12/23/2014
NEW YORK – New York Mayor Bill de Blasio on Monday called for a temporary halt to the racial protests and criticism of him personally amid the commotion caused by the cold-blooded murders of two cops on the weekend.
“It’s ... time for everyone to take stock that there are things that unite us, there are things that we hold dear as New Yorkers, as Americans,” said De Blasio at a public event at a police sports association two days after officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu were shot to death by Ismaaiyl Brinsley while sitting in their patrol car in Brooklyn.
The killings of the two officers came amid a wave of protests in New York and other cities around the country stemming from the death of African American Eric Garner last July after a policeman used an unauthorized chokehold on him in an attempt to subdue him.
The protests intensified after a grand jury decided not to indict the officer who administered the chokehold, and they were augmented by demonstrations following the killing of unarmed 18-year-old Michael Brown, also African American, by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri.
Along with the protests, the New York police unions have harshly criticized the mayor, saying that he does not back up officers sufficiently and has “blood on (his) hands” for encouraging and enabling those protesting Garner’s death.
On Monday, said De Blasio, the only concern should be providing support to the families of the slain officers. “I think it’s a time for everyone to put aside political debates, put aside protests, put aside all of the things that we will talk about in ... due time,” he said.
The mayor, who next January will celebrate his one-year anniversary in office, said that the families of the dead officers are suffering, and he added that the attack on them was an attack on all Americans, on democracy and on the values all New Yorkers defend.
The demonstrations staged in the Big Apple have presented challenges for the New York Police Department, with its 35,000 officers, not to act such that new complaints about police brutality could be made.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo defended De Blasio on Monday, saying that he is doing the best he can under “very difficult” circumstances.
Because of the double murder on Saturday, both the police and the police unions have issued orders or recommendations for officers to increase their precautions.
The African American killer of the two officers said in earlier messages posted on the social networks that he was going to stage an attack on the police to take revenge for Garner and Brown’s deaths.
The Police Benevolent Association suggested that police not make arrests “unless absolutely necessary,” and the detectives’ union advised officers to patrol in groups of three and wear bulletproof vests.
Meanwhile, authorities announced that the viewing and memorial sevice for Officer Ramos will be held Friday at a Brooklyn church and he will be buried the next day.
The NYPD announced that it is helping Officer Liu’s family with the necessary arrangements to have his body sent back to China.
source
NEW YORK – New York Mayor Bill de Blasio on Monday called for a temporary halt to the racial protests and criticism of him personally amid the commotion caused by the cold-blooded murders of two cops on the weekend.
“It’s ... time for everyone to take stock that there are things that unite us, there are things that we hold dear as New Yorkers, as Americans,” said De Blasio at a public event at a police sports association two days after officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu were shot to death by Ismaaiyl Brinsley while sitting in their patrol car in Brooklyn.
The killings of the two officers came amid a wave of protests in New York and other cities around the country stemming from the death of African American Eric Garner last July after a policeman used an unauthorized chokehold on him in an attempt to subdue him.
The protests intensified after a grand jury decided not to indict the officer who administered the chokehold, and they were augmented by demonstrations following the killing of unarmed 18-year-old Michael Brown, also African American, by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri.
Along with the protests, the New York police unions have harshly criticized the mayor, saying that he does not back up officers sufficiently and has “blood on (his) hands” for encouraging and enabling those protesting Garner’s death.
On Monday, said De Blasio, the only concern should be providing support to the families of the slain officers. “I think it’s a time for everyone to put aside political debates, put aside protests, put aside all of the things that we will talk about in ... due time,” he said.
The mayor, who next January will celebrate his one-year anniversary in office, said that the families of the dead officers are suffering, and he added that the attack on them was an attack on all Americans, on democracy and on the values all New Yorkers defend.
The demonstrations staged in the Big Apple have presented challenges for the New York Police Department, with its 35,000 officers, not to act such that new complaints about police brutality could be made.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo defended De Blasio on Monday, saying that he is doing the best he can under “very difficult” circumstances.
Because of the double murder on Saturday, both the police and the police unions have issued orders or recommendations for officers to increase their precautions.
The African American killer of the two officers said in earlier messages posted on the social networks that he was going to stage an attack on the police to take revenge for Garner and Brown’s deaths.
The Police Benevolent Association suggested that police not make arrests “unless absolutely necessary,” and the detectives’ union advised officers to patrol in groups of three and wear bulletproof vests.
Meanwhile, authorities announced that the viewing and memorial sevice for Officer Ramos will be held Friday at a Brooklyn church and he will be buried the next day.
The NYPD announced that it is helping Officer Liu’s family with the necessary arrangements to have his body sent back to China.
source
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