Saturday’s Millions March in New York City drew 25,000 people, lasted all day, and at one point stretched 19 city blocks, but was marred later in the day by violence against police and the discovery of potential weapons on the Brooklyn Bridge. The Millions March was rare in that it was coordinated in Washington, D.C. and across the country by the National Action Network, Al Sharpton’s organization.
While the turnout for the D.C. version of the march against police brutality was underwhelming in its turnout — only a few thousand came out — New York City drew tens of thousands of supporters, including celebrities, musicians, and famous actors. The cast of Orange is the New Black and music mogul Russell Simmons were among them.
New York’s Millions March mainly worked its way through the heart of Manhattan and was peaceful, but later in the evening thousands of people blocked the Brooklyn Bridge in both directions for at least one hour. At one point, Millions March protesters started to throw debris at police officers. A trash can was thrown from the Brooklyn Bridge walkway at police walking alongside protesters on the roadway below, according to reports from NBC New York .
While the can was being thrown, two police were injured seriously enough that they ended up in the hospital. The police were attacked by protesters when they were trying to arrest the person who was throwing the trash can over the side of the bridge. While police were trying to restrain him, other protesters started to attack the police. They got on top of the cops and started to punch and kick them, breaking one officers’ nose.
A bag of hammers was also discovered on the bridge after the Millions March protesters passed through, but it was not clear if it was left by someone from the group.
There was other violence during the New York City Millions March, when the windows of a police car were smashed, bags of trash were left on another police car, and protest signs were placed on another, according to the New York Daily News . The group on the Brooklyn Bridge appeared to have broken off from the main crowd of Millions March protesters around 7:15 p.m. and started to throw things like orange caution cones and construction material onto the roadway from the walkway above.
The Millions March violence was bad enough that it elicited a stern warning from New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. The mayor made the unusual move of holding a Saturday press conference late at night to respond to the violence.
“We will not allow a small contingent of agitators to bring disorder and violence to these protests,” said the mayor, adding that Millions March or otherwise, “those who reject peaceful protest and provoke violence can expect immediate arrest and prosecution.”
[Image via KTLA ]
