NYPD distancing arrests: Many non-whites, at times violently

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press


Michael R. Sisak, Associated Press
Updated 10:19 pm CDT, Thursday, May 7, 2020



Photo: Adegoke Atunbi, AP
IMAGE 1 OF 6
In this April 29, 2020 image made from video provided by Adegoke Atunbi, New York City police officers wrestle a man to the ground while making an arrest in the Brooklyn borough of New York. The video is among those posted on social media recently that show the NYPD using physical force while out enforcing the city's 6-foot-of-distance social distance rule. Despite mounting pressure from watchdogs to stop using police to enforce social distancing, Mayor Bill de Blasio stood by the practice on Thursday, May 7, saying: "We're not going to sideline the NYPD." (Adegoke Atunbi via AP)

NEW YORK (AP) — One newly surfaced video of social distancing enforcement gone wrong in New York City shows a police officer running at a black man and throwing him to the ground for mouthing off. Another shows an officer punching a man in the head as he lay pinned to a sidewalk, unable to fight back.

Despite mounting pressure to stop using police to enforce social distancing and data showing that such arrests disproportionately affect people of color, Mayor Bill de Blasio stood by the practice on Thursday, saying: “We’re not going to sideline the NYPD."

“I am not making my decisions based on a very few interactions that were handled poorly or went bad," de Blasio said. "I’m making my decisions based on the millions of interactions that are going right.”

The new videos, posted online after an officer was recorded Saturday pulling a stun gun on a man and violently taking him to the ground, stand in sharp contrast to photos and video tweeted by the NYPD showing friendly officers handing out face masks and gently reminding people to stay 6 feet (2 meters) apart.

Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/article/Caught-on-video-NYPD-social-distancing-patrols-15254771.php

[EllieBC]

1. I'm really hoping this isn't coming as a surprise.

When everyone on social media was rah rah-ing the idea of police being used to enforce this, I pointed out to people it would be used unfairly and unequally against POC in dense urban areas. White people in the ‘burbs having wine o’clock every evening in their cul de sacs? Nah. POC reaching the breaking point after being stuck in their tiny cramped apartments in high rises in areas that are often bereft of green spaces? Yes.

Be careful what you wish for.

[IronLionZion]

3. Good points

It is a bit frustrating for those of us in tiny high rise apartments, but I go for social distance walks avoiding people as much as I can. Others have block parties.

And the law enforcement response has been inconsistent by area, as these videos show unnecessarily violent arrests of POC in NYC, but white guys with guns scream and spit in the face of police officers in Michigan and other states.

[DVRacer]

5. It's why I am leery of new gun laws

Sure they sound reasonable and good but I already see how the existing ones are enforced. You create harsh penalties with any law and see who it gets applied to most frequently.

[JI7]

7. Minorities are targeted becsuse they are minorities, not becsuse

of the laws.

[DVRacer]

10. When you get tired of being hit by hammers

You get a little nervous when new hammers are being handed out.

[JI7]

6. Minorities are targeted regardless . They are targeted BECAUSE they are black

or latino not becsuse of the laws.

[EllieBC]

8. Yes and we shouldn't give the police more excuses.

Like DeBlasio and his snitch line. Who do you think would have been snitched on most? That’s right, POC. What a grand idea that was.

[JI7]

9. The problem is racism. the minorities will be targeted anyways

[EllieBC]

11. But let's not give the racists more tools!

That’s what we’ve done. We can’t not own that.

[bucolic_frolic]

2. Maybe they should try positive reinforcement and warnings

Public service ads telling the maskless - you increase your risk and the risk of others of dying of COVID-19.

This whole mentality of anti-government everything's a hoax is crazy

[Me.]

4. The New Stop & Search

here we go again

[totodeinhere]

12. Social distancing regulations should be enforced equally without regard to race. I'm sure that we

can all agree with that. But having said that remember that people of color are getting sick and dying disproportionately. So that fact needs to be addressed. I do think it's important that all people including POC observe the social distancing requirements. And if law enforcement is necessary to enforce it then so be it. It would be done in an effort to save lives. But there should be no racial discrimination in the enforcement.