• Brooklyn
  • Manhattan
Sunday, February 28, 2021
Newsletter
Queens County Politics
  • News
    • Activism
    • Arts, Sports & Leisure
    • Community Close-Up
    • Education
    • Election
    • Government
      • City Government
      • State Government
      • Federal Government
    • Legislation/Policy
    • Opinion
    • Profile
    • Transportation
  • About
  • Contact Us
  • News
    • Activism
    • Arts, Sports & Leisure
    • Community Close-Up
    • Education
    • Election
    • Government
      • City Government
      • State Government
      • Federal Government
    • Legislation/Policy
    • Opinion
    • Profile
    • Transportation
  • About
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
Queens County Politics
No Result
View All Result

Boro Pres Candidates Respond to George Floyd Death

Clarissa Sosin by Clarissa Sosin
June 1, 2020
in Election
0
Queens Borough Hall By Wasted Time R at English Wikipedia, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20933796

Queens Borough Hall By Wasted Time R at English Wikipedia, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20933796

0
SHARES
195
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

With New Yorkers taking to the streets despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic to protest the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and clashing with the NYPD in the process, candidates for Queens Borough President have been forced to confront one of the country’s hot button issues in the final weeks leading up to the primary election: police brutality.

City Council Member Costa Constantinides
Former City Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley

“Walking to the store shouldn’t get you shot. Demonstrating your First Amendment rights shouldn’t get you beaten. We all have to do better, and I know as New Yorkers we will, by working together,” wrote City Council Member Costa Constantinides (D-Astoria, East Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, Woodside) in a press release. “This didn’t start with the murder of George Floyd, nor Eric Garner, nor Trayvon Martin. For generations, white people have more often than not walked free for alleged offenses that are a death sentence for black men and women.” 

The protests in Queens, which took place in Jackson Heights, Jamaica and Flushing Meadow Park over the weekend, did not devolve into the type of civil unrest seen in Manhattan and Brooklyn over the weekend. Queens was spared the violent spectacle in the neighboring boroughs, where police cars were burnt, tear gas filled the air and protesters and police officers battled in the streets. 

According to the NYPD, as of Sunday afternoon there had been 345 arrests, 33 police officers injured, and 47 police vehicles vandalized citywide. The majority of the arrests took place in Manhattan and Brooklyn.

In a tweet on Sunday morning, Commissioner Dermot Shea called the protests, and all of 2020 in general, unprecedented and lauded the way his department has handled the protesters despite criticisms that they escalated the violence.

“I want you to know that I’m extremely proud of the way you’ve comported yourselves in the face of such persistent danger…” he wrote. 

Dao Yin
City Councilmember Donovan Richards

Elizabeth Crowley said that peaceful protest is important to spark conversation and change but that there needed to be a de-escalation of the current situation for that to be possible. 

“We must find a way to de-escalate in order to peacefully communicate with each other. We need a commitment to community conversations and policing where everyone can feel safe in their homes and lives,” she said.  

Dao Yin,  also emphasized the need to make sure that the protests remain peaceful but his focus was on preventing the destruction and looting of businesses. 

“We must not allow what happened in Minnesota to happen to our great city. Our small business employ people who really need jobs, including undocumented immigrants,” he said. 

City Council Member Donovan Richards (D-Arverne, Brookville, Edgemere, Far Rockaway, Laurelton, Rosedale, Springfield Gardens) condemned the NYPD’s response to the protests citywide. 

“The NYPD’s response to protestors gathering in mourning of the Black lives lost to police brutality was insensitive and unacceptable,” said Council Member Donovan Richards, Chair of NYC Council Committee on Public Safety. “I am calling for the immediate firing of officers  who abused their authority through excessive force against unarmed New Yorkers.”

Candidate Anthony Miranda did not respond to requests for comment.

Tags: Borough President's RaceCity Council Member Costa G. ConstantinidesCity Councilmember Donovan Richardselizabeth crowleyqueensQueens Politics
Previous Post

Queens Reacts to George Floyd Killing

Next Post

Queens Lawmakers on the Move June 2, 2020

Clarissa Sosin

Clarissa Sosin

Clarissa Sosin is a reporter and editor who covers local politics and the issues that impact people’s lives.

Next Post
Queens County City Council News

Queens Lawmakers on the Move June 2, 2020

Subscribe to Our Daily Newsletter!

Podcast: Black & Jewish

Chaya and Ariama with the logo for "Black & Jewish" logo

Today's Top Read

  • A polling site on special election day in Far Rockaway, Queens on Feb. 23. (Photo by Gabriele Holtermann)

    With No Clear Winner on Election Night, Ranked Choice Voting to be Put to the Test in District 31 Special Election

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • After Narrow Defeat, Osina Looks to Redeem Himself in Next Week’s Special Election

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Experts, Voters Address Environmental Threats in City Council District 31 Ahead of Special Election

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Special Election Candidates Have Rival Visions on Future of Policing

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Nicole Lee: A City Council Candidate and Advocate for People with Disabilities

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
Schneps logo

© 2021 Political Edge LLC

Check out other local political news!

  • Brooklyn
  • Manhattan

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • About
  • Contact Us

© 2021 Political Edge LLC