NYPD officers attacked with bricks, bottles, Molotov cocktail during George Floyd protest
De Blasio, Shea promise that police, protesters will face consequences after night of violent protests in Brooklyn
Mayor Bill de Blasio and Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said they will not tolerate any violence and that protesters and police officers who break the law will face punishment after an evening of violent protest in Brooklyn on Friday.
NEW YORK - Bricks, bottles, brass knuckles, and even Molotov cocktails. These are just some of the things NYPD officers faced during Friday evenings’ violent protests across New York City.
Samantha Shader, 27, of Catskill, New York, was arrested on an attempted murder charge after police say she threw a homemade firebomb at a vehicle occupied by several officers. The device did not ignite and the officers were unharmed. The NYPD tweeted that federal charges are expected to be filed against multiple people involved in the protest.
NYPD officers suffered a range of injuries during the violent protests, with some officers reportedly having had their teeth knocked out and others reportedly in the emergency room after the protest.
“The answer for violence should not be violence or murder,” Shea said. “That is a mistake and I think anyone that sees it needs to condemn it, because it will not get us where we want to be.”
Shea said that there were two protests planned in New York City on Friday, one beginning at Foley Square that Shea said was “overwhelmingly peaceful,” and a second protest near the Barclays Center in Brooklyn which Shea said was specifically advertised to cause destruction and mayhem.
De Blasio, Shea address violent George Floyd protests in NYC
Mayor Bill de Blasio and Police Commissioner Dermot Shea addressed Friday's violent protests over the death of George Floyd. According to Shea, over 200 people were arrested, and NYPD officers suffered a range of injuries during the protests. A person was also arrested for attempted murder after throwing a Molotov cocktail at four police officers sitting in an occupied van.
“Thank God, there was no loss of life on any part,” Shea said. “There was intent to cause loss of life, thankfully that did not happen.”
“Any protester that tries to take the humanity away from a police officer and devalue them just because they are a public servant is no better than the racists who devalue people of color and particularly black men in America," de Blasio said.