Live Protest Updates: Protester Says Curfew Makes It Legal For Cops "To Brutalize Us Now"

Here's the latest:

• De Blasio Now Condemns Police Driving SUVs Into Protesters
• SoHo "Gutted" By Looting As NYPD Continues Aggressive Crackdown On Protests
• Governor Cuomo says he supports allowing mayors to release police disciplinary records.
• The Manhattan DA is investigating reports that the NYPD assaulted a young, black journalist for the Wall Street Journal during Sunday night's protests
• A citywide curfew goes into effect at 11 p.m. tonight

12:45 a.m. While many of the demonstrations around the city began to fizzle out, many protesters chose to defy the 11 p.m. curfew and kept marching around parts of the city tonight. Hundreds of protesters were seen walking up 5th Avenue in Midtown chanting “fuck your curfew,” while others peacefully gathered in the Financial District. Reporter Jake Offenhartz said he observed a group counting down to 11 p.m. "like it was New Year's Eve," all the while followed by a large group of police officers.

A similar chant broke out in Brooklyn near Barclays Center:

While protesters continued walking through the streets, cops began chasing them down and arresting them, particularly in Midtown where looters had run rampant earlier in the evening. One of the demonstrators, 24-year-old Staten Island resident Matthew G., told Gothamist he and six other people were surrounded by cops just after the curfew began. He made a run for it, and a cop hit him hard in the leg. "The curfew man, that's just the law's way of making it legal for them to brutalize us now, chase us off the streets," he said.

Outside the Barclays Center, a group of a few dozen demonstrators took a moment to kneel in the street with their hands up, chanting, "Hands Up, Don't Shoot." Brooklyn resident Tyshawn Jackson, 22, didn't seem concerned about the curfew: "Didn't they have a curfew for corona? What's the difference now?"

When asked why the city imposed the cutoff time, Jackson suggested, "They're just tired of black people acting out—or uniting or having a voice and a say." Gesturing towards the many police officers observing the group, he said, "They're not going to do anything unless someone acts out, right?"

The group started to make its way towards down Flatbush. Officers in white shirts wondered out loud, "should we follow them," before doing just that.

Looters Overwhelm Stores In Midtown Manhattan

11:30 p.m. After there was widespread looting in SoHo over the weekend, more looting took place at dozens of stores on Monday evening in parts of lower and, in particular, Midtown Manhattan.

"Herald Square is an expropriation party," said reporter Nick Pinto, who witnessed what was happening around Manhattan all evening. "Everyone running around with full duffels, jumping in and out of smashed storefronts. A guy with his eye helpfully on the clock called out to them, 'One hour! One hour!'" That was a reference to there being one hour left before the 11 p.m. curfew kicked in Monday evening.

The stores hit by looters, most of which had their windows smashed, were not only confined to luxury brands: it included the giant Macy's at Herald Square, a Rolex dealer, multiple Foot Locker locations, a Verizon store, Nordstroms, the Microsoft store, Zumiez, Duane Reade, a Moscot Eyewear store, the North Face, an Urban Outfitters and a T2 Tea store, among others.

Pinto added that most of the looting seemed to be done by teenagers—something other reporters also noted—and did not appear to be part of the otherwise peaceful protests and demonstrations happening around the city. He added that the kids seemed to be caught up in the thrill of the chaos: "Yo son, shit was like a movie tonight," he overheard one saying on the subway afterwards.

There were a few altercations with police officers, who arrested several people at the scene as well. They also closed off part of Times Square during the evening before the curfew began.

Earlier in the evening, around 7 p.m., an Aldo store and a Nike store, both located on 5th Avenue, were also targeted by looters, as you can see in the videos below. “These aren’t the protesters – they’re ruining everything," one witness told the NY Post.

De Blasio Says NYC Will Be Under Curfew Starting At 8 P.M. On Tuesday

9:45 p.m. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced tonight that New York City will be under curfew again on Tuesday—this time starting at 8 p.m., three hours earlier than Monday's curfew. The mayor made the comments during an interview on NY1; the curfew will lift at 5 a.m. on Wednesday.

Earlier on Monday, Cuomo and De Blasio announced a curfew beginning at 11 p.m. tonight and ending at 5 a.m. Tuesday. In a joint release, Mayor de Blasio, who has stressed that most of the protesters have been peaceful, said, "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."

Thousands Of Protesters Block Brooklyn Bridge & FDR Drive

9:15 p.m. An estimated 2,000 protesters have begun marching across the Brooklyn Bridge, stopping traffic in the process. Around 400 people peeled off onto the FDR Drive, where they are holding hands and preventing cars from passing, and slowly marching north toward Midtown.

"I'm here for my students, I'm here for my family, I'm here for my friends who are from all over the world," said 28-year-old teacher Amanda Deleon, who was born and raised in the Lower East Side. "I'm here because I'm tired for them, I'm here because I want my kids to have better."

"I'm so happy right now that this has been mostly peaceful, and I hope that it continues, because this will leave a mark, this will leave an impression," she added. "I just saw a police officer with tears in their eyes. There's so much emotion here."

We're "spreading the message that police brutality has to end right now, that's what it's about," said 32-year-old organizer Dannelly Rodriguez. After someone threw a water bottle at one of the police officers near 1 Police Plaza, at Pearl Street and St. James Place, Rodriguez commented on the tension in the air between protesters and cops: "When black people, specifically, have been brutalized time and time again, have been murdered in cold blood by police officers time and time again, you get angry, you do things that are irrational," he said. "But at the end of the day, they took the oath. They have a responsibility. Courtesy, professionalism and respect, as they like to claim, which is honestly fraudulent when it comes to black communities. At the end of the day, I don't judge anyone for being upset and expressing them however they do."

8:30 p.m. An emergency alert was sent to New Yorkers this evening about tonight's curfew; it includes a link to the official emergency executive order signed by Mayor Bill de Blasio today.

Protesters Hold Moment Of Silence For George Floyd

7:45 p.m. Just before 7:30 p.m., protesters at Avenue D and E 9th Street held a moment of silence for George Floyd. The location of the group is significant because it is where police violently beat a bystander during a “social distancing enforcement” a month ago.

Protesters also read the names of black people who have been killed by police.

As 5th Night Of Protests Begin, NYPD Chief Monahan Takes A Knee

6:45 p.m. Large groups of protesters have formed around the city for a 5th night, with thousands congregating in Washington Square Park by 6 p.m. Chief Terence Monahan, the highest-ranking uniformed member of the NYPD, took a knee with protesters in the park, before the group began marching again.

It appeared as though a violence interrupter had helped facilitate the kneeling by approaching Monahan after he and other NYPD officers had been hit a few times by plastic water bottles. Monahan told the crowd that once it turns to night that the “good” protesters should disperse while the others will be dealt with.

Trump Threatens To Mobilize Military Troops To Stop “Domestic Terror”

6:30 p.m. In a surreal address from the White House Rose Garden, President Donald Trump said he would mobilize “all available federal resources, civilian and military” to stop the ongoing protests that have swept the country in the wake of the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd.

“I am your president of law and order,” he said.

It was not immediately clear, however, whether the president had the legal authority to call the military to crack down on protests.

During the roughly six-minute speech, Trump condemned the violence against police officers and acts of looting, which have been the exception during mostly peaceful demonstrations, as “acts of domestic terror.”

As the president spoke, law enforcement officers dispersed throngs of protesters using tear gas and a horse-driven corps. Many protesters tried to stand their ground, holding up their arms and shouting in unison, “Don’t shoot.”

It marked the fourth night of tense confrontations between police and protesters in front of the White House. On Friday, secret service reportedly whisked Trump into an underground bunker.

On Monday, the mayor of Washington D.C. ordered a curfew, one of several places in the country, including New York City to issue one.

“What happened last night was a total disgrace,” Trump said, referring to the skirmishes and the destruction of a nearby church,

He then said that he would be “dispatching thousands and thousands of heavily armed soldiers.”

“This is our mission and we will succeed 100 percent,” he later added. “Our country always wins.”

NYPD Commissioner Confirms Investigation of Six Incidents of Police Misconduct In Less Than A Week

4:43 p.m. In an interview with NPR, NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea confirmed that the NYPD is investigating six incidents of police misconduct that have occurred over the past four days.

"All of these incidents, I met with my Internal Affairs chief this morning and discussed about six separate incidents," Shea said. "In four or five of those incidents we have identified the officers."

The commissioner added, "We will be transparent throughout this entire process."

Shea admitted he was concerned that the incidents of police brutality committed by the NYPD will prompt further unrest, and came as close as he ever has to admitted that the NYPD hasn't been transparent or properly accountable for its actions.

"One of the criticisms of the past has been a perceived lack of transparency, and to be honest, it's probably been appropriate to say that that's actually been the case."

NYC Placed Under Curfew

3:46 p.m. New York City will be placed under curfew on Monday night, according to Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio.

"I spoke with the mayor, there’s going to be a curfew in New York City that we think could be helpful. More importantly, there is going to be an increase in the force," Cuomo told WAMC's Alan Chartock when announcing the curfew.

The governor said the curfew would be between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. The NYPD will also double the number of officers on duty, from 4,000 to 8,000, in order to enforce the curfew.

"Tonight, to protect against violence and property damage, the Governor and I have decided to implement a citywide curfew," Mayor de Blasio said in a joint statement with the governor. "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."

Read the full story on tonight's curfew here.

This afternoon, peaceful protesters gathered in Times Square. Scroll down for a full list of protests scheduled for tonight.

Jumaane Williams Says Protests Are Not Just About The Death Of George Floyd

3:09 p.m. At a virtual rally Monday morning, New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams emphasized that the demonstrations happening across New York City the last three days aren’t driven solely by last week’s death of George Floyd, but years of divestment and mistreatment of communities of color that have reached a boiling point.

As more protests are expected across the city in the coming days, Williams is urging those living in communities of color, particularly black women over anyone else, to take full charge in dictating the messaging.

“We should allow the people who are in the most pain to be the decision-makers of which way the protest go; not other folks who may have a different or concurring opinion,” said Williams, who warns New York City residents that more disruptions will continue in the coming days. “The communities have been uncomfortable for a very, very long.”

Williams, who appeared alongside protesters over the weekend, was joined by criminal justice, health care, youth, and housing advocates who expressed frustrations over a range of long standing issues in minority neighborhoods, including police brutality, a lack of care towards pregnant mothers who have given birth, and the devastating impact of COVID-19 on residents of New York City Public Housing. It’s those issues, Williams noted, that have produced the kind of fury seen across the city.

Laura Goodwin, a resident of NYCHA’s Lincoln Houses in Harlem who took part in the rally, said the city’s earlier response to COVID-19 at NYCHA complexes was inadequate.

“There was no testing. There was no PPE given until later. In the black communities they always come up as a day late and a dollar short. The buildings weren’t being cleaned properly, knowing the COVID,” said Laura Goodwin. “My dad got exposed to COVID early on. We had an inkling but there were no symptoms. And because there were no symptoms there was nowhere to take him. And there was no testing going on. Had he had early intervention my dad might still be here today.”

Williams noted that the full repeal of the state’s controversial 50-a amendment, redirecting monies from the NYPD budget toward the now defunded the Summer Youth Employment Program, and giving the New York City Council authority to vet any NYPD commissioner are good first steps toward fixing issues of racial inequities in the city.

“I want this to stop. I also want to be fair and ask for it to stop while we’re providing the fair justice that people are crying out for,” said Williams.

Trump Wants Governors To "Dominate" Protesters, Lest They "Look Like A Bunch Of Jerks"

2:17 p.m. President Donald Trump encouraged governors across America to "dominate" the protesters who have turned out to demonstrate against racist police violence.

According to a recording of the call obtained by the Times, Trump said, “You have to dominate. If you don’t dominate, you’re wasting your time. They’re going to run over you, you’re going to look like a bunch of jerks.”

Trump added, “You have to arrest people, and you have to try people, and they have to go jail for long periods of time.”

The Washington Post also had details of the president's call, and reported that Trump referred to the protests as a "war."

“It’s like a war...It is a war in a certain sense,” Trump said. “And we will end it fast. Be tough.”

Trump also told the governors, “You’re allowed to fight back. Now maybe my attorney general will stop me from saying that . . . but you are all big, tough, strong people and you are allowed to fight back.”

Governor Cuomo was asked about the call at his briefing, but said that he hadn't been on the call so he couldn't comment.

"I dunno exactly what he said because I'm here," Cuomo said.

CNN obtained some of the audio:

NYC Faces Prospect Of Curfew In Wake Of SoHo Looting

1:09 p.m. At his daily briefing on Monday in Midtown, Governor Andrew Cuomo said that he would be discussing the possibility of placing a curfew in New York City with Mayor Bill de Blasio. "I could impose a curfew, legally I could impose a curfew. I'm not at that point, but I know something has to be done," Cuomo said. "Because last night was not acceptable and the night before was not acceptable on any level."

Cuomo also said that the National Guard was on "standby," but that the situation in New York was much different from Minnesota, where the National Guard has been deployed, because of the sheer size of the NYPD. "New York City should have enough personnel with the NYPD," Cuomo said.

(At the mayor's press conference, when asked about a curfew, Bill de Blasio replied, "There are advantages and disadvantages, to say the least, to instituting a curfew. Previous nights, I think we're different than what we saw last night, so we're weighing that right now.)

During the press conference, the governor said that while he agreed with the message of the protesters, he felt that ultimately, the effect of the demonstrations was "negative."

"It was bad for the city, it was bad in the efforts to battle COVID, it was bad for our efforts to be ramping up towards the reopening," Cuomo said, adding that the looting seen in SoHo would help people like President Donald Trump discredit the overall message of police reform.

"The people who are exploiting the situation, the looting—that's not protesting, that's not righteous indignation. That's criminality," Cuomo said. "It plays into the hands of the people and the forces who don't want to make the change in the first place."

Asked point blank if New Yorkers should refrain from gathering in the streets to demonstrate, the governor contradicted the advice given moments before by his own health commissioner, to avoid crowds and maintain social distancing.

"No, I think you can protest, but do it smartly and intelligently and many places have," Cuomo said.

Ironically for a governor who dedicated most of his daily coronavirus press conference to the protests and issues of racist policing, Cuomo said that the protests weren't as effective as they could be, because they didn't articulate any specific demands.

"It's not enough to come out and say, 'I'm angry, I'm frustrated.' OK, and what? And you want what done?"

Another topic Cuomo said he'd broach with Mayor de Blasio: whether the NYPD officers seen in many "very disturbing" videos are still on the job, pending the independent investigation by State Attorney General Tish James.

"Whatever that report says, I will do, but in the interim, if nothing has been done? I get that too, and I'm gonna speak to the mayor about that."

Cuomo added, "He drives the car into a crowd? He should be fired. That's what Andrew Cuomo in Queens says. As governor...there's processes, there's gonna be lawsuits...But that doesn't mean you do nothing in the interim."

(Pat Lynch, the head of the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, the city's biggest police union, predictably took offense to those remarks.)

There are a number of demonstrations planned for Monday across New York City:

The protest at Sheridan Square is a pride vigil.