Dozens of activists spent Tuesday night in City Hall Park, taking over the area with plans to stay put until Mayor Bill de Blasio agrees to cut the NYPD's $6 billion budget by $1 billion.
"The individual police officers—they could be well-meaning people that wanna do good in the world, but you can't do good in the world in a system that's predicated on the dehumanization of Black people," organizing director of VOCAL-NY, Jawanza James Williams, told Gothamist. Budgets are "moral documents," he says, showing what the city's priorities are. "They have prioritized policing over housing, healthcare, social services, and education."
About 100 stayed overnight Tuesday, with some demonstrators planning to take shifts to ensure a continued presence at the park.
The activists are staying until at least June 30th, when the City Council and de Blasio plan to finalize a budget plan. The City Council has proposed cutting $1 billion from the NYPD budget, though de Blasio has not expressed full support. Earlier this month, he committed to transferring some funds from the NYPD to youth and social services, but did not specify how much.
"What amount of money, how, is still being worked through," de Blasio said Wednesday morning when asked about the demands for $1 billion in cuts.
Regarding Occupy City Hall, de Blasio said, "This is a city that for generations has respected the right of people to peacefully protest, but again, it has to be done safely, it has to be done with rules that make sense. And so, NYPD will address the situation. They're very familiar with how to handle something like this the right way, respect people's rights, but also make sure public safety and other public needs are addressed."
Williams, a lead organizer of the action, said about 600 people marched around City Hall three times. As protests against racist police violence continue citywide for nearly one month straight, the protesters spontaneously met up with another Defund the NYPD march that came from 42nd Street. Both groups met at the Tweed Courthouse, where people spoke and shared their experiences. At the park, music, poetry, and teach-ins continued until 3 a.m.
"I'm so fucking proud of New York right now," Williams said. "The number of people, the number of organizations, that genuinely poured out so much love and support to make this a reality was unfathomable before it happened. We couldn't even handle the amount of information that was coming in."
"It's not a couple of kids in the park," he added, saying the COVID-19 pandemic and fear of police response in the wake of violent baton beatings and pepper sprayings during the first week of demonstrations, which he believed kept thousands more from joining.
Protesters told us cars passed by honking in support, and there was plenty food and blankets to go around in preparation.
Dozens of cops stood by—both plainclothes and in uniform—watching protesters. Barricades had been set up along the park. One protester set up a hammock, but was told to take it down Wednesday afternoon. Police allowed the group to stay and protest—though did not permit tents or shade structures to be built from tarps. Councilmember Brad Lander said the cops told him it was technically a violation of 16-122(b)—defined as a "street obstruction," making it "illegal for anyone to place or leave any box, barrel, bale of merchandise, or other moveable property" on public streets or places (which could result in $100 to $150 fines).
25-year-old Khalil wasn't sure he'd stay the night, but ultimately stayed, calling the action a "beautiful thing" with blankets and sleeping bags provided.
"How we make sure that we don't need violence workers is redefining public safety and that means creating a culture of collective care," Khalil said.
Amy, 23, added: "I was not prepared to stay the night but then just decided to."
Her only hesitation was what to do about a bathroom.
"There was a real sense of community. All of us coming together, singing together, supporting our speakers and really uplifting their voices," said Doriya, 26.
The Strong Economy for All Coalition's organizing director Charles Khan, who participated in a personal capacity, biked to the protest last night and again this afternoon, saying activists were chilling on the grass area and playing music. But despite the calm atmosphere, their demands should be clear.
"Any elected official that claims not to know what our demands are is choosing to be willfully ignorant," Khan said. "We're expecting to win by June 30th."
