George Floyd protests: NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio's daughter Chiara arrested at march in Manhattan
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio's daughter Chiara reportedly found herself among those arrested for protesting against the police brutality that caused the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25. The 25-year-old Chiara was taken into custody around 10. 30 pm on Saturday, May 30, after police officers took on an "unlawful assembly" at 12th Street and Broadway in Lower Manhattan.
A police report that showed Chiara was among the 100 protesters who refused to clear the roadway and attacked the cops with objects, according to Daily Mail. The New York Post also reported the arrest and cited a source saying: "That was a real hotspot, police cars were getting burned there, people were throwing and yelling, fighting with cops. There were thousands of people in that area at that time."
Chiara, a 2016 graduate from Santa Clara University, gave 181 East End Avenue as her residential address, according to the Post report. While it is the residence (Gracie Mansion) of the mayor as well, sources claimed that she stopped short of telling the officers that she is the daughter of the mayor. She was released on Sunday, May 31, morning after being handed a desk appearance ticket.
Chiara's father urged protesters to disperse just an hour earlier
Chiara’s arrest came an hour before her father appealed to the protesters to retreat. "We appreciate and respect all peaceful protests, but now it is time for people to go home," de Blasio said at a 11.30 pm press conference in downtown Brooklyn. "If you went out peacefully to make a point about the need for change, you have been heard and change is coming in the city. I have no doubt about that. It's time to go home so we can all move forward."
Protests spread like wildfire across the US over the death of Floyd, a 46-year-old black American, who was pinned to the ground by the cops with one officer forcing his knee against his neck, not allowing him to breathe. The cruel act went on for several minutes and a video of the incident went viral on social media, sparking violent protests. The cop, Derek Chauvin, was sacked from the police force, arrested and charged with murder.
NYC saw no exception and the local police said more than 700 people have been arrested since protests erupted in the city towards the end of last week. De Blasio, a 59-year-old Democrat, though did not mention the arrest of his daughter in any of the two press briefings he attended on Saturday night and Sunday morning. At the briefing on Sunday morning, de Blasio spoke about "humanity", saying both protesters and police officers deserved to be treated with "tremendous respect".
The mayor also suspected that the protests had been co-opted by "people who came to do violence in a systematic, organized fashion." In a tone of sympathy towards the black community, de Blasio tweeted on Saturday: "What we're seeing is an overflow due to decades of injustices. I see my own privilege and can only understand so much. I know enough to say that for the Black community every day is pervaded by racism. We will do better."