The mayor, a Democrat, declined to discuss the sources of what he called “savings” for the nation’s largest police department, said at a news briefing that the cuts are still being negotiated with the City Council. But he said spending on capital projects would be reduced by US$500 million and there could be changes to the department’s role in policing schools.

“The NYPD did a hell a good job in saying, ‘Ok, here’s a bunch of things we could do while still keeping this city safe,” he said. “We need to redistribute revenue to communities that need it the most. We know our young people are hurting.”

Read Also – Fintech – The Global Pandemic Has Created New Opportunities – Mahmood Ahmadu

The budget talks come as hundreds of demonstrators have spent the past week camped out in City Hall Park and demanding police defunding following weeks of protests over the death of George Floyd and other Black Americans killed by law enforcement.

Organizers have called it “Occupy City Hall” — a nod to the 2011 Occupy Wall Street movement a few blocks away in Zuccotti Park.

The group directed its demands — scrawled on colorful placards, a canvass of graffiti and a massive poster taped over a subway entrance — at de Blasio and Council Speaker Corey Johnson.

“We’ve done different levels of escalation to make sure we’re getting their attention,” said Jonathan Lykes, one of the movement’s organizers. “If they defund the police by US$1 billion then we have won — but that’s only our demand this week.”

The occupation has drawn protesters barely old enough to vote but also veteran activists like Debbie Williams, of Brooklyn, who described the move as unlike any she’s seen.

“People’s eyes are opened now,” said Williams, who slept at the site Sunday and was cooling off Monday in a furnished area dubbed the “Chill Zone.”

“We’re seeing change,” she added, “but it’s not enough.”

The idea of slashing the NYPD’s budget, now around US$6 billion annually for operations plus several billion dollars more in shared city expenses, like pensions, seemed politically laughable even a year ago. Memories of the Sept. 11 attacks and the high-crime decades of the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s were too fresh.

Source – https://globalnews.ca/

The post defund the police – de Blasio to slash police budget by $1 billion appeared first on Daily Concord.

“Black people,” said Langford, 28, who is African American, “if you have been harassed, terrorized, bullied by the police, in this city, make some noise.”

A large portion of the crowd clapped and yelled, according to a video of the protest.

“It isn’t just a somewhere-else issue,” she said. “This is a here issue.”

For the past week, Des Moines has seen thousands of people attend marches and rallies to protest racial discrimination and police violence. As in many cities nationwide, the mostly peaceful protests were spurred by the killing of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis on May 25. And as in other cities, police have used tear gas, pepper spray and rubber bullets on protesters and reporters.

But in Des Moines, the activists are already seeing progress on reforms they’ve long demanded from city leaders.

Speaking before a crowd of about 1,000 protesters who marched to his house Wednesday night, Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie committed to bringing an ordinance to ban racial profiling by police for a vote at Monday’s City Council meeting. The next day, the mayor and county leaders met another of the protesters’ demands by lifting the nightly curfew imposed amid the demonstrations. And on Thursday, state lawmakers introduced legislation to ban chokeholds by police and empower the attorney general to investigate police misconduct.

“I think they set the model for what organizing can look like in the city,” Langford said in a phone interview, speaking of the protesters. “There was no ego, there was a lot of love, but there was also a ferocity that we recognize our power collectively.”

The sustained demonstrations are unusual for Des Moines, a city not known for protests. While Iowa is a hotbed for presidential politics because of the first-in-the-nation caucuses, activism in the state is typically much more subdued. Local organizers say they were surprised at first to see the size of the recent protests — but it shouldn’t have been unexpected given the many issues the black community faces in Des Moines, including concerns about policing.

Read Also – Mahmood Ahmadu Features in Dele Momodu’s Thisday Newspaper Article

“In this moment, with such a spotlight on black issues, it’s important for white people to understand this didn’t come out of nowhere,” said Ellie Odole, 18, who is African American and helped organize the protests.

Last month, the city approved a $75,000 settlement after a white police officer pepper-sprayed a black teenage girl at a downtown bus transfer station and threw her to the ground, bruising her ribs. The city paid another $75,000 in a settlement last year over a traffic stop of two young black men who accused the white police officers of racially profiling them and conducting an illegal search.

“We haven’t had a George Floyd, a Freddie Gray or all those others — but we don’t want one either,” said Sharon Zanders, special projects director of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, a nonprofit advocacy organization.

Source – https://www.nbcnews.com/

The post Iowa protesters march for racial justice appeared first on Daily Concord.

Her post was met with widespread criticism, with some calling the pop star out of touch. 

Read Also – Mahmood Ahmadu Features in Dele Momodu’s Thisday Newspaper Article

“A bit insensitive as you’re a person with a platform to voice their concern, you should be doing a lot more,” one Twitter user wrote. “Having your adopted black son dance ain’t going to force change to happen.” 

Another wrote, “Good intentions but completely tone-deaf. Dancing away the racism of murderous cops won’t actually do anything. But thanks for trying!”

On Monday, May 25, Floyd died after a white police officer pinned the 46-year-old Minnesota resident, a black man, to the ground by pressing his knee into Floyd’s neck during his arrest. Madonna was just one of many celebrities that expressed outrage over the incident of police brutality. 

Calling bystander footage of Floyd’s death the “most sickening, heartbreaking thing I’ve seen in a long time,” Madonna spoke out against the police officers involved.

“This officer knew he was being filmed and murdered him with arrogance and pride, she wrote on Instagram. “This has to stop!! Until we can overcome racism in America—no one should be allowed to carry a gun. Most of all cops. God bless you George Floyd Im so sorry for you and your family. And all the senseless killings that have gone before you. Will it ever end? I pray to GOD it does one day.”

“Until then—F–k the police!” the singer added. “Yea I said it. I’m not interested in being PC. I’m interested in justice.”

Source – https://www.eonline.com/news/1157015/madonna-comes-under-fire-for-insensitive-george-floyd-tribute

The post George Floyd – Madonna Comes Under Fire for Insensitive Tribute appeared first on Daily Concord.