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NYPD Seeks Two People Who Poured Glue Into MetroCard Machines During Subway Policing Protest
By
Jen Chung
Published Feb 5, 2020
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Chris Jones / Gothamist
By
Jen Chung
Published Feb 5, 2020
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Policing are searching for two people suspected of committing "criminal mischief" during last Friday's J31 protests, a citywide day of actions against what activists say is excessive policing in the NYC Transit system.
According to the NYPD, two people entered the mezzanine area of the 96th Street B/C subway station at around 4:30 a.m. on January 31st and "proceeded to pour glue into MetroCard readers affixed to three turnstiles, chained a service entry gate open in a fixed position, and placed stickers throughout the station, before fleeing the location in an unknown direction."
This incident was among several reported acts of vandalism committed during the day-long series of protests, which also included banner-drops, speak-outs, and consecutive marches through midtown Manhattan and Bed-Stuy. Thirteen people were arrested and 11 were given criminal summonses, according to the NYPD. On 42nd Street, one woman was tossed to the ground and handcuffed by dozens of officers after spray-painting "FTP" on the window of a Cartier store.
Several elected officials and police leaders condemned the demonstrations, the third in a series of protests organized by a coalition of grassroots groups in response to Governor Andrew Cuomo's hiring of 500 new MTA cops. Participants in the protest are calling for free public transit; an end to official harassment of the homeless, vendors, and musicians in the subways; and full accessibility for people of all physical ability throughout the transit system.
"Let’s be clear, this was not a protest. This was criminal activity by misguided people that were a bunch of knuckleheads quite frankly," NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea told reporters during a crime briefing on Tuesday. "We thank them for being stupid enough to videotape what they did because [NYPD Chief of Detective Rodney Harrison] will be relentless in making sure they all get arrested."
Mayor Bill de Blasio echoed his police commissioner's view, calling the protesters actions "absolutely inappropriate."
“It doesn’t matter which cause is being taken by protestors, the NYPD keeps the peace,” he added.
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Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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