As in so many other cities across the U.S, thousands of New York City residents have taken to the streets for multiple days to nonviolently protest the ongoing problem of the police department's continued abuse of people of color.
Nearly all of the demonstrations in NYC have been nonviolent, though looting and destruction has occurred in the late hours, often by groups not affiliated with the demonstrations themselves.
But over the last few days, social media has abounded with images and videos of police using questionably aggressive methods to manage the nonviolent protesters.
The Intercept reported that NYPD officials have used moving vehicles, pepper spray and nightsticks to maintain law and order, though often those mechanisms only escalated violence and chaos.
Many videos and photos circulating around Twitter have captured a new police tactic that has alarmed people. Several NYPD officials have been seen covering their badge numbers.
The NYPD covering their badge numbers with ribbons and electric tape at the Barclay center protests last night in Brooklyn new york @AshAgony @BenjaminPDixon @jhermann @NYCMayor @NewYorkStateAG pic.twitter.com/bH2ki6DWil
— breeze so lo (@BreezeCrypto) June 1, 2020
Badge numbers identify a police officer and so are paramount to ensuring accountability following any problematic behavior. The Intercept went on to report that covering a badge number violates the NYPD Patrol Guide and New York's Right to Know Act, which requires all officers identify themselves by name, rank and badge number upon engaging with any person.
The practice, now made more significant than ever in the midst of citywide unrest, actually began back in mid-April. NYPD Commissioner Dermont Shea announced a pandemic-based rationale for the practice of covering badge numbers at that time.
New Yorkers may begin to see our officers with black mourning bands across their shields—and across their hearts. We wear these in quiet commemoration of our 27 brothers and sisters we've lost to #COVID.
Another way we honor our vow to #NeverForget. pic.twitter.com/JiPo0SVOqc
— Commissioner Shea (@NYPDShea) April 16, 2020
But Twitter was not buying the police's public reasoning when the police presence on the streets is so prevalent and interactions with the public nonstop.
As the practice remained throughout the recent protests, people have called out what appeared as merely an escape from accountability wrapped in the cloak of a memorial.
Huh. Also covering the officers' badge numbers, making it harder to track them. Interesting. https://t.co/m4ripbtbaD
— Soledad O'Brien (@soledadobrien) June 2, 2020
Why, yes! What a coincidence.
— Timothy D Ayars (@ayars_d) June 2, 2020
Yes; a black ribbon pinned *under* the shield would also work as a quiet commemoration.
— Sage Blackwood (@urwalder) June 2, 2020
It's BS. Armbands would work.
— Jeanne Vitale (@jeanne_vitale) June 3, 2020
Covering their badge numbers displays a premeditated intent to violate the law and the rights of protesters.
— Torgo 99 ☭ (@Torgo99) June 3, 2020
That was the first thing I thought.
— David Israel (@RealDavidIsrael) June 2, 2020
Though people were not at all surprised.
Coincidence? In this moment - nothing is an accident. Not ONE police officer had their body cam on when David McAtee was killed. They are showing us who they are. It's time we show them who we are - fire & charge the lot.
— Pamela Day (@ZibbyZ) June 2, 2020
Evidently, the action only reinforced the frustrations driving the protests in the first place—anger and impatience with police departments for their perceived unwillingness to adopt transparency and accept accountability.
