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After Days of Outrage, Protesters in NYC Are Making The City Pay…Literally

ABS_eric-garner-protests-new-york-cityThe numerous protesters in New York City crying out against police brutality are actually making a noticeable difference in their city. The multiple demonstrations over the last few weeks has hit the city where it hurts–its pockets.

New York City has spent $22.9 million in overtime pay for the police officers working during the numerous protests against police brutality, city police commissioner Bill Bratton said Monday.

New York City is feeling the repercussions of the grand jury’s decision not to indict officer Daniel Pantaleo for killing an unarmed Black Staten Island man, Eric Garner. Since the announcement of the grand jury’s decision on Dec. 3, tens of thousands of demonstrators have been out in the streets of New York City protesting against police brutality and racial profiling. The massive amount of people flooding the streets forced the police department to keep extra officers on duty for extended periods of time.

It is ironic that the failure of city officials—namely Staten Island District Attorney Daniel Donovan—to get an indictment of officer Daniel Pantaleo for choking Eric Garner to death has resulted in the city having to pay out so many extra millions.

“These events have been costly,” Bratton said. “They have been a significant drain on the manpower of the city.”

The manpower will continue to be drained since protesters haven’t given up and continue to pour out in support of Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Tamir Rice and other unarmed Black men whose lives were ended at the hands of police. On Saturday, more than 25,000 people marched through Manhattan, the New York Times reported. At times, the crowd stretched over a mile long. Some of the protesters continued over the Brooklyn Bridge to try to stop traffic, but they were met by hundreds of cops.

Around midnight, the remaining protesters ended their march in front of the Louis Pink Houses, where 28-year-old Akai Gurley was shot by a police officer in the stairwell, according to the Times.

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