Black trans lives matter protesters and cops came to blows Thursday night after the protesters apparently sprayed a statue near Columbus Circle – and at the entrance of Central Park – with anti-cop graffiti and red paint resembling blood.
A group of hundreds of protesters were seen marching through Manhattan on Thursday, apparently under the banner of black trans lives, before vandalizing a statue in Columbus Circle and clashing with police during a chaotic melee.
It’s not clear what kicked off the chaotic scene.
Police regularly patrol the area because it’s near Central Park, near a statue of Christopher Columbus which some have called to be removed, and also near the Trump International Hotel.
Protesters were seen carrying signs that read ‘Justice for Ma’Khia Bryant’ referring to the 16-year-old girl who was shot by Columbus, Ohio police earlier this week.
They then vandalized the USS Maine National Monument and clashed with police.
The NYPD wouldn’t provide specifics when asked by DailyMail.com for details on what happened, saying they were still gathering details from officers on the scene. At least two people had been arrested early Friday.
Several protesters were seen brawling with NYPD officers while others threw an unidentified liquid at them, video shows. One protester was seemingly heard on video attempting to spit on cops.
‘What the f**k is wrong with you?’ one person on the video screams at police as officers grabbed protesters.
The protest comes as the U.S. grapples with the Ma’Khia Byrant shooting in Ohio, the Derek Chauvin guilty verdict over George Floyd’s murder and the funeral for Daunte Wright, who was shot by a white police officer in Minneapolis.
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Source: Daily Mail
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