranted violence.
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