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Citywide Curfew Will Go Into Effect At 11 P.M. Tonight
By
Elizabeth Kim
Published Jun 1, 2020
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Scott Heins / Gothamist
By
Elizabeth Kim
Published Jun 1, 2020
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Following two nights of looting and clashes between police and protesters, New York City will impose a curfew beginning at 11 p.m. and ending at 5 a.m.
Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the decision on Monday afternoon during an interview with WAMC's Alan Chartock.
"I spoke with the mayor, there’s going to be a curfew in New York City that we think could be helpful," Cuomo said.
The governor added that the number of NYPD officers would be doubled, from 4,000 to 8,000. Earlier in the day, the NYPD confirmed a New York Post report that all police officers would begin working 12-hour shifts this week.
Cuomo has been critical of the events over the last two nights of demonstrations against police violence and the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd, a black man. In Soho, residents and building owners woke up to shattered glass, bare mannequins, and other debris after stores were broken into and looted. Disturbing video also surfaced throughout the night, of police officers chasing protesters and one officer brandishing what appeared to be a gun on an open street in Lower Manhattan.
"Something needs to be done," Cuomo said during his press conference. "Last night was not acceptable."
In a joint release, Mayor Bill de Blasio, who has stressed that most of the protesters have been peaceful, said, "I support and protect peaceful protest in this city. The demonstrations we've seen have been generally peaceful. We can't let violence undermine the message of this moment. It is too important and the message must be heard."
He added: "The Police Commissioner and I have spoken at length about the incidents we've all seen in recent days where officers didn't uphold the values of this city or the NYPD. We agree on the need for swift action. He will speak later today on how officers will be held accountable."
It is not clear how long the city would impose a curfew. On WAMC, Cuomo said only, "We’ll see where we are tomorrow.”
According to the executive order signed by Mayor de Blasio, the curfew would not apply to "peace officers, firefighters, first responders and emergency medical technicians, individuals traveling to and from essential work and performing essential work, people experiencing homelessness and without access to a viable shelter, and individuals seeking medical treatment or medical supplies."
Curfews have historically been viewed as controversial, objected to by both civil libertarians as well as police. Among the latter, curfews have been viewed as a strain on staffing. During the 1980s, many American towns, including some in New York, considered curfews as a way of cracking down on so-called delinquent youth.
In general, law enforcement, healthcare workers and members of the media are exempt from curfew orders.
In 1943, Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia issued an emergency curfew in response to an uprising in Harlem sparked by a white police officer shooting a black soldier. Five people were killed during the protests.
In the wake of nationwide protests over police violence, curfews have been enacted in a long list of cities, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Minneapolis, Atlanta, Chicago, Philadelphia and Washington D.C.
Tagged
curfew
bill de blasio
andrew cuomo
Elizabeth Kim
Elizabeth Kim is a reporter on the People and Power desk who covers mayoral power. She previously covered the pandemic, housing, redevelopment and public spaces. A native of Queens, she speaks fluent Mandarin. Got a tip? Email [email protected]
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