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The New York State Attorney General on Thursday sued the New York City Police Department for what it called widespread abuse in the way officers handled protests that erupted in the summer last after the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Attorney General Letitia James wants a federal observer to oversee the ministry’s policing tactics at future protests and a court order declaring the policies and practices used by the ministry during last year’s protests to be illegal.
An investigation by the attorney general’s office found that police beat protesters with batons and bicycles, used a dangerous containment strategy called kettling, and arrested legal observers and medics.
The police department, the city’s legal department and a spokesperson for Mayor Bill de Blasio did not immediately return emails asking for comment on the trial.
At a press conference Thursday, Ms James said the tactics demonstrated a pattern of illegal and harmful practices that the mayor and the police department had failed to prevent through discipline, policy and training.
“The city and the NYPD leadership had ample capacity and opportunity to make significant changes to the way officers interact with peaceful protesters, but time and time again they did not,” said Mrs. James. “They did not train, they did not supervise, they did not arrest the officers who were engaged in this misconduct. And they didn’t discipline them either. Instead, they let the people of New York City down.
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