NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio under fire for suggesting NYPD ‘acted appropriately’

Amid backlash to his overall response to the weekend protests in NYC, Bill de Blasio announced that an investigation into the NYPD’s actions — which includes driving vehicles into protestors captured on video — is underway. But de Blasio also defended the police, saying “some things were done the right way.”

"I saw a lot of restraint…"

"Do not take your anger out on the individual officer…"

"That situation was created by a group of protesters blocking and surrounding a police vehicle…"@NYCMayor addressed Saturday night's video showing two NYPD SUVs driving into protesters pic.twitter.com/GJpUq82p8V

— Bloomberg Originals (@bbgoriginals) May 31, 2020

NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio says there’s an “anarchist movement” among the protestors.

He says people are upset that the protests are being co-opted by those that just want to do violence.

How can the mayor say something like this is appropriate?

I am heartbroken and disgusted to see one of my family members a young black man w/his hands up peacefully protesting and an NYPD officer pulls down his mask and pepper sprays him. @NYCSpeakerCoJo @BPEricAdams @FarahNLouis @JumaaneWilliams @NewYorkStateAG @NYPDShea cc: @EOsyd pic.twitter.com/tGK5XWS0bt

— Dr. Anju J. Rupchandani (@AJRupchandani) May 31, 2020

https://twitter.com/shaunking/status/1266594938143281152?s=21

https://twitter.com/chalecosamarill/status/1267088713286332417?s=21

It’s hard to remain peaceful when the NYPD is doing stuff like this pic.twitter.com/Ue01z5Ckk3

— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) May 31, 2020

The mayor said there were no deaths or serious injuries in last night’s clashes between NYPD and protestors. There was some damage to property, the Mayor says. “But it was contained.”