New York: New
York City will be under a curfew from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. the next morning till
Sunday to curb criminal acts emerging from protests over the death of black man
George Floyd, Mayor Bill de Blasio said. Monday's curfew, the first in the city
since 1943, started at 11 p.m. and did not stop looters from breaking into
stores in Manhattan as soon as night fell, Xinhua news agency reported on
Tuesday.
Over 200 people had been arrested before the curfew took effect on Monday night, and the whole night saw more than 700 arrests made, most of whom were youths, according to the New York City Police Department (NYPD).
The NYPD said that one officer was seriously injured by a hit-and-run driver in the borough of the Bronx Monday night, while another was hit by a car when trying to stop a burglary in Manhattan.
Starting on Tuesday, no traffic would be allowed in a large part of Manhattan as soon as the curfew begins, with exceptions made for residents, essential workers, buses, and truck deliveries, according to the NYPD.
New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo said he was "disappointed and outraged" by what happened Monday night, saying the criminal activity hurt everyone.
He criticized the city's preparedness for Monday night's chaos, saying the mayor underestimated the scope and the duration of the problem.
Though the NYPD doubled its police presence to 8,000 officers on Monday, the governor said there should be more. The governor has said he has the National Guard on standby, but de Blasio has rejected the idea of having them deployed in New York City, saying it is not wise.
"When outside armed forces go into communities, no good comes of it. We have seen this for decades," said the mayor.
Protests continued on Tuesday in the city, with thousands of people, mostly students of various ethnic groups, walking and chanting slogans such as "No justice, no peace" in a largely peaceful manner by the afternoon in Lower Manhattan. Several streets were closed for demonstrations, and helicopters kept hovering above the moving crowds. (IANS)
Also watch: Evening Bulletin | 3rd June, 2020