UPDATE: Tensions flared as an NYPD officer was accidentally maced by a colleague during heated immigration protests in Lower Manhattan on October 28, 2023. The incident unfolded as demonstrators rallied against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids targeting immigrants in the city.
Around noon, over 100 protesters gathered near a parking garage at the intersection of Centre and Howard Streets. Activists formed a human barricade to impede ICE agents carrying out actions on nearby Canal Street. In the chaos, video footage captured a moment where one officer unintentionally deployed pepper spray, causing visible discomfort to another officer seeking assistance.
The protests escalated as activists clashed with police and individuals believed to be from the Department of Homeland Security. Eyewitness Amanda Holden reported that demonstrators faced violence, with some being sprayed with substances resembling pepper spray, while others displayed visible injuries, including bloody faces.
City Councilmember Shahana Hanif condemned the ongoing cooperation between city agencies and ICE, stating, “So while it is illegal for city agencies to aid ICE, we are seeing incidents that show our city is violating its own laws.” Activist Jay Walker remarked, “What I saw was the NYPD behaving like handmaidens to these ICE terrorists,” echoing a growing sentiment among demonstrators who argue that such actions undermine the city’s immigrant community.
Public Advocate Jumaane Williams emphasized the city’s identity, saying, “This is New York City, a city of immigrants. We are a shining big integrated apple, and we love it.”
Following the confrontation, police reported multiple arrests during what was described as an unplanned anti-ICE demonstration. The protests continued into Sunday, with advocates returning to the same location to demand accountability and reform.
As this situation develops, officials and community leaders are calling for urgent dialogue about the treatment of immigrants and the role of law enforcement in these ongoing confrontations. Stay tuned for updates as this story unfolds.
