NEW YORK — The New York Police Department has begun the process of clearing out remaining protesters from an encampment in downtown Manhattan’s City Hall Park, where the group has been camping out in tents for the past several weeks, according to police and social media.
NYPD riot police have driven City Hall occupants, at least half of whom have no other housing options. Tents and signs have been trashed. pic.twitter.com/BUkXIRfQOd
— NYC Protest Updates 2020 (@protest_nyc) July 22, 2020
The NYPD moved in shortly before 4 a.m. in the area of Centre and Chambers streets, and began the process of pushing protesters out, police said. The group has camped out in City Hall Park since at least the middle of June, demanding police defunding following weeks of protests, FOX News reported.
Organizers called it “Occupy City Hall” — a reference to the 2011 Occupy Wall Street movement a few blocks away in Zuccotti Park.
Police are cleaning up city hall park right now after a month-Long protest/encampment #abc7NY pic.twitter.com/a6Q0eAj8Z5
— Derick Waller (@wallerABC7) July 22, 2020
WABC-TV estimated there were 70 people, both protesters and homeless individuals, in the encampment at the time of Wednesday morning’s police action.
The #occupycityhall encampment is no more after @NYPDnews moved in this morning @1010WINS pic.twitter.com/qd7IyQoFpB
— glenn schuck (@glennschuck) July 22, 2020
As of 7 a.m., seven people were taken into custody, police said, adding that the number was subject to change. Charges against them were pending.
