Civil Rights Organizations Threaten to Sue if de Blasio Extends Curfew

NEW YORK — Today, the New York Civil Liberties Union, The Legal Aid Society, the Thurgood Marshall Civil Rights Center, and the Center for Constitutional Rights announced their intention to sue Mayor Bill de Blasio if he extends New York City’s curfew. The curfew, which is set to expire Monday morning, has effectively prohibited New Yorkers from safely being outside between the hours of 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. The following is a joint statement from the four organizations:

“While New Yorkers continue to protest police violence against Black people, mourn for lives lost, and demand justice, the curfew has only put people in further danger. In addition to curtailing the right to First Amendment protected protest, the NYPD has used the curfew as justification for their brutal attacks. We have seen too many demonstrators, journalists, lawmakers, protest monitors, essential workers, and bystanders who have been callously beaten, threatened, and unlawfully arrested, all under the guise of enforcing the curfew.

Mayor de Blasio, New Yorkers are under attack from your police department and we are ready to take legal action. If you extend the curfew, we’ll see you in court.”