Brooklyn

‘Power to the People – All of Us:' Floyd's Brother Appeals for Peace at Emotional NYC Vigil

Mayor Bill de Blasio has credited new measures, including an extended curfew and a partial Manhattan traffic ban, with curbing late-night violence he said was undermining the rights of peaceful protesters

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NBC New York’s Ray Villeda and Adam Harding report.

What to Know

  • Well over 2,000 arrests have been made in NYC over a week of citywide demonstrations in response to the death of George Floyd, a black man who died in Minneapolis police custody on May 25
  • The NYC curfew has been extended through Monday, effective daily from 8 p.m.-5 a.m. The partial Manhattan traffic and for-hire vehicle pickup bans are expected to last through end of curfew
  • Gov. Cuomo warned Thursday mass protests could turn into "super spreaders" for COVID; he said the state would open up free testing for any protest attendees and urged them to act as if they were exposed

After a full week of protests across New York City, thousands gathered again Thursday for a vigil to honor the life of George Floyd, whose death under the knee of a white police officer sparked demonstrations in all 50 states calling for an end police brutality and racial justice.

Seas of sign-wielding protesters chanting "George Floyd," "No Justice, No Peace" and "Black Lives Matter" joined Floyd's younger brother Terrence Thursday at Cadman Plaza Park in Brooklyn, the borough Terrence Floyd calls home. As they awaited his remarks, they voiced the names of Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery, whose deaths have contributed to the national unrest.

Later, Terrence Floyd stood at the podium before the demonstrators, silent for nearly two full minutes as the crowd of thousands chanted "you are not alone." He wore a mask imprinted with his brother's photo and the phrase, "We can't breathe," referring both to George Floyd's last words and institutionalized racism that has suffocated the black community for decades.

"Movements going on all over the world, I feel so good knowing my borough, my borough ... I thank God for you all showing love to my brother," Terrence Floyd said. "I'm proud of the protests, but I'm not proud of the destruction. My brother wasn't about that."

The community response over the killing of George Floyd continues as large groups of peaceful protesters gather in Union Square hoping to make their voices heard and to inspire change, Marc Santia reports

He repeated that phrase for emphasis, adding, "My brother wasn't about that. Brooklyn -- trouble don't last always. Power to the people. Not just my people. Not just your people. I'm talking about power to the people -- all of us."

Terrence Floyd then led the demonstrators — estimates had the crowd size around 5,000 by late afternoon — on a somber march across the Brooklyn Bridge to Foley Square later Thursday. Bill de Blasio and his wife Chirlane McCray were expected to join the march across the span, but the mayor was met with audible boos and chants of "de Blasio go home" and "resign" when he arrived at Cadman Plaza with the first lady, and cut his comments short.

A Floyd family spokesman welcomed the couple to the podium, urging the crowd to replace their boos with chants of "respect." Many seemed to briefly oblige.

"George Floyd cannot have been allowed to die in vain," de Blasio said. "For all of us who know white privilege, we have to do more because we don't even fully recognize the daily pain that racism in this society causes. We will make peaceful change. To the Floyd family, we stand with you. Black Lives Matter in this city. Black Lives Matter in America."

The huge crowd of protesters slowly marched from Brooklyn over to Manhattan, going past Foley Square and through SoHo before ending at Washington Square Park, with other offshoots with hundreds of protesters at gathering at places like Union Square.

At the same time, mourners in Minnesota were remembering George Floyd with a memorial service and funeral. More Floyd family members joined with activists like Rev. Al Sharpton as they called for justice, and remembered their loved one. Gov. Andrew Cuomo called for a statewide moment of silence at 2 p.m. in New York to coincide with the beginning of that.

Earlier this week, Terrence Floyd made another emotional appeal for nonviolence at the site in Minneapolis where his brother died, saying, "That’s not going to bring my brother back at all." He wore the same mask he donned at Cadman Plaza Park Thursday, which was the same site where tempers flared after curfew the night before.

NBC New York's Checkey Beckford, Adam Harding and Ray Villeda report.

Videos shared by New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams showed police officers forcibly breaking up the march and making scores of arrests. Williams said it was a "nonviolent protest," but officers said they were enforcing the mayor's curfew, which remains in effect from 8 p.m. through 5 a.m. daily through Monday morning.

The confrontation turned physical at times, featuring shoving matches between cops and protesters. Once the demonstration was broken up, Williams went after de Blasio for having the police enforce the "ill-advised curfew," saying the whole tense standoff was "completely avoidable."

"All the riot police start pushing, shoving, batoning. I'm like, 'What is happening? Why are we doing this?'" Williams said. "People start talking about the mayor's curfew. Last night, I saw things I never saw before. Literally people holding signs, backing up, getting wailed on. The police were screaming 'mayor's curfew.'"

Williams added on Thursday that Cuomo and de Blasio were "taking a playbook from Donald Trump on how to respond to these protesters."

The organized protests on Thursday ended before the city's curfew went into effect at 8 p.m. for the third straight night, but there were still crowds of hundreds who marched along the streets of New York City well into the night. Video on social media showed crowds of hundreds marching in Crown Heights and another group taking a knee at Barclays Center, with some challenging NYPD officer to join them — but they remained standing.

Another group of around 200 peacefully marched through midtown Manhattan, before running into a large police presence outside the Plaza Hotel. A large number of protesters ran into nearby Central Park, while nearly two dozen arrests had been made by the NYPD.

De Blasio has been criticized from all sides, blamed for the policing policies that led to the protests as well as for the violent unrest that came after. NYC Councilmember Eric Ulrich (R-Queens) on Thursday said he would call for a vote of no confidence in the mayor and his removal from the office.

De Blasio acknowledged Thursday that there were some "horrible moments" in New York City the night before, but said, "What we saw overwhelmingly was peaceful protest."

"I am duly elected mayor. I have put this curfew in place based on the circumstances we have dealt with," he added. "It takes some respect on all sides. If officers say, 'Now is the time we need you to go home,' it's time to go home."

Cuomo also came to the NYPD's defense when asked about videos of cops swinging batons and tackling people violating curfew.

"That is a hyper-partisan rhetorical attack. Police bludgeon peaceful protesters for no reason — that's not a fact. They don't do that," the governor said.

De Blasio has credited the curfew and partial Manhattan traffic ban he imposed with helping curb late-night violence over the last few days of protest. The curfew's first night on Monday was a failure by all accounts; looters ravaged full blocks in the Bronx and destroyed dozens of stores in Manhattan. Seven hundred people were arrested. The next night, Tuesday, was markedly improved with significantly fewer reports of looting and violence, though another 200 were taken into custody. That number was halved Wednesday when nearly 100 protesters were arrested. Again, there was no widespread violence.

In total, more than 2,000 people, including the mayor's own daughter, have been arrested amid the New York City protests that started a week ago Thursday. More than a dozen protests are planned citywide over the course of the day.

Protestors continue to march through the streets of Manhattan as they seek justice for George Floyd, and protest police brutality. Chris Glorioso reports.

Thursday's Brooklyn prayer vigil for Floyd comes a day after prosecutors announced upgraded second-degree murder charges for the now-fired Minneapolis officer who put his knee on Floyd's neck for nearly 9 minutes. Officials also announced Wednesday that the three other officers present when Floyd died had been charged with aiding and abetting murder.

State Attorney General Letitia James, who is expediting an independent review of NYPD actions during the local protests, also spoke at the Brooklyn vigil. She was also asked by Gov. Cuomo to look into Wednesday night's incidents in Brooklyn as part of her investigation. Several clergy members, community activists and other officials were also in attendance.

Ahead of the memorial and march Thursday, which included several clergy members, community activists and other officials, de Blasio said it "marks a moment to recognize the pain that has caused so much concern, so much of an outpouring of a deep, deep desire for change. It is also a reflection point. If we're going to make changes we have to do it together and we have to do it in peace."

The New York City Council has moved to take action against police brutality locally amid the protests. They say a bill to criminalize the use of chokeholds by the NYPD has enough support to override any potential veto from the mayor. It was one of those police chokeholds that claimed the life of Eric Garner on a Staten Island street corner in 2014. Garner's dying words -- "I can't breathe" -- became the initial rallying cry of the Black Lives Matter movement, a desperate phrase that galvanized national demonstrations again as George Floyd uttered it May 25 just before his death under the knee of a white police officer.

Chandan Kanna/AFP via Getty Images
Demonstrators protest at the makeshift memorial in honor of George Floyd, on June 2, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Thousands of National Guard troops patrolled major US cities after protests over racism and police brutality sparked more clashes between police, protestors and looters.
Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images
Demonstrators protest at the makeshift memorial in honor of George Floyd, on June 2, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Thousands of National Guard troops patrolled major US cities after protests over racism and police brutality sparked more clashes between police, protestors and looters.
Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images
Protesters demonstrate on June 2, 2020, during a “Black Lives Matter” protest in New York City. Anti-racism protests have put several U.S. cities under early evening curfew to suppress rioting, following the death of George Floyd while in police custody.
Jeff Chiu/AP
People kneel in front of a line of California Highway Patrol officers in Redwood City, California, June 2, 2020, at a protest over the death of George Floyd, who died May 25 in Minneapolis after being restrained by police.
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A protesters takes a moment during a speech to the crowd as they march through Hollywood during a demonstration over the death of George Floyd while in police custody, in Los Angeles, June 2, 2020. Anti-racism protests have put several US cities under curfew to suppress protests and rioting, following the death of George Floyd in police custody.
Mark J. Terrill/AP
Demonstrators put their hands behind their heads before being taken into custody after the city’s curfew went into effect, June 2, 2020, in Los Angeles.
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Demonstrators protest at the makeshift memorial in honor of George Floyd, on June 2, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Thousands of National Guard troops patrolled major US cities after protests over racism and police brutality sparked more clashes between police, protestors and looters.
Gerald Herbert/AP
Protesters take over I-10’s elevated portion during a march in New Orleans, June 2, 2020, protesting the death of George Floyd, who died after being restrained by Minneapolis police officers on May 25.
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Protesters raise clenched fists during a Black Lives Matter protest in Hyde Park on June 3, 2020, in London, United Kingdom. The death of an African-American man, George Floyd, while in the custody of Minneapolis police has sparked protests across the United States, as well as demonstrations of solidarity in many countries around the world.
Noreen O'Donnell
Protesters march past a statue of President John F. Kennedy in Brooklyn, New York on June 6, 2020
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A marcher at a protest in Brooklyn, New York, on June 6, 2020
Noreen O'Donnell
Protesters' signs at a march on June 6, 2020, in Brooklyn, New York.
Noreen O'Donnell
Protesters at a march in Brooklyn, New York, on June 6, 2020
Noreen O'Donnell
Protesters march through Brooklyn on June 6, 2020
Kyle Grillot
Protestors kneel in front of the police during a demonstration over the death of George Floyd and pattern of police brutality against black Americans in Hollywood, June 2, 2020.
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Los Angeles police officers kneel during a rally led by Baptist Ministers to City Hall on June 2, 2020 in memory of George Floyd.
Wong Maye-E/AP
Police arrest protesters defying an imposed curfew during a march to protest police brutality in the wake of George Floyd’s death, June 2, 2020, in New York. Floyd died after being restrained by Minneapolis police officers on May 25.
Jeff Chiu/AP
Demonstrators kneel in Redwood City, California, June 2, 2020, at a protest over the death of George Floyd, who died in Minneapolis after being restrained by police.
Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Hundreds of demonstrators march toward Lafayette Park and the White House to protest against police brutality and the death of George Floyd, on June 2, 2020, in Washington, DC.
Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images
Demonstrators engage in a peaceful protest outside of the state capitol building as unrest continues around the country following the death of George Floyd on June 2, 2020, in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Protesters demonstrate on June 2, 2020, during a “Black Lives Matter” protest in New York City. Anti-racism protests have put several US cities under curfew to suppress rioting, following the death of George Floyd while in police custody.
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A shop owner looks over damage in a looted souvenir and electronics shop near Times Square after a night of protests and vandalism over the death of George Floyd early June 2, 2020, in New York City.
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Less-than-lethal rifle rounds are fired near protesters and motorists surrounded by police as large numbers of people are arrested after a curfew went into effect on June 2, 2020, in Los Angeles. The vast majority of protestors demonstrated peacefully.
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Protesters gather, while observing social distancing, during a demonstration on the Malieveld in The Hague on June 2, 2020, after the police killing of unarmed black man George Floyd in the U.S.
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The Socialist Unity Centre of India (SUCI) march to condemn the killing of Minneapolis resident George Floyd, June 1, 2020 in Kolkata, India.
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Posters drawn in protest of George Floyd’s death is posted outside the U.S. Consulate General office in Edinburgh.
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Thousand gather in Amsterdam, Netherlands, June 1, 2020, to protest against police brutality against black people in America and around the world.
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Australian protesters rally in Martin Place during a ”Black Lives Matter” demonstration, held in solidarity with protests over the death of George Floyd, in Sydney, Australia, June 2, 2020. The event was organized to rally against aboriginal deaths in custody in Australia as well as in solidarity with protests across the United States following Floyd’s death.
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Youth members of the Greek communist party protest in front of the U. S. Embassy in Athens over the death of George Floyd.
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Young Turkish leftist demonstrators clash with police at Kadikoy in Istanbul on June 2, 2020, as leftist groups gather in support of US protesters over the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died after a police officer kneeled on his neck for several minutes, and against police violence in Turkey.
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A man walks past the burned remains of a car that was towed away, after the unrest from the past few nights, in Washington, D.C., June 2, 2020.
Protesters gather, while observing social distancing, during a demonstration on the Malieveld in The Hague on June 2, 2020, after the police killing of unarmed black man George Floyd in the U.S.
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People take part in a demonstration at Belfast City Hall on June 1, 2020, in Belfast, United Kingdom. The death of an African-American man, George Floyd, while in the custody of Minneapolis police has sparked protests across the United States, as well as demonstrations of solidarity in many countries around the world.
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Wolverhampton Wanderers players take the knee in memory of George Floyd in a training session at Sir Jack Hayward Training Ground on June 2, 2020 in Wolverhampton, England.
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Protesters gather at Barclays Center in Brooklyn during a protest against the death of George Floyd on June 1, 2020, in New York. The protests spread across the country in at least 30 cities across the United States, as well as Australia, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and India.
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Protesters stand on the street during the phenomenon known as Manhattanhenge in Times Square on June 1, 2020, in New York. The protests spread across the country in at least 30 cities across the United States, over the death of unarmed black man George Floyd at the hands of a police officer, which was the latest police involved death of a black American.
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Workers clean up after a protest on June 2, 2020, in New York City’s Rockefeller Center. Protests spread across the country in at least 30 cities across the United States, over the death of unarmed black man George Floyd at the hands of a police officer – the latest death in a series of police involved deaths of a black American.
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Protestors in New York kneeled to demand justice for George Floyd in the streets during a protest over the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died after he was pinned down by a white police officer, June 1, 2020.
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Police detain and arrest a man during a protest over the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died after being pinned down by a white police officer in Washington, D.C., June 1, 2020. Protests and riots continue in cities across US following the death of George Floyd for the seventh night in a row.
April Saul via AP
In this Saturday, May 30, 2020, photo, Camden County Metro Police Chief Joe Wysocki raises a fist while marching with Camden residents and activists in Camden, N.J., to protest the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images
People gather at site where George Floyd died May 25 while in police custody, on June 1, 2020, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. George’s brother Terrence Floyd visited the site today and called for justice and the prosecution of all four officers involved in the incident.
Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Demonstrators confront law enforcement during a protest on June 1, 2020, in downtown Washington, DC.
AP Photo/Noah Berger
Demonstrators rally in San Francisco on Sunday, May 31, 2020, protesting the death of George Floyd, who died after being restrained by Minneapolis police officers on May 25.
Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images
A woman carries a ‘Black Lives Matter’ sign past U.S. National Guard troops in the Fairfax District, an area damaged during yesterday’s unrest, after the troops were activated by California Governor Gavin Newsom following violent demonstrations in response to George Floyd’s death on May 31, 2020, in Los Angeles, California.
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Protesters holding a Black Lives Matter banner shout at law enforcement officers on May 30, 2020, in Seattle, Washington. A peaceful rally was held earlier in the day expressing outrage over the death of George Floyd who died while in the custody of police in Minneapolis. Police deployed flash bangs and tear gas to break up the crowd who were breaking windows and looting stores.
Photo by Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images
A man waves a Black Lives Matter flag atop the CNN logo during a protest in response to the police killing of George Floyd outside the CNN Center on May 29, 2020, in Atlanta, Georgia.
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Thousands of people attend a rally next to the Colorado State Capitol to protest the death of George Floyd on May 30, 2020, in Denver, Colorado. The city of Denver has enacted a curfew starting Saturday night and Governor Jared Polis has called in the Colorado National Guard after two nights of protests wreaked havoc across the city.
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Protesters kneel behind a gate during a demonstration outside the White House in Washington, DC, on May 29, 2020, over the death of George Floyd, a black man who died after a white policeman kneeled on his neck for several minutes.
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Protesters raise a fist in front of the burning Minneapolis 3rd police precinct on Thursday, May 28, 2020, during the third day of protests over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
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Protesters set a shop on fire on Thursday, May 28, 2020, during the third day of protests over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
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Former Minnesota Gopher and NFL player Tyrone Carter pleaded with protesters not to tear up their city as he hugged Tony L Clark at the site where George Floyd was killed at the hands of Minneapolis police.
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Tony L Clark, left, consoles Gwen Dumas at the site where George Floyd was killed in front of the Cup Food Store. Protesters gathered at 38th and Chicago where George Floyd was killed for the third night of protests on May 28, 2020.
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Hundreds of protesters marched in downtown Minneapolis, May 28, 2020, to support CAIR-Minnesota’s call for the arrest of the police who killed George Floyd.
Kerem Yucel/AFP via Getty Images
Protesters throw objects into a fire outside a Target store near the Third Police Precinct on May 28, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during a demonstration over the death of George Floyd. A police precinct in Minnesota went up in flames late on May 28 in a third day of demonstrations as the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul seethed over the shocking police killing of Floyd.

The protests involving tens of thousands across the country have turned deadly in some cities. They come amid the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed more than 100,000 people in the United States and nearly 25,000, at least, in New York alone. Black and Latino people have died at higher rates than the general population across America and in New York City, which accounts for nearly a fifth of all coronavirus deaths in the country.

Cuomo and de Blasio have both expressed concern mass protests could exacerbate COVID-19 in New York City just before its long-awaited reopening. Cuomo warned Thursday the protests could turn into "super spreaders." He said the state would open free COVID testing to anyone who has attended any of the protests and urged people to take advantage of that.

"If you were at one of those protests, I would assume that you were infected," Cuomo said, reiterating he stands with protesters in their outrage. "Tell people, when you go home, tell your parents, tell your sister, tell your brother, tell people, 'I may have been exposed.' And act like you may have been exposed.' Worry about your 60-year-old parent or uncle or aunt. They can die from this virus."

Public health experts have voiced similar concerns as it relates to widespread protests in the nation's 25 viral hotspots.

Nationwide demonstrations protesting the death of George Floyd have fueled concerns that those large crowds could cause a second wave of coronavirus around the country. New information is out today addressing the worries and gives advice on what keeps us safe.
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