police brutality protests
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez says Bill de Blasio's comments 'defending' NYPD during protests are 'unacceptable'
One of the most striking scenes from Saturday's nationwide police brutality protests occurred when New York Police Department vehicles were seen driving into a crowd of protesters, some of whom were holding onto a barricade in front of one the trucks.
It is unclear if there were any injuries. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio weighed in on the incident, saying that he wished the officers "hadn't done that," but they "were being surrounded by a violent crowd" and "if those protesters had just gotten out of the way," the "troubling" moment never would have happened.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) was not pleased with the mayor's response, deeming it "unacceptable," especially since the police department ultimately falls under his leadership (although the police union hasn't always taken too kindly to the mayor, either). DeBlasio, she added, needed to "de-escalate" the situation. Tim O'Donnell