Mayor: City’s job to manage crowds of protesters

Mayor Bill de Blasio says as long as people protest in a peaceful and nonviolent way, it's the city's job to manage the crowds. Many have taken to the streets after a grand jury's decision not to indict

News 12 Staff

Dec 16, 2014, 4:04 AM

Updated 3,648 days ago

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Mayor Bill de Blasio says as long as people protest in a peaceful and nonviolent way, it's the city's job to manage the crowds.
Many have taken to the streets after a grand jury's decision not to indict the police officer who put Eric Garner in a chokehold. Many Bronx residents have expressed their dissatisfaction with the NYPD and what they describe as the department's excessive force on civilians.
"People are speaking out on an issue that has obviously pained them deeply," says Mayor de Blasio. "It's happening all over the country, not just here...There is a period of protests. We don't expect it to go on forever."
The mayor says anyone who assaults a police officer during these protests will be prosecuted.