Senator James Sanders Jr. Calls for Investigation after Police Clash with LGBTQ / Black Lives Matter Protesters

Senator James Sanders Jr. is calling for an investigation of police behavior after officers were seen on video using force on what appeared to be peaceful participants at the Queer Liberation March for Black Lives and Against Police Brutality on Sunday.
 
An estimated 50,000 people participated in the march from Foley Square to Washington Square Park in Manhattan. It replaced the traditional Pride Parade that takes place every year on the last Sunday in June, but which was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, and this year commemorated the 51st anniversary of the Stonewall riots.
 
The melee apparently began after someone was allegedly caught trying to deface an NYPD vehicle with graffiti, according to published reports. That’s when police allegedly rushed into the streets and started pushing protesters, and slowly driving an NYPD vehicle into the crowd. At least one officer allegedly used pepper spray.
 
“Of course it is wrong to graffiti tag a police car but that doesn’t warrant pushing, shoving, and pepper spraying an entire crowd of people,” Sanders said. “We should be encouraging demonstrations of unity like this one which brought together the LGBTQ community and the Black Lives Matter movement. They were united with one voice to call for justice in the police-related murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and so many others. I am calling for a complete investigation of the incident and if wrongdoing is found on behalf of the police officers then they should be punished accordingly.”