Cuomo Wants Independent Review Of 'Violent' George Floyd Protest

LONG ISLAND, NY —Hours after a protest against the death of George Floyd that was marked by Molotov cocktails, thrown rocks, pepper spray and at least one incident of a woman reportedly thrown to the ground by a police officer, Gov. Andrew Cuomo called for an independent review of Friday night's events.

A video of the incident in Minneapolis shows Floyd, 46, with a police officer's knee on his neck as he begged for help and said, "I can't breathe" and cried out for his mother. The video and Floyd's death have sparked a wave of emotion across the world.

A cloud of pepper spray descended over the Brooklyn rally, police armed with batons violently took down protesters and some rally goers set fires — all scenes that played out in real time on social media. A video shared widely on social media shows a woman who was reportedly thrown to the ground by police officers.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo called for a review by New York Attorney General Letitia James that he said should be completed within 30 days and said he and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio agreed that it needed to commence immediately.

When asked if they were concerned that the protests, where individuals were often not wearing face masks, could lead to an uptick in coronavirus, both de Blasio and Cuomo said they were.

Cuomo agreed with de Blasio that a hard look must be taken at inherent racism in the nation.

Speaking of the Floyd death, Cuomo said: "There is an injustice in the criminal justice system that is abhorrent. How many times have we seen the same situation? Yes, the names change, but the color is the same. That is the painful reality of this situation and it's not just 30 years — it is this nation's history. That is the honest truth and that's what is behind this anger and frustration. That's why I figuratively stand with the protestors — but violence is not the answer."

When asked if he would consider a change to a state regulation regarding the public disclosure of a police officer's prior disciplinary records, Cuomo said he does not believe the law as written prohibits the disclosure and said it was up to local elected officials to decide.

However, he added, "I would sign a bill today that reforms" the measure. "I will sign it today. I can't be more or clear than that."

Of his call for a review of Friday night's protest by AG James, Cuomo said: "The public deserves answers and accountability."

Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was charged Friday with third-degree murder and manslaughter in connection with the death of Floyd after his arrest Monday.

A call for equity in healthcare

On Day 91 of the coronavirus pandemic, a total of 67 deaths were reported, Cuomo said, a "tremendous" low number thanks to the doctors and nurses who worked to save thousands of lives, showing up to help at a time when Cuomo himself told New Yorkers to stay home, he said. Health care workers are heroes, he said. "Our better angels rose to the occasion," Cuomo said.

At a time when five regions across New York State have entered Phase 2 of a reopening plan for the economy, Cuomo said the goal is to open "smart," by reviewing data, leading with numbers and not emotions or politics.

New York City, he said, is expected to reopen into Phase 1 on June 8, with a focus on the hospital surge and flex plan, where the city's 11 city hospitals and 100 private hospitals share resources. During the pandemic, hospitals operated dramatically differently than in the past, he said.

"Public hospitals cannot handle any outbreak of any size. We need those private hospitals operating in a way they never operated before — basically managed as one public health system. If we have problems we need all those hospitals to work together, shifting patients and sharing resources," he said.

With an eye toward reopening, the MTA is "disinfecting trains like never before," he said.

And Cuomo said, there is a real focus on the city's coronavirus hotspots, located in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens.

(New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo's Office)

Those hotspots have been identified through testing and can now be traced by zip code. There is a dramatic difference between the percentages of individuals citywide testing positive for coronavirus, currently at a 19 to 20 percent infection rate, and some zip codes in the areas with an "over-50 percent infection rate," Cuomo said. "We are targeting those zip codes as places to get that infection rate down."

Those areas with the highest rate of infection are in minority communities, the outer boroughs in the Bronx and Queens. "Let's focus on those zip codes," Cuomo said. "These hotspots are not coincidentally predominantly lower income, minority communities. This raises the issue of disparity and inequality."

A total of 10 new testing sites are being added in those areas to determine who has the antibodies and who is contagious, Cuomo said; the state is working with Northwell Health to develop better health care connections in those underserved communities, he said.

"We must address the inequality in health care," he said.

Individuals with diabetes and other pre-existing co-morbidities are more likely to die of coronavirus, Cuomo said. "Why didn't we address the health disparities better? We want to address that with Northwell Health."

He added that the disparities in New York State are not as dramatic as in other areas across the country but still need to be examined.

The governor also said just as their are inequalities in health are, that same inequality and discrimination exists in the criminal justice system. "They are connected," he said.

Cuomo then listed names of individuals, beginning with Rodney King 30 years ago, that reflect a "fundamental injustice" that led to the "disturbing, violent clashes amidst protestors in Brooklyn" Friday night.

This article originally appeared on the Southampton Patch