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Cuomo Criticizes de Blasio Over Looting as 8 P.M. Curfew Is Set: Live Updates | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Tuesday sharply criticized the New York Police Department and second-guessed Mayor Bill de Blasio’s handling of the widespread looting that seized parts of New York City on Monday night. | |
“The N.Y.P.D. and the mayor did not do their job last night,” Mr. Cuomo said. “It was rampant looting across the city last night that they did not stop.” | |
“Look at the videos — it was a disgrace,” the governor said, adding that Mr. de Blasio “underestimates the scope of the problem” in controlling the nightly protests that have been marred by looting and violent outbursts from participants and police officers alike. | |
Mr. Cuomo said the state police and 13,000 members of the National Guard were on standby. But Mr. de Blasio has said he opposes bringing in the National Guard, as President Trump has encouraged. | |
“We do not need nor do we think it’s wise for the National Guard to be in New York City,” Mr. de Blasio said at his daily briefing on Tuesday, calling it unwise to bring “outside armed forces into a situation they are not trained for.” | |
The mayor extended the city’s 8 p.m. curfew through June 7 and promised to take action against the “outsiders,” “gang members” and “common criminals” he said were responsible for looting and violence in Manhattan and the Bronx on Monday night. | |
“I know we will overcome this. I want to be abundantly clear,” the mayor said before adding that “we will have a tough few days.” | |
The mayor defended the police response to the looting, and called on civic, religious and neighborhood leaders to step forward and encourage peaceful protests while telling New Yorkers to prepare for a few more days of unrest. | |
Mr. Cuomo repeatedly said he would need to “displace” the mayor in order to send in the National Guard. But to do so now, he added, could make an already chaotic situation even worse. | |
But the governor made clear that the onus was on the mayor to get things under control. | |
“I am not happy with last night, and the police did not do their job last night,” the governor said. “What happened in New York City is inexcusable.” | |
Mr. de Blasio seemed to be trying to accomplish two goals in his briefing: unifying New Yorkers against recent acts of violence and looting, and explaining why a citywide curfew was necessary. | |
By beginning the curfew at 8 p.m. instead of 11 p.m., the police would be in better position to address “any situation where someone is trying to do violence to person or property,” the mayor said in explaining his decision. | |
He said that New Yorkers — from the city’s Police Department to ordinary citizens — were better equipped to deal with the looting and violence than outsiders like the National Guard. | |
“The people of New York City are strong and resilient. The people of New York City are good and decent people. The people of New York City stand up no matter what’s thrown at them,” Mr. de Blasio said. | |
He talked about being born in the city in 1961 and how over the next few decades it had overcome the threat of financial collapse, white flight and the AIDS and crack epidemics of the 1980s and ’90s. | |
The mayor added that the city was still in the midst of an enormous health challenge in dealing with the coronavirus outbreak; he said that the city was moving forward to begin the first phase of reopening on June 8 in spite of the unrest. He cited statistics showing a decline in the number of coronavirus infections. | |
Just two weeks ago, he said, the city was focused almost exclusively on beating back the pandemic. But the combination of the coronavirus and the economic ruin it has brought, along with the death of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minnesota, has taken a toll on the city. | |
“This is a horrible perfect storm we’re living through,” the mayor said. | |
Looters had tried to ransack some of the city’s best-known retailers on Monday night, including the Macy’s flagship store in Herald Square and luxury stores along Fifth Avenue. | |
Mr. de Blasio acknowledged that the Monday night curfew, which had only been announced several hours before it was to begin, had failed to quell the criminal violence that marred the otherwise peaceful protests of previous nights. | Mr. de Blasio acknowledged that the Monday night curfew, which had only been announced several hours before it was to begin, had failed to quell the criminal violence that marred the otherwise peaceful protests of previous nights. |
There were few reports of clashes on Monday between the authorities and those who had assembled to rally against police brutality and racism. The crowds had mostly dispersed by 11 p.m., although some protesters continued to walk the streets in Manhattan and near the Barclays Center in Brooklyn in violation of the curfew. | There were few reports of clashes on Monday between the authorities and those who had assembled to rally against police brutality and racism. The crowds had mostly dispersed by 11 p.m., although some protesters continued to walk the streets in Manhattan and near the Barclays Center in Brooklyn in violation of the curfew. |
Yet even after the curfew began, the violence it was meant to stop continued in sections of the Bronx, where there were reports of fires and looting, SoHo and, to a lesser degree than earlier, in Midtown, which in normal times is clogged with tourists, shoppers and workers. | Yet even after the curfew began, the violence it was meant to stop continued in sections of the Bronx, where there were reports of fires and looting, SoHo and, to a lesser degree than earlier, in Midtown, which in normal times is clogged with tourists, shoppers and workers. |
The area, already hit hard by a pandemic that closed offices and brought retail to a halt, felt under siege as looters broke store windows, including at Bergdorf Goodman, the luxury retailer that has long been a Fifth Avenue anchor. They ransacked a Microsoft store and vandalized a Barnes & Noble as helicopters whirred overhead. | The area, already hit hard by a pandemic that closed offices and brought retail to a halt, felt under siege as looters broke store windows, including at Bergdorf Goodman, the luxury retailer that has long been a Fifth Avenue anchor. They ransacked a Microsoft store and vandalized a Barnes & Noble as helicopters whirred overhead. |
The Herald Square Macy’s had been boarded up, but one entrance appeared to have been breached. | The Herald Square Macy’s had been boarded up, but one entrance appeared to have been breached. |
At around 8 p.m. on Monday, a group of people who had broken away from a large crowd of protesters at Union Square ransacked a Nike store on 20th Street. After smashing a window on the ground floor, young men stormed inside, sweeping sneakers off the shelves and grabbing clothes off the racks. | At around 8 p.m. on Monday, a group of people who had broken away from a large crowd of protesters at Union Square ransacked a Nike store on 20th Street. After smashing a window on the ground floor, young men stormed inside, sweeping sneakers off the shelves and grabbing clothes off the racks. |
“They’re not with us!” shouted Steevo Anthony, 33, a supervisor at Whole Foods from Brooklyn, as he moved away from the looting. “Keep walking!” | “They’re not with us!” shouted Steevo Anthony, 33, a supervisor at Whole Foods from Brooklyn, as he moved away from the looting. “Keep walking!” |
Trembling with emotion, he added: “It’s giving a bad name to us people who are out here trying to do the right thing, the people who walked away.” | Trembling with emotion, he added: “It’s giving a bad name to us people who are out here trying to do the right thing, the people who walked away.” |
Thousands of protesters took over Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn on Monday, and although they halted traffic, there were no confrontations with the police. | Thousands of protesters took over Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn on Monday, and although they halted traffic, there were no confrontations with the police. |
People marching along Bergen Street in Brooklyn were cheered along by car horns and residents waving from their front doors as officers lined the sidewalks. | People marching along Bergen Street in Brooklyn were cheered along by car horns and residents waving from their front doors as officers lined the sidewalks. |
And outside the 90th Precinct, on Union Avenue in Brooklyn, nearly three hours of demonstrations that included some tense moments ended with a police commander offering to have his squad put down their helmets and gun belts and hug protesters. | And outside the 90th Precinct, on Union Avenue in Brooklyn, nearly three hours of demonstrations that included some tense moments ended with a police commander offering to have his squad put down their helmets and gun belts and hug protesters. |
In Queens, a vigil at Astoria Park drew hundreds of people. The crowd reflected the area’s diversity: nurses in scrubs, Broadway performers and aspiring artists stood by families with small children, and people speaking Greek, Arabic, Italian and Spanish. | In Queens, a vigil at Astoria Park drew hundreds of people. The crowd reflected the area’s diversity: nurses in scrubs, Broadway performers and aspiring artists stood by families with small children, and people speaking Greek, Arabic, Italian and Spanish. |
Spencer Camilien, 34, a musician and recording artist who lives in the neighborhood and is black, said he had begun the week in despair. | Spencer Camilien, 34, a musician and recording artist who lives in the neighborhood and is black, said he had begun the week in despair. |
“I wake up every day scared, anxious, crying,” he said. “It was very difficult for me to get out of bed. I kind of lost all hope.” | “I wake up every day scared, anxious, crying,” he said. “It was very difficult for me to get out of bed. I kind of lost all hope.” |
He added: “Every morning I wake up, I’m scared to get outside, I don’t know what to wear, I don’t want to look threatening to anyone. Should I not wear my mask all the way up so they can’t see my face?” | |
“You shouldn’t have to do that,” a voice shouted from the crowd. | “You shouldn’t have to do that,” a voice shouted from the crowd. |
“When I get anxious I pray, and I prayed for you guys,” Mr. Camilien said, explaining that he never expected to see so many Latino and white people at the protest. “You are the answer to my prayers. You give me hope. You don’t have to be here.” | “When I get anxious I pray, and I prayed for you guys,” Mr. Camilien said, explaining that he never expected to see so many Latino and white people at the protest. “You are the answer to my prayers. You give me hope. You don’t have to be here.” |
“We definitely have to be here!” several people shouted in response. “We do!” | “We definitely have to be here!” several people shouted in response. “We do!” |
President Trump took to Twitter on Tuesday morning to taunt Gov. Cuomo and his brother, Chris Cuomo, the CNN host. | President Trump took to Twitter on Tuesday morning to taunt Gov. Cuomo and his brother, Chris Cuomo, the CNN host. |
Calling Monday “a bad day for the Cuomo Brothers,” the president wrote on Twitter that “New York was lost to the looters, thugs, Radical Left, and all others forms of Lowlife & Scum.” | Calling Monday “a bad day for the Cuomo Brothers,” the president wrote on Twitter that “New York was lost to the looters, thugs, Radical Left, and all others forms of Lowlife & Scum.” |
“The Governor refuses to accept my offer of a dominating National Guard,” the president wrote. “NYC was ripped to pieces.” | “The Governor refuses to accept my offer of a dominating National Guard,” the president wrote. “NYC was ripped to pieces.” |
Several protests in recent days have taken place in front of Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue. | Several protests in recent days have taken place in front of Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue. |
Relations between the president and the governor have been intermittently cordial and combative over the past two months, as Mr. Cuomo has emerged as a national figure in fighting the coronavirus in New York State. The governor has met with the president at the White House, but the two have also criticized each other publicly. | |
The president has also taunted Chris Cuomo in the past by calling him Fredo, a reference to the hapless Corleone brother in “The Godfather.” | The president has also taunted Chris Cuomo in the past by calling him Fredo, a reference to the hapless Corleone brother in “The Godfather.” |
He ended his message on Twitter on Monday with: “Likewise, Fredo’s ratings are down 50%!” | He ended his message on Twitter on Monday with: “Likewise, Fredo’s ratings are down 50%!” |
The times and locations of other planned demonstrations included: | The times and locations of other planned demonstrations included: |
11:30 — Protest at 145th Street & Broadway | 11:30 — Protest at 145th Street & Broadway |
1:00 — Manhattan: Rally at Foley Square | 1:00 — Manhattan: Rally at Foley Square |
1:00 — Queens: Protest starting at Fort Totten | 1:00 — Queens: Protest starting at Fort Totten |
5:00 — Manhattan: Rally at Stonewall Inn | 5:00 — Manhattan: Rally at Stonewall Inn |
6:00 — Brooklyn: Protest at 98 5th Avenue | 6:00 — Brooklyn: Protest at 98 5th Avenue |
6:00 — Queens: Protest at Mott Avenue train station | 6:00 — Queens: Protest at Mott Avenue train station |
As the protests began to take shape earlier in the day Monday, participants and observers alike said they had never witnessed expressions of grief and anger of such magnitude. | |
“People are not going to go home until they get what they want,” said Mike Tucker, a 54-year old Bronx resident whose 21-year-old son, Stephonne Crawford, was fatally shot by the police in 2005 in Brooklyn. | “People are not going to go home until they get what they want,” said Mike Tucker, a 54-year old Bronx resident whose 21-year-old son, Stephonne Crawford, was fatally shot by the police in 2005 in Brooklyn. |
But Mr. Tucker, who spoke as he watched protesters gather on the steps of Restoration Plaza in Bedford-Stuyvesant, also denounced the violence and looting that had punctuated the protests in New York. | But Mr. Tucker, who spoke as he watched protesters gather on the steps of Restoration Plaza in Bedford-Stuyvesant, also denounced the violence and looting that had punctuated the protests in New York. |
“We don’t want it to escalate,” he said. “We don’t want people coming out here tearing up, burning up.” | “We don’t want it to escalate,” he said. “We don’t want people coming out here tearing up, burning up.” |
Although the protests on Monday were again mostly orderly, they were flecked with moments of tension and confrontation. | Although the protests on Monday were again mostly orderly, they were flecked with moments of tension and confrontation. |
At one standoff near Washington Square Park in Manhattan, Terence A. Monahan, the Police Department’s chief of department and the city’s highest-ranking uniformed officer, grabbed a microphone to defuse the conflict. Hundreds of officers cordoned off a large group of protesters in front of Radio City Music Hall. And at least 1,000 demonstrators walked onto the F.D.R. Drive in Lower Manhattan, blocking traffic on both sides of the highway near the Brooklyn Bridge. | |
The imposition of a citywide curfew, which Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced Monday afternoon, was a significantly more forceful approach to civil unrest than the city had taken in its recent history. | The imposition of a citywide curfew, which Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced Monday afternoon, was a significantly more forceful approach to civil unrest than the city had taken in its recent history. |
By enacting the clampdown, New York joined Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington and a number of other cities across the country that had taken similar steps. | By enacting the clampdown, New York joined Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington and a number of other cities across the country that had taken similar steps. |
Although officials had imposed curfews on the city’s parks in the past to address crime, such limits extending across New York’s five boroughs had not been adopted at any point in the past several decades, including as part of recent efforts to keep people at home to halt the spread of the coronavirus. | Although officials had imposed curfews on the city’s parks in the past to address crime, such limits extending across New York’s five boroughs had not been adopted at any point in the past several decades, including as part of recent efforts to keep people at home to halt the spread of the coronavirus. |
In 1943, Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia imposed an emergency curfew after rioting in Harlem that was touched off when a white police officer shot a black soldier. Five people were killed during the ensuing protests. The city was also subject to a nationwide curfew on “places of public amusement,” such as bars in 1945, as a fuel conservation measure. | |
As 11 p.m. approached Monday, thousands of New Yorkers were left with a decision to make: Stay or go home? | |
Just after the curfew took effect, more than 200 people remained on Atlantic Avenue near the Barclays Center chanting “hands up, don’t shoot” and marching west. By around midnight, they had crossed the Manhattan Bridge, passing dozens of officers on the way. | Just after the curfew took effect, more than 200 people remained on Atlantic Avenue near the Barclays Center chanting “hands up, don’t shoot” and marching west. By around midnight, they had crossed the Manhattan Bridge, passing dozens of officers on the way. |
With the curfew 10 minutes away in Williamsburg, all but a handful of the protesters gathered outside the 90th Precinct had scattered. Some of those who remained said they had no intention of going home. | With the curfew 10 minutes away in Williamsburg, all but a handful of the protesters gathered outside the 90th Precinct had scattered. Some of those who remained said they had no intention of going home. |
“I do not think anybody is going to be observing this curfew,” said George Daratany, 34. “It doesn’t compute for New York City to have a closing time.” | “I do not think anybody is going to be observing this curfew,” said George Daratany, 34. “It doesn’t compute for New York City to have a closing time.” |
Those exempt from the curfew included health care workers, people who work in groceries, pharmacies and other essential retail stores, and journalists. The city’s Department of Homeless Services confirmed that outreach workers and people living unsheltered on the streets would also be exempt. | |
As a long night gave way to a new morning, protesters had cleared out of Midtown, leaving small groups of looters wandering the streets, picking over what was left at the gift stores, bodegas and other small businesses that had been turned upside down in a span of hours. | |
The police arrested several people near Eighth Avenue and 40th Street, but many others left the scene or continued walking north. Some looters stopped to take items from a bodega along the way. | The police arrested several people near Eighth Avenue and 40th Street, but many others left the scene or continued walking north. Some looters stopped to take items from a bodega along the way. |
When the group reached Columbus Circle, police vehicles flooded the area, officers made several more arrests and what was left of the group fled. | When the group reached Columbus Circle, police vehicles flooded the area, officers made several more arrests and what was left of the group fled. |
In the looters’ wake, a gift shop on Eighth Avenue that had been broken into earlier was in ruins. Shelves that had been filled with electronic trinkets were empty, and New York-themed hats and T-shirts were strewn on the floor. | In the looters’ wake, a gift shop on Eighth Avenue that had been broken into earlier was in ruins. Shelves that had been filled with electronic trinkets were empty, and New York-themed hats and T-shirts were strewn on the floor. |
Outside, the crowned head of a Statue of Liberty replica rested in a pile of glass. A police officer asked passers-by if they knew how to reach the store’s owners. No one did. | Outside, the crowned head of a Statue of Liberty replica rested in a pile of glass. A police officer asked passers-by if they knew how to reach the store’s owners. No one did. |
The scene involving Chief Monahan ended with him taking a knee and locking arms with protesters. | The scene involving Chief Monahan ended with him taking a knee and locking arms with protesters. |
A photo of the chief making the show of solidarity with those rallying against police brutality was reported and published by Gothamist. A separate video posted on Twitter by a CBS reporter captured his remarks before he made the symbolic gesture. | A photo of the chief making the show of solidarity with those rallying against police brutality was reported and published by Gothamist. A separate video posted on Twitter by a CBS reporter captured his remarks before he made the symbolic gesture. |
“This has got to end. We all know Minnesota was wrong,” Chief Monahan says in the video, addressing protesters about Mr. Floyd’s death. “There is not a police officer over here that thinks Minnesota was justified. We stand with you on that.” | “This has got to end. We all know Minnesota was wrong,” Chief Monahan says in the video, addressing protesters about Mr. Floyd’s death. “There is not a police officer over here that thinks Minnesota was justified. We stand with you on that.” |
“But, this is our city — our city!” he continued. “Do not let people who are not from this city have you come here and screw up your city! We cannot be fighting. We have to live here. This is our home.” | “But, this is our city — our city!” he continued. “Do not let people who are not from this city have you come here and screw up your city! We cannot be fighting. We have to live here. This is our home.” |
After delivering his message into an amplified microphone, Chief Monahan took the hands of two protesters, one on either side, and together they each dropped to one knee. | After delivering his message into an amplified microphone, Chief Monahan took the hands of two protesters, one on either side, and together they each dropped to one knee. |
The driver of an S.U.V. barreled through a line of law enforcement officers at a protest late Monday in Buffalo, injuring two of them in a confrontation that was caught on video, the authorities said. | |
The injured included a Buffalo police officer and a New York State trooper, according to Captain Jeff Rinaldo, a Buffalo Police Department spokesman. Both were in stable condition. | The injured included a Buffalo police officer and a New York State trooper, according to Captain Jeff Rinaldo, a Buffalo Police Department spokesman. Both were in stable condition. |
The driver and the passengers in the S.U.V. were taken into custody, the Erie County executive, Mark Poloncarz, wrote on Twitter. | The driver and the passengers in the S.U.V. were taken into custody, the Erie County executive, Mark Poloncarz, wrote on Twitter. |
The episode took place around 9:45 p.m., as the officers, wearing riot gear, were responding to protests related to the death of Mr. Floyd, the authorities said. It was not immediately clear whether the people in the S.U.V. were part of the protest. | The episode took place around 9:45 p.m., as the officers, wearing riot gear, were responding to protests related to the death of Mr. Floyd, the authorities said. It was not immediately clear whether the people in the S.U.V. were part of the protest. |
On Sunday, the driver of a tanker truck sped through a group of protesters on an interstate in Minneapolis. There were no serious injuries and the driver was arrested. | On Sunday, the driver of a tanker truck sped through a group of protesters on an interstate in Minneapolis. There were no serious injuries and the driver was arrested. |
Reporting was contributed by Anne Barnard, Emily Jo Corona, Luis Ferré-Sadurní, Alan Feuer, Michael Gold, Emma Goldberg, Melissa Guerrero, Corey Kilgannon, Colin Moynihan, Nicole Hong, Jeffery C. Mays, Andy Newman, Derek M. Norman, Azi Paybarah, Jan Ransom, Dana Rubinstein, Nate Schweber, Matthew Sedacca, Ashley Southall, Liam Stack, Matt Stevens, Nikita Stewart, Alex Traub, Neil Vigdor, Ali Watkins and Michael Wilson. | Reporting was contributed by Anne Barnard, Emily Jo Corona, Luis Ferré-Sadurní, Alan Feuer, Michael Gold, Emma Goldberg, Melissa Guerrero, Corey Kilgannon, Colin Moynihan, Nicole Hong, Jeffery C. Mays, Andy Newman, Derek M. Norman, Azi Paybarah, Jan Ransom, Dana Rubinstein, Nate Schweber, Matthew Sedacca, Ashley Southall, Liam Stack, Matt Stevens, Nikita Stewart, Alex Traub, Neil Vigdor, Ali Watkins and Michael Wilson. |