In yet another night during which the original intent of the protests were dwarfed by the looting and violence that took place, the New York Police Department (NYPD) estimated that the Black Lives Matter protestors caused approximately $100,000 worth of damage in one night.
Of the roughly 150 protestors who practiced violence on Friday night, 8 were arrested by the police. These rioters caused severe property damage by breaking windows and defacing various buildings by putting graffiti on the building walls.
During a turbulent night in which at least two Starbucks stores and 5 banks reported serious property damage, the police said that they recovered evidence that imply that the protestors came in ready to cause a ruckus. Among the items found in the streets were stun guns and smoke grenades.
The night’s gathering was advertised and shared among Twitter users. Among the two groups that were most vocal and visible in its recruitment were those who identified themselves as the “New Afrikan Black Panther Party” – an obvious riff on the infamous Black Panthers.
Among the protestors who were arrested were those who came to NYC from other states – one was from Iowa while another crossed the US all the way from Oregon. Local residents have protested that outsiders instigate violence and leave without being held responsible.
When the protestors all gathered together near Foley Square by 6pm, the gathering already showed its violent side. As they angry mob moved northward following the street, they lit trash cans on fire and graffitied various words. One of those words was “Abolition”.
In a shocking recording that seems to be from the protests, they can be heard shouting burn everything in front of them down. Interestingly, the mob rather conspicuously ignored the residence of a local politician who suggested that anti-BLM violences be investigated.
In a footage that NBC4 reported, a protestor who covered his face using a balaclava can be seen breaking into a window using a professional tool while another hides their faces using an umbrella. This implies that they came to the streets ready to loot and steal.
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Replaced!