Two videos showing people dousing New York police officers with water and hurling objects at them were uploaded to Twitter on July 22.
In one video, two officers are making an arrest while people shower them with water. One person launches a bucket at the back at the head of one officer, hitting him.
RESTRAINT pic.twitter.com/MhvXjceiI6
— NYC Scanner (@NYScanner) July 22, 2019
“The videos of cops being doused with water and having objects hurled at them as they made an arrest in Harlem is reprehensible,” wrote New York City Police Chief Terence Monahan on Twitter on the day of the dousing. “NYC’s cops & communities have made remarkable progress—together—but EVERY New Yorker MUST show respect for our cops. They deserve nothing less.”
DISRESPECT: This is what #NYPD Officers are faced with today. Petrified to take action. #BlueLivesMatter @NYCMayor @BilldeBlasio @NYPDnews @NYPD73Pct pic.twitter.com/VRpVKBS5Jb
— NYC Scanner (@NYScanner) July 22, 2019
One suspect has been arrested, according to ABC7 Eyewitness News.
While the reasoning behind the dousing in both cases are unknown, Joseph Imperatrice, the founder of Blue Lives Matter New York City (NYC) told NTD News that law enforcement has been vilified by activist groups over the years, such as by Black Lives Matter (BLM).
BLM Reacts to Case Closed
Blue Lives Matter NYC is an organization “created to help law enforcement and their families during their time in need,” according to their website. Meanwhile, BLM is a group whose members are known to attack law enforcement and chant hostile obscenities aimed at officers.
BLM was co-founded by Alicia Garza who “reveres the Marxist revolutionary, former Black Panther, and convicted cop-killer Assata Shakur for her contributions to the ‘Black Liberation Movement,'” according to website Discover the Networks. The group believes that black people are oppressed and are victims of systematic racism.
Imperatrice said that BLM said it would cause havoc because of the recent decision made by Attorney General William Barr to not charge Officer Daniel Pantaleo in the death of Eric Garner. Garner died from an asthma attack during his arrest for selling untaxed cigarettes in 2014.
Patch reported that seven protestors were arrested for blocking off sections of FDR Drive in Manhattan while the president of BLM of Greater New York streamed the protest.
“The Garner family and BLM pretty much threatened the city of New York that they were going to shut it down because they didn’t like the outcome they received,” said Imperatrice. “And these officers are afraid to go out there and do their job and put their hands on people, because they don’t want to be the next Daniel Pantaleo.”
New York Police Chief Terence Monahan reminded officers of their duties and support after the videos surfaced: “Use your discretion—make arrests when necessary—and know that you have our support and full confidence.”
To NY’s Finest: the work you do every day is remarkable. We trust you to do what is a very difficult job. Use your discretion — make arrests when necessary — and know that you have our support and full confidence. Thank you for what you do day in and day out. Please stay safe. pic.twitter.com/6Px4asur1h
— Chief Terence Monahan (@NYPDChiefofDept) July 22, 2019