Governor Cuomo And Mayor De Blasio Announce Citywide Curfew In New York City Will Take Effect Beginning At 11:00 pm Tonight

NYPD Will Double the Number of Officers in Areas Where There Has Been Violent Property Damage 

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio today announced a citywide curfew in New York City will take effect beginning at 11 PM tonight and will be lifted at 5 AM tomorrow morning.

The Governor and the Mayor also announced that the New York City Police Department will double its police presence to help prevent violence and property damage. The additional officers will be deployed to areas where violence and property damage occurred during last night’s protests – specifically in lower Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn.

The Governor and the Mayor also reminded New Yorkers participating in protests to take proper health precautions and wear face coverings while we continue to fight the COVID-19 virus.

“I stand behind the protestors and their message, but unfortunately there are people who are looking to distract and discredit this moment,” Governor Cuomo said. “The violence and the looting has been bad for the city, the state and this entire national movement, undermining and distracting from this righteous cause. While we encourage people to protest peacefully and make their voices heard, the safety of the general public is paramount and cannot be compromised. Tonight the Mayor and I are implementing a citywide curfew starting at 11 PM and doubling the NYPD presence across the city.”

“I support and protect peaceful protest in this city. The demonstrations we’ve seen have been generally peaceful. We can’t let violence undermine the message of this moment. It is too important and the message must be heard. Tonight, to protect against violence and property damage, the Governor and I have decided to implement a citywide curfew,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “The Police Commissioner and I have spoken at length about the incidents we’ve all seen in recent days where officers didn’t uphold the values of this city or the NYPD. We agree on the need for swift action. He will speak later today on how officers will be held accountable.”

Earlier in the day, the Mayor would be asked about the possibility of a Curfew. Both he and the NYPD Commissioner, Dermot Shea would answer:

Mayor: “To date, we have not believed a curfew was the right strategy, but the Commissioner and I are going to talk about it as an option today. We’ll discuss it over the next few hours. I’m also going to have a discussion with Governor Cuomo about it. We have to look at it as an option, but that being said we have not made a decision. There are advantages and disadvantages, to say the least, to instituting a curfew. Previous nights, I think we’re different than what we saw last night, so we’re weighing that right now. In terms of the strategies that will be in effect tonight. I’ll let the Commissioner speak to it, but I can say having gone all over the areas where there were protests last night, I saw a huge number of NYPD officers, which I think is essential to keeping the peace where there is this kind of attempt at looting. So, we have a lot of officers ready to go. I think a lot became clear from last night about how to strategically approach this situation. I feel tremendous confidence that the NYPD will know how to deal with it. ”

Commissioner Shea: “Thank you. I was out there last night throughout the city, saw firsthand some of the activities. What a good day that turned bad, unfortunately, and I think it leaves a black mark on everything that’s trying to be accomplished. Again, I made the reference yesterday and I think it’s appropriate – it’s hijacking a cause, and you had such good stories coming out, whether it’s the cover of today’s Daily News or other stories, you saw a lot on social media of all different ranks. Not always agreeing, but agreeing to see and hear each other and listen to each other and knowing that it’s a long journey to get to where we want to be, to working together, to denounce when we see something wrong. That changed last night with the looting. We have to recognize that that is where the protest ended. There was no agenda for a protest last night as breaking into stores and stealing property. We will have a robust amount of officers both in plainclothes and uniform out there tonight. Anyone coming to, whether it’s one of the outer boroughs or to Manhattan with the intent to take advantage of people during this very difficult time, we are going to ensure that we do everything that you are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. We see you driving a car into Manhattan and using it to facilitate that crime, you are going to lose your car. So I encourage everyone again, come out protest, make yourself heard, enact change. But we will have little tolerance for criminal activity. The one thing I will say is I saw increased, again, numbers last night of New Yorkers of every faith, of every religion, of every ethnicity speaking out against it, that they are not speaking for us. I saw many incidents where I was quite frankly a little worried that it was going to turn to violence where people confronting people that are breaking windows on stores, saying that doesn’t help us. I saw a doorman, I saw residents coming down trying to aid, and I think that you know, we are a significant part of this story, the NYPD and law enforcement, but it’s a groundswell that’s going to really end this terrible situation that we’re in the middle of now, and we encourage all New Yorkers to speak up, speak your cause, whether you agree or disagree, but do it peacefully, and work with us. Thank you.”