Police with riot gear moved in early Wednesday to clean up a month-long protesters and homeless camp near New York City Hall.
A line of officers in helmets and shields entered City Hall Park shortly before 4 am and forced the remaining people who were camped there. At least seven people were arrested. The charges were pending.
The camp at City Hall Park began forming last month after weeks of protests sparked by the death of George Floyd in May at the hands of Minneapolis police. The Occupy City Hall protest was part of a national “police recall” movement that sought to redirect police funds to the needs of the community, such as housing and education.
Mayor Bill de Blasio, a Democrat, had resisted calls to remove protesters from the park next to the historic building where he works.
When asked Tuesday, de Blasio cited “a balance we always find between the right to protest and especially public safety.” He added: “That decision will be made by the New York police as things arise. We are seeing the situation every day. But again, I think we look at the specific facts of what is happening and then the decisions will be made day by day. “
De Blasio said Wednesday that he would resist any effort by Donald Trump to send federal officials to New York, as the president did in Portland and threatened to do so in other cities. De Blasio said on MSNBC Morning Joe that if Trump sends officers to the city, “we will be in court immediately and we will win.”
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