Protests Spread Through NYC For Third Day, Hundreds Arrested

NEW YORK CITY — Thousands of New Yorkers took to the city's streets again Saturday in a third day of furious protests following the death of Minnesota man George Floyd.

Rallies popped up in Harlem, Times Square, Union Square, on the West Side Highway, on the Brooklyn and Williamsburg bridges, at the Barclays Center, in Flatbush and at several other sites throughout the city. Similar scenes were being seen right across the United States.

Marchers and faith leaders had first gathered Thursday at Union Square, and again turned out in their hordes at Foley Square and outside the Barclays Center in Brooklyn Friday to protest the death of the Minnesota man who was killed with a cop's knee on his neck.

Hundreds have been arrested over the days of protest, including several who were expected to be charged Saturday night or Sunday with throwing Molotov cocktails in Brooklyn Friday night. One of the devices was hurled by a woman at a police vehicle carrying four officers, law enforcement sources said.

Many officers have been hurt during the protest, NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said, including some who had teeth knocked out.

“It is by the grace of God that we don’t have dead officers today,” he said Saturday.

Pat Lynch, the president of the Police Benevolent Association, said Saturday, "Last night, we saw violent criminals targeting New York City police officers with bricks, brass knuckles and Molotov cocktails, for no reason other than the uniform we wear."

On Saturday night, several police cars were seen ablaze on the city's streets.

In shocking videos posted on Twitter Saturday night, two NYPD vehicles can be seen plowing through a crowd of protesters who were pelting the cruisers and pushing barricades into them in Brooklyn. It's unclear if anyone was injured.

"NO ONE gets to slam an SUV through a crowd of human beings," U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wrote on Twitter. "@NYCMayor these officers need to be brought to justice, not dismissed w/“internal reviews.”

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Mayor Bill de Blasio blamed most of the trouble from the protester's side on a "very small number"of people, and announced an investigation into actions both by protesters and police officers.

Protesting has been complicated by the coronavirus pandemic and a fight to stop its spread which includes state regulations mandating face coverings and barring large gatherings.

Derek Chauvin, the Minnesota police officer who pinned down Floyd, faces charges of unintentional murder and manslaughter, Minnesota prosecutors said Friday.

His arrest came one day after Floyd's death spurred protests across the nation, including a Union Square rally where more than 70 people were arrested.

President Donald Trump has referred to protesters that took to looting in Minneapolis as "thugs" in a message that Twitter initially unpublished for "glorifying violence" then republished because it was of "public interest."

"When the looting starts, the shooting starts," wrote the president.

New York leaders have shown support for the protesters, with de Blasio tweeting he was "horrified" by the video of Floyd's death and calling for the officer to be charged.

"I couldn't believe the officer's lack of concern," de Blasio said during his Friday press briefing. "This kinda thing just can't happen."

Gov. Andrew Cuomo gave peaceful protest his backing, saying New Yorkers had a right to gather.

"I get it," he said Friday. "I'm with the protesters."

This article originally appeared on the New York City Patch