Track #5: Eviction Court
December 11th 2020: Downtown Brooklyn
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Music composed and produced by Michael Genese. Audio footage courtesy of Michael Hollingsworth. Photos courtesy of Adrian Childress.
Anti-eviction activists were completely overwhelmed by over 100 officers, two helicopters, and at least 10 paddy wagons.
“We got word that they weren’t allowing our people water, they weren’t allowed them bathroom breaks, which was confirmed once they were released just before midnight.”
On December 11, 2020, anti-eviction activists held a protest inside a Court Street office building that houses a law firm responsible for representing landlords in eviction cases. Without warning, NYPD officers aggressively arrested 19 members of the group, despite activists complying when they were ordered to leave the building.
As the arrested protesters were escorted onto the street with zip-ties around their wrists, a small group of activists waiting outside began chanting at officers to let them go, and were met with shoves, batons, and more arrests. The group of about 30 protesters was completely overwhelmed by over 100 officers, two helicopters, and at least 10 paddy wagons.
-Success - Lincoln Restler has signed on!-
Now let’s put pressure on City Council:
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Call Members of the Finance Committee:
Diana Ayala: (212)-828-9800 [East Harlem Office], (347)-297-4922 [BX Office], Kamillah Hanks: (718)-556-7370, Julie Menin: (212)-860-1950, Linda Lee: 718-468-0137, Mercedes Narcisse: 718-241-9330, Eric Dinowitz: 718-549-7300, Keith Powers (212)-818-0580, Francisco Moya: (718)-651-1917, Darlene Mealy: (718)-953-3097
"I'm calling to urge Councilmember _____ to support the campaign to disband the NYPD's Strategic Response Group and reinvest its estimated $133 Million in funds back into our communities. As services across the city are facing unprecedented budget cuts, it is unacceptable for our leaders to fund a notoriously violent unit that perpetuates cycles of racial injustice and daily trauma with impunity.
Last year, more than 500 New Yorkers testified to City Council about the harm and trauma that this unit has inflicted on our community members. New Yorkers need housing, libraries, and fully funded city services. We do not need militarized police units who brutalize us and threaten our First Amendment rights.
As a member of the Finance Committee, will Councilmember _______ join [his/her/their] colleagues in signing onto a statement of support of disbanding the SRG, and commit to disbanding this violent unit during the 2025 budget cycle?"
Call Finance Committee Chair Justin Brannan:
(718)-748-5200
(212)-788-7363
"I'm calling to urge the Council Member to support the campaign to disband the NYPD's Strategic Response Group and reinvest its estimated $133 Million in funds back into our communities. As services across the city are facing unprecedented budget cuts, it is unacceptable for our leaders to continue to fund a notoriously violent, racially biased unit that operates with impunity. New Yorkers need housing, libraries, and fully funded city services. We do not need militarized police units who brutalize us with impunity.
Last year, more than 500 New Yorkers testified to City Council about the harm and trauma that this unit has inflicted on our community members. Since then, the SRG has continued to violently police protests across New York City.
As Finance Committee Chair, will the Council Member join 24 of his colleagues in signing onto a statement of support of disbanding the SRG, and commit to disbanding this violent unit during the 2025 budget cycle?"
Hundreds of New Yorkers are speaking up.
A campaign to disband the SRG is about making the real strategic decisions to give our communities the healing and resources they deserve.
Do you work in education or healthcare? Do you take public transit? Do you want to see your community thriving? We are all stakeholders in where the SRG’s millions of dollars go once they are disbanded. New York is worth fighting for, and we need you.
