Mayor Says 'This Is Not Acceptable And Must Stop' After Food Deliveryman Detained During Curfew
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – Thousands of protesters are expected to take to the streets of New York City for the ninth straight day of peaceful demonstrations against police brutality.
The NYPD says approximately 270 people were arrested Thursday, many continuing to march after the 8 p.m. curfew.
"It's a commitment to the Black Lives Movement. So many people out here doing their part. It'd be a shame if I didn't do mine," Sam Kebede told CBS2.
Less than an hour after curfew, police started handcuffing about a dozen demonstrators on the Upper East Side.
Social media video from the Upper West Side also showed officers detain a food delivery worker on the job.
This delivery guy thought he's an essential worker, police seemed to disagree. The rules issued before the curfew very unclear but according to the state, restaurants, bar & food industry workers are classified as essential. #nycurfew #NYCPolice pic.twitter.com/OyZVuDkPuM
— Kirsti Karttunen (@KirstiKarttunen) June 5, 2020
The worker can be heard saying, "Are you serious? Look, look, look. I'm not even doing anything."
An officer replies, "You're violating curfew." "It tells me on the app that I can show you guys something," the worker said.
Mayor Bill de Blasio responded on Twitter, saying, "Just got off the phone with @NYPDShea after seeing the troubling video of a delivery worker arrested by police while doing his job. This is NOT acceptable and must stop. Food delivery is essential work and is EXEMPTED from the curfew."
Just got off the phone with @NYPDShea after seeing the troubling video of a delivery worker arrested by police while doing his job. This is NOT acceptable and must stop. Food delivery is essential work and is EXEMPTED from the curfew.
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) June 5, 2020
Sources tell CBS2 that while the worker was questioned and claimed he was an essential delivery worker, police determined that he was not working that night and had not made deliveries.
The officers let him go without charging him with the violation of the curfew.
The food delivery app DoorDash said it's working with city officials to determine what happened, adding, "Essential workers must be able to complete their work and feel safe and secure while doing so."
City Council Speaker Corey Johnson called on the mayor to end the curfew and support police reform bills.
End the curfew. Support all of our police reform bills. End violence against peaceful protestors. End the re-interpretation of 50-A. Work with us to restore SYEP and to reduce the NYPD's budget & invest that money into housing, health care, young people & communities of color.
— Corey Johnson (@CoreyinNYC) June 5, 2020
The curfew is expected to remain in effect through Sunday night.