New York sues NYPD over alleged 'pattern' of excessive force during peaceful protests
New York Attorney General Letitia James has launched a lawsuit against the NYPD and its alleged misconduct during protests.
In a complaint filed Thursday, James, on behalf of the state, alleged the New York City Police Department displayed "a pattern of using excessive force and making false arrests against New Yorkers during peaceful protests" last year. The department violated the First, Fourth, and 14th Amendment rights of New Yorkers as officers cracked down on protesters and even arrested legal observers during racial justice protests last year, the suit alleges.
The killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis last May sparked a wave of protests across the U.S. and the world. New York City was home to many of the largest protests, with some residents demanding justice over the police killing of Eric Garner six years earlier. Videos from some of the protests seemingly showed police attacking "peaceful protests" with "batons, fist strikes, pepper spray, and other physical force," including against many people not charged with any crimes, the suit said. These marked the "latest manifestation of the NYPD's unconstitutional policing practices," the suit continued.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The suit names New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio, NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea, and Chief of Department Terence A. Monahan as defendants in the suit. De Blasio has also been the target of criticism from the NYPD itself. He decided to reduce the force's budget by $1 billion last year amid calls to reduce police funding.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
Why scientists are attempting nuclear fusionThe Explainer Harnessing the reaction that powers the stars could offer a potentially unlimited source of carbon-free energy, and the race is hotting up
-
Codeword: October 27, 2025The Week's daily codeword puzzle
-
Sudoku medium: October 27, 2025The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle
-
Proposed Trump-Putin talks in Budapest on holdSpeed Read Trump apparently has no concrete plans to meet with Putin for Ukraine peace talks
-
Bolivia elects centrist over far-right presidential rivalSpeed Read Relative political unknown Rodrigo Paz, a centrist senator, was elected president
-
Madagascar president in hiding, refuses to resignSpeed Read Andry Rajoelina fled the country amid Gen Z protests and unrest
-
Sanae Takaichi: Japan’s Iron Lady set to be the country’s first woman prime ministerIn the Spotlight Takaichi is a member of Japan’s conservative, nationalist Liberal Democratic Party
-
Israel, Hamas agree to first step of Trump peace planSpeed Read Israel’s military pulls back in Gaza amid prisoner exchange
-
Israel intercepts 2nd Gaza aid flotilla in a weekSpeed Read The Israeli military intercepted a flotilla of nine boats with 145 activists aboard along with medical and food aid
-
Japan poised to get first woman prime ministerSpeed Read The ruling Liberal Democratic Party elected former Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi
-
Israel and Hamas meet on hostages, Trump’s planSpeed Read Hamas accepted the general terms of Trump’s 20-point plan, including the release of all remaining hostages
