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SEE IT: Images From Last Night’s NYPD Disgraceful Attack on Protesters in the South Bronx

Ed García Conde
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SEE IT: Images From Last Night’s NYPD Disgraceful Attack on Protesters in the South Bronx

I am not mincing words for anyone: What happened last night in Mott Haven was an assault on our community at the hands of the dysfunctional New York City Police Department.

It was a disgusting act of cowardice by the gang otherwise known as the NYPD when they corralled protesters at 7:45PM at E 136th Street and Brook Avenue just fifteen minutes before curfew.

The protesters kept shouting to be let go all the while being told by the NYPD that they had to be home by the 8pm.

According to multiple accounts as well as several livestream videos the real thugs, otherwise known as the NYPD, started dangerously pushing the demonstrators against each other. People began screaming for help.

They were simply there as the aggressors and to antagonize.

And then that’s when the batons came out, pepper spray, and, according to some Facebook live feeds.

This is inexcusable and this is why the people continue to fight. We cannot continue to let Black and brown folks be slaughtered by these tax funded thugs in uniforms.

See the gallery below and watch the videos here:

Note about these images: These images were made possible by readers like you who have donated to our GoFundMe campaign which is helping journalists and photographers of color tell our stories. Consider making a donation here. No amount is too small.

BREAKING: NYPD Assaults Hundreds of Peaceful Protesters in The Bronx

Ed García Conde
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BREAKING: NYPD Assaults Hundreds of Peaceful Protesters in The Bronx

Update: Sources retracted that tear gas was used but said pepper spray was used. In the panic, people thought it was tear gas as well.

We have received confirmation from several credible sources that the NYPD in the South Bronx entrapped hundreds of protesters before the 8pm curfew in Mott Haven blocking them from leaving and being able to comply.

We have live stream footage below as well as sources confirming violent assault by the NYPD on civilians they entrapped to harass and beat.

Hundreds of officers were at the ready in The Hub for today’s protest.

This is a violent assault on our people and what’s supposed to be our constitutional rights.

By all accounts this was a peaceful protest and the only violence came from the NYPD.

We were there at the rally earlier and it was without incident except hundreds of officers ready to intimidate.

Watch the full account as it unfolds below:

WATCH: Hundreds of Bronx Residents Unite to Clean Up Fordham After a Night of Chaos Destroyed Several Businesses

Ed García Conde
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WATCH: Hundreds of Bronx Residents Unite to Clean Up Fordham After a Night of Chaos Destroyed Several Businesses

This is how we take care of our own in The Bronx.

After a night of chaos and mayhem in The Bronx on Monday night as hundreds of people looted and destroyed businesses along Fordham Road, an equal number of not larger of residents arrived yesterday morning to clean up the area.

They were from all walks of life coming together in the true sprit of Bronx unity and solidarity.

But if you’re from The Bronx or are familiar with our borough, then you know that this isn’t a surprise because it’s what we’ve done for decades.

Our communities rebuilt themselves and they can help rebuild these businesses.

But one thing that can’t be rebuilt are all the Black lives lost. Prioritize what you’re upset about.

Watch the PIX11 News video below:

The Hub Prepared for the Worst Last Night But it Never Came

Ed García Conde
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The Hub Prepared for the Worst Last Night But it Never Came

Melrose—by 5pm yesterday, the air was thick with unease at The Hub, The Bronx’s oldest shopping district and the heart of the South Bronx.

After the looting and destruction of businesses on Fordham Road and Burnside Avenue the night before, small businesses, residents, and the Third Avenue Business Improvement District decided to make sure that the same wouldn’t happen here or at least help minimize the effort.

The businesses that could afford to board up their storefronts, did.

All trash cans were removed as to avoid them being either set on fire or used to break into stores.

As stores along Third Avenue boarded up their windows and bolted down their gates, signs were placed at local businesses urging to respect their community. Some signs indicated which were Black, Hispanic, or immigrant owned to perhaps thwart looting.

Several gates were reinforced with bolts to the ground.

But the rage that dominated Fordham and Burnside in The Bronx and Manhattan’s midtown 34th Street and Times Square districts didn’t materialize.

While I witnessed individuals that had been circling the The Hub with crowbars and bats clearly casing the stores, things never escalated as the NYPD seemed prepared this time.

Ambulance at the ready on Third Avenue.

By the time 8pm arrived and along with it, the second night with curfew in effect the tension in the air was even higher.

I walked by several crowds of people talking out load about going over to Third but the heavy police presence deterred them. Several ambulances were parked at either end of Third Avenue between 153rd Street and Westchester Avenue and dozens of police vehicles moving up and down the avenue with at least half a dozen more parked at various intersections.

As I walked up and down Third Avenue surveying the scene, more than 3 dozen cops had passed by me but never told me to go home.

It wasn’t until 9:30pm that a “white shirt”, an NYPD sergeant, yelled at me to get going home before he arrested me. I left to avoid any conflict and confrontation.

The rest of the night lacked the constant buzz of helicopters and police sirens of the previous night.

When curfew ended at 5am, I biked through The Hub to see if anything had happened but not a thing appeared to be out of place.

Preparations were made for the worst but the worst never came to The Hub.

It seems that like most cities across the country, the protests remained peaceful for whatever that’s worth.

I’m sure everyone will continue to be on edge for some time but think about how Black folks and people of color feel who live in constant state of alert because the color of their skin makes them walking targets by society and law enforcement.

Gallery

BREAKING NEWS: Mayor de Blasio Has Announced 8pm Curfew For Remainder of the Week

Ed García Conde
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BREAKING NEWS: Mayor de Blasio Has Announced 8pm Curfew For Remainder of the Week

After the violent turn of events last night in The Bronx and Manhattan as protesters took their anger to the streets, Mayor Bill de Blasio has extended the curfew for the remainder of the week.

The curfew will also start earlier at 8pm lasting until 5AM. The order will remain in effect until June 7.

During the night’s chaos, police officers were hurt as one was hit by an SUV speeding through a street. Protesters were also reported to have been injured as well.

We will keep you posted as more news develops on this issue.

LIVE: Fires Burn on Fordham Road as Another Night of Anger is Taken to the Streets

Ed García Conde
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LIVE: Fires Burn on Fordham Road as Another Night of Anger is Taken to the Streets

Fires are being lit everywhere across Fordham Road as protesters are breaking into stores and leaving a path of destruction in their wake.

The Bronx has not seen anything like this nor the city since the 1977 Blackout.

Looting has gripped the city and not just The Bronx as reports are coming in from 34th Street and Times Square too.

While yes this is looting but the message ISN’T LOST. People are angry. Black and Brown folks are tired. They are tired of being killed.

BREAKING: Cuomo, de Blasio Order Curfew for New York City As Protest Violence Escalates

Ed García Conde
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BREAKING: Cuomo, de Blasio Order Curfew for New York City As Protest Violence Escalates

Beginning tonight at 11PM until 5AM, Governor Cuomo said there will be a curfew implemented in New York City due to the past four days of protests demanding justice after George Floyd was murdered by a police officer in Minneapolis which have turned violent in Brooklyn and Manhattan.

NYPD presence will also be doubled from 4,000 to 8,000 officers within the city to enforce the curfew.

Full press release from Governor Cuomo’s office below:

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio today announced a citywide curfew in New York City will take effect beginning at 11 PM tonight and will be lifted at 5 AM tomorrow morning.

The Governor and the Mayor also announced that the New York City Police Department will double its police presence to help prevent violence and property damage. The additional officers will be deployed to areas where violence and property damage occurred during last night’s protests – specifically in lower Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn.

The Governor and the Mayor also reminded New Yorkers participating in protests to take proper health precautions and wear face coverings while we continue to fight the COVID-19 virus.

“I stand behind the protestors and their message, but unfortunately there are people who are looking to distract and discredit this moment,” Governor Cuomo said. “The violence and the looting has been bad for the city, the state and this entire national movement, undermining and distracting from this righteous cause. While we encourage people to protest peacefully and make their voices heard, the safety of the general public is paramount and cannot be compromised. Tonight the Mayor and I are implementing a citywide curfew starting at 11 PM and doubling the NYPD presence across the city.”

“I support and protect peaceful protest in this city. The demonstrations we’ve seen have been generally peaceful. We can’t let violence undermine the message of this moment. It is too important and the message must be heard. Tonight, to protect against violence and property damage, the Governor and I have decided to implement a citywide curfew,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “The Police Commissioner and I have spoken at length about the incidents we’ve all seen in recent days where officers didn’t uphold the values of this city or the NYPD. We agree on the need for swift action. He will speak later today on how officers will be held accountable.”

The Bronx Has Six of NYC’s Ten COVID-19 Hotspots

Ed García Conde
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The Bronx Has Six of NYC’s Ten COVID-19 Hotspots

Despite drops of COVID-19 cases across the city and state, there are ten lingering hotspots where positive cases of coronavirus remain high.

As a result, Governor Cuomo announced that the state will be adding additional 10 additional testing sites (one per zip code on the list below) because, “We need people to come out and get tested, find out who has the virus and who has the antibodies, who is possibly contagious.”

Six of the top ten zip codes with highest percentage of cases testing positive for COVID-19 are in The Bronx with three of them at the top of the list.

The 10457 zip code in The Bronx, which covers parts of Belmont, Mount Hope, and Crotona, has the highest rate of positive cases in New York City at 51% followed by 10460, which is adjacent and covers West Farms, Van Nest, and Crotona and has a 50% positive rate.

Third on the list is 10468 covering Kingsbridge Heights, and parts of Bedford Park and Fordham Manor and also with a 50% rate.

This is more than twice the citywide average of 19% and the fact that The Bronx has six of the ten hotspots in the city just shows how severely impacted our borough has been hit.

Back when the coronavirus pandemic began surfacing in The Bronx, I published an article indicating that we were poised to take a hard hit during this crisis. A few weeks later, our worst fears came true as our beloved borough became ground zero for COVID-19 in New York City not just in terms of infection rates but as well as mortality.

In terms of infection, many Bronx residents in these hard-hit areas live in overcrowded apartments where social distancing is impossible as multiple generations of families live under one roof. Add that you have many essential workers living in these households and you now also have one or two individuals who still must go to work thus potentially picking up the virus along the way.

And COVID-19’s high mortality rate in The Bronx can sadly be attributed due to the poor health outcomes of its residents as we are the unhealthiest county in New York State and one of the unhealthiest in the country.

In New York, we have the highest rates of asthma, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and some of the highest rates of obesity as well as compromised immune systems. Just one of these illnesses significantly increases risk of developing severe symptoms due to the coronavirus but even worse is if an individual suffers from two or more of these.

Sadly in The Bronx, many residents suffer from many of such comorbidities.

And it is no surprise that these hard-hit areas here in The Bronx and across the city are low-income communities of color further showing the great inequality that exists in what’s supposed to be America’s Melting pot.

Nationwide Protests Demanding Justice for George Floyd Reach The Bronx

Ed García Conde
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Nationwide Protests Demanding Justice for George Floyd Reach The Bronx

Yesterday at 3PM, hundreds of protestors gathered at Roberto Clemente Plaza at The Hub as part of a Black Lives Matter rally and march demanding not only for justice for the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer but an end to all racial injustices against Black people in this country.

After listening to several organizers speak, the group began marching through the streets passing by Lincoln Hospital and continuing through Mott Haven.

Once they arrived at the 40th Precinct, NYPD officers quickly mobilized donning riot gear despite the crowd never not once displaying any threat to anyone.

The symbolism of their arrival at this particular precinct was not lost to many as the 40th was ground zero for the racist stop and frisk policies which disproportionately impacted men of color.

In 2014, the then 40th Precinct commanding officer Deputy Inspector Christopher McCormack was reassigned after having been recorded telling his officers to arrest “male blacks between 14 and 21”.

At the time, the precinct had the highest stop and frisk arrests in The Bronx and in the top 5 in New York City.

The officers continued to put on the gear (video below) even as the crowd pleaded with them asking why are they doing this and why do they feel the need to get out batons.

The demonstrators stood at the barricade at 139th and Alexander Avenue for at least 15 minutes before continuing to march through the neighborhood before peacefully ending at St Mary’s Park with everyone taking a moment to kneel.

Take a look at the pics below and video from the scene.

New York City Expected to Enter Phase 1 Reopening by June 8

Ed García Conde
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New York City Expected to Enter Phase 1 Reopening by June 8

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced today that New York City would begin Phase 1 reopening after almost 3 full months under lockdown of non-essential businesses due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The COVID-19 crisis has impacted The Bronx more than any other borough with the highest rates of infection and mortality due to the virus and now also the borough with the highest unemployment rate in New York City at a staggering 16.5%.

Under Phase 1 reopening, Bronx businesses owners and employees can hopefully begin to get some relief as they open. The following is a list of businesses that will be allowed for reopening (Links to guidance on each industry at the end of this article):

  1. Construction
    • Building Equipment Contractors
    • Building Finishing Contractors
    • Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors
    • Highway, Street and Bridge Construction
    • Land Subdivision 
    • Nonresidential Building Construction
    • Residential Building Construction
    • Utility System Construction
  2. Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting
    • Other Animal Production
    • Other Crop Production
    • Support Activities for Animal Production
    • Support Activities for Crop Production
    • Support Activities for Forestry
  3. Retail – Phase One (includes delivery, curbside, and in-store pickup service only for the following businesses):
    • Clothing Stores
    • Direct Selling Establishments
    • Electronics and Appliance Stores
    • Electronic Shopping and Mail-Order Houses
    • Furniture and Home Furnishing Stores
    • Florists
    • General Merchandise Stores
    • Health and Personal Care Stores
    • Jewelry, Luggage, and Leather Goods Stores
    • Lawn and Garden Equipment and Supplies Stores
    • Office Supplies, Stationery, and Gift Stores
    • Used Merchandise Stores
    • Shoe Stores
    • Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument and Book Stores
    • Other Miscellaneous Store Retailers
  4. Manufacturing
    • Apparel Manufacturing
    • Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing
    • Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing
    • Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing
    • Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing
    • Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing
    • Machinery Manufacturing
    • Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing
    • Paper Manufacturing
    • Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing
    • Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing
    • Printing and Related Support Activities
    • Textile Mills
    • Textile Product Mills
    • Wood Product Manufacturing
    • Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing
  5. Wholesale Trade
    • Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions Merchant Wholesalers
    • Chemical and Allied Products Merchant Wholesalers
    • Furniture and Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers
    • Household Appliances and Electrical and Electronic Goods Merchant Wholesalers
    • Machinery, Equipment, and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
    • Metal and Mineral (except Petroleum) Merchant Wholesalers
    • Paper and Paper Product Merchant Wholesalers
    • Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
    • Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers
    • Miscellaneous Durable Goods Merchant Wholesalers
    • Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods Merchant Wholesalers

If you are a business owner, you can visit the following website to view the summary guidelines for each industry, read and affirm the guidelines, and print a business safety plan template.

Note: If you are a business owner, you are required by New York State to affirm to the guidelines if your business is qualified to open under Phase 1.

The Bronx Defenders Overwhelmingly Vote to Unionize

Ed García Conde
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The Bronx Defenders Overwhelmingly Vote to Unionize

Melrose—Employees of The Bronx Defenders, the public defense non-profit that provides legal services to low-income Bronxites, have overwhelmingly voted to unionize.

Citing that as the, “…office continues to grow in size and influence, the organization has failed to stay true to that mission,” and that, “power and prestige are prioritized over client-centered representation and the dignity of our staff,” that Bronx Defenders can only realize their mission of holistic defense if the organization centers its staff members, most of which are from and live in The Bronx.

After the vote, employees of the public defense non-profit are calling on management to not only recognize their union but to immediately begin bargaining.

While there are many who may not agree, this is an important step in protecting the workers of this organization.

The full text of the press release is below:

***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*** May 29, 2020 

BxD Union Press Inquiries: bxdunion.press.inquiries@gmail.com Alexi Shalom, Organizer, UAW Local 2325: ashalom@alaa.org 

The Bronx Defenders Workers Announce Campaign to Unionize 

Bronx, New York – We, the employees of The Bronx Defenders, a nonprofit providing public defense to low- income Bronx residents, announced our intent to join the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys – UAW Local 2325 on Friday, May 29th. After an overwhelming majority of our office signed cards indicating support for unionization, we are calling for The Bronx Defenders management to recognize our union and begin bargaining immediately. 

As defenders, we have witnessed relentless attacks on the people of The Bronx by the criminal, family, immigration, and housing legal systems. We have fought alongside Bronx families whose safety is jeopardized by policing, family separation, housing insecurity, unemployment, jail building, and other systemic injustices. On top of these forms of oppression, the COVID-19 pandemic has wrought devastation upon The Bronx community that will only be compounded without further intervention. To tackle these complex and entrenched injustices, The Bronx Defenders has transformed public defense with an innovative holistic defense approach that advocates for clients throughout their lives and across legal systems. 

We joined The Bronx Defenders because of our commitment to holistic defense. However, as our office continues to grow in size and influence, the organization has failed to stay true to that mission. Too often, power and prestige are prioritized over client-centered representation and the dignity of our staff. As a public defense office that occupies land and absorbs resources in The Bronx, we recognize that our commitment to the people of The Bronx requires an internal redistribution of power. We believe that The Bronx Defenders’ promise of holistic defense can only be fulfilled by an organization that centers staff members who are longtime Bronx community members and those whose daily work engages most directly with the people of The Bronx. 

In order to realize our vision of a better Bronx Defenders, we demand: 

  • To take bolder positions and actions to fight alongside Bronx families against economic oppression, the prison industrial complex, and state-sponsored violence. 
  • Hiring, promotion, and workplace policies that prioritize employees who are Black, Latinx, people of color, queer and trans people, and Bronx locals. 
  • Just compensation and better benefits for our workers as we work towards decarceration, family unification, housing security, and economic justice. 
  • A worker-centered power structure, which is necessary for client-centered representation, and employee-elected representation on the board of The Bronx Defenders. 
  • Dignity and respect for all workers, regardless of identity or role in the office. 

To these ends, we ask for immediate recognition so that we can avoid time-consuming legal battles and instead focus our energy on our fundamental purpose: fighting for the people of The Bronx. 

This announcement carries special significance for The Bronx Defenders, whose founding in 1997 undermined bargaining efforts by the union we now seek to join. In the years since, we have recognized that our organization can only live up to its stated values when we stand in solidarity with our fellow defenders. We are proud to join them in the nation’s oldest public defenders’ union. We declare our union today with a vision for a better Bronx Defenders and an unflagging commitment to zealous advocacy that affirms the humanity and dignity of everyone who walks through our doors. 

@bxdunion 

Bronx Unemployment Reaches 16.5% Due to the Coronavirus Pandemic—Highest in NYC

Ed García Conde
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Bronx Unemployment Reaches 16.5% Due to the Coronavirus Pandemic—Highest in NYC

With The Bronx already on edge as the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City making it the hardest hit borough, there’s one more thing to worry about: Unemployment.

The unadjusted unemployment rate for April 2020 hit 16.5%—over 3 times what it was the same time last year when it was 5%.

In a borough that suffered the highest rates of positive cases for coronavirus in the city and highest mortality rate as well, this is something else that we have to deal with. Combined with the fact that The Bronx has the lowest median income in the city, the most residents facing eviction and families just one paycheck away from homelessness this is simply a disaster for our borough.

We need the city, state, and federal government to step up and protect our most vulnerable during this crisis.

Instead of building jails to replace Riker’s let’s utilize that money for our communities to ensure they have adequate housing and food. $8.7 billion to $11 billion that has been projected to cost to close down Riker’s and build new jails would go a long way on preventing yet another crisis for the city’s low income residents.

In fact, this is something that local elected officials have recently called for.

In a letter signed by 11 elected officials, they wrote to NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio and New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson asking that they reconsider building the new jails in light of the crisis.

They write:

“The Bronx is the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States. No other part of the country has been hit as hard as our community has. It is time to put a halt to this project so that the financial resources that have been allocated to its completion can be put towards more important priorities right now – the health and education of our families and workers.

“I urge Mayor de Blasio and New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson to reconsider this project as it evaluates the budget in the coming weeks,” said Congressman Serrano.

“In this time of great crisis where we have taken an economic hit, especially here in The Bronx, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important that we allocate our funding where it can help,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

“We need to invest in people, not projects like this, so that we can help close the gap on the social and economic disparities that exacerbated the death toll of Coronavirus victims in our borough,” added Diaz Jr.

While I may not always agree with all of our elected officials, this is a no-brainer.

Mayor de Blasio has two options: Do the right thing and redirect the funds for the new jails towards economic stability for vulnerable communities like in The Bronx, or forever go down as a failure of a mayor who only widened the gap between the tale of two cities.

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