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New York night-time curfew extended to June 7 after looting
NEW YORK, June 3, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – New York’s mayor Bill de Blasio on
Tuesday extended a night-time curfew for the city until June 7 following
outbreaks of violence and looting during anti-racism protests gripping
America.
The mayor added that the deployment of National Guard soldiers, seen in
other protest-hit states and demanded by President Donald Trump, was not
necessary however.
De Blasio told reporters that a 8:00 pm to 5:00 am curfew, due to come into
force Tuesday, would now run until Sunday.
It comes after a curfew on Monday that began at the later time of 11:00 pm
failed to deter rioters from looting a number of luxury stores across
Manhattan.
Broken glass and boarded up shops were seen across Midtown early Tuesday
after a night of carnage.
The famous Macy’s department store, Michael Kors on Fifth Avenue, along with
Nike, Lego and electronics shops were among upmarket shops to be looted.
Trump, whose New York home is near the stores, took to Twitter twice on
Tuesday morning to demand that local leaders “act fast” and call up the
National Guard.
Several US cities have deployed the guard in the face of angry protests
against police brutality following the killing of unarmed black man George
Floyd by police during an arrest in Minneapolis last week.
But De Blasio said the New York Police Department’s 36,000 officers could
handle the unrest.
“We will take steps immediately to make sure there will be peace and order,”
said a visibly angry mayor, as he announced the lengthened curfew.
De Blasio added it was not “wise” to bring in the National Guard.
But New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said the guard stood ready if requested,
adding that the NYPD and de Blasio “did not do their job” in failing to stop
the looting.
He described the violence as “a disgrace” and “inexcusable.”
New York’s curfew will end just as the city prepares to begin reopening its
shattered economy on Monday following more than two months of lockdown due to
the coronavirus outbreak.
BSS/AFP/MMA/0920HRS