CAIR-NY Condemns NYPD’s Aggressive Dispersing of Crowd at Pro-Palestine Protest in Brooklyn
Credit: Pexels/Howard Herdi
(NEW YORK, NY, 10/23/2023)—The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY) today condemned the NYPD’s aggressive actions in dispersing the crowd at a pro-Palestine protest in Bay Ridge this past Saturday.
On Saturday, Oct. 21, thousands gathered in Bay Ridge for a pro-Palestine protest organized by Within Our Lifetime. The NYPD, and its Strategic Response Group issued a warning for protesters to disperse and within minutes allegedly began arresting protesters without warning, shoving people, and attacking protesters. The NYPD confirmed 19 individuals were arrested, 3 of whom were minors. A video circulated by the organizers appears to show a uniformed NYPD officer throwing punches as the crowd attempted to disperse.
SEE: NYPD arrests 19 people at pro-Palestine protest held in heart of city's largest Arab community
SEE: Within Our Lifetime Video
In a statement, CAIR-NY Executive Director Afaf Nasher said:
“The alleged actions of the NYPD’s Strategic Response Group in violently dispersing a peaceful crowd speaks to the degradation of our civil rights, especially when it comes to pro-Palestinian solidarity. The relationship between the NYPD and the Muslim community was already on thin ice, and these latest actions only illustrate why.
The NYPD’s motto ‘Courtesy, Professionalism and Respect’ certainly doesn’t seem to apply to all communities equally. CAIR-NY joins other civil rights organizations in calling for the disbandment of the Strategic Response Group.”
CAIR-NY's mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR-NY es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: Afaf Nasher, Esq., CAIR-NY Executive Director, 917-669-4006, anasher@cair.com; Rabea Ali, rali@cair.com