Human RightsNorth America

Thousands march against police brutality in New York

390202_NEWYORK

Washington Square Park was the starting point for a huge gathering of people outraged by racism, police brutality, and the policies of the New York City Police Department. The march was led by family members of the people who have been killed by NYPD officers.
The crowd of the tens of thousands of people proceeded north into midtown Manhattan. The lengthy march included thousands of African-American high school and college students, who say they have been personally impacted by police brutality, and desperately want things to change. Nova Felder says the proposal from President Obama for body cameras is not enough, and the problems are much deeper. Felder says real systemic changes are needed to reverse the longstanding patterns of racism in US society. Many of the protesters oppose the so-called “Broken Window” policies of the NYPD, which makes the department focus on the investigation and punishment of petty offenses. After the march officially concluded, confrontations erupted throughout lower Manhattan. A crowd of protesters attempted to enter the NYPD headquarters at One Police Plaza, and faced down a group of officers in riot gear. Bridges were shut down, and other centers of commerce were targeted by protesters.

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