Moment when protesters stand off with NYPD as scuffles break out and 19 people are arrested in Brooklyn during demonstration against pandemic evictions
At least 19 anti-eviction demonstrators were arrested following a clash with police at a New York City building Friday.
Protesters fighting against evictions during the pandemic were spotted marching through the streets of downtown Brooklyn Friday, just weeks after City Marshals carried out their first, legal tenant eviction since the spring lockdown began.
The protesters originally gathered outside Brooklyn Housing Court, but made their way to the building at 24 Court Street later, FreedomNews.TV reported.
Anti-eviction demonstrators were seen being arrested during a protest in Brooklyn Friday
NYPD officers were caught on video scuffling with protestors outside a building, including one man (in brown) who was later seen being restrained
Police officers were seen taking a protester into custody as other chanted 'shame' at them
It's unclear why the protesters went to that building or who called police to the scene.
At some point during the protest at the building - which called for an eviction moratorium and rent freeze - police reportedly arrested at least 19 people.
Video taken during the incident showed officers restraining protesters inside the building, while protesters outside chanted 'let them out!'
Additional video showed officers scuffling with protesters surrounding the building's entrance.
Police were heard saying 'get back!' to a protester, before swarming him and telling him to 'get on the ground' and appearing to take him into custody.
All around them, protesters chanted 'shame, shame, shame.'
At least 19 people were reported to have been arrested during the anti-eviction protest. People being taken into custody are seen sitting in a police van outside the building
The protesters were calling for an eviction moratorium and rent freeze. The protest came just weeks after the first legal tenant evictions were carried out in New York City
At one point, the protesters claimed that an 80-year-old woman had been arrested.
The protesters were seen holding signs that urged people to go on rent strikes and for landlords to cancel rent while 'millions are jobless.'
'Expropriate the real estate barons! Only a workers government can provide decent, affordable housing for all,' read one sign, while another read 'Evictions = more COVID.'
The first legal tenant eviction in New York City since March took place on November 20, officials told The City.
A second legal eviction, also by a private landlord, was also carried out during that month.
New York's eviction moratorium, put in place when the state was considered Ground Zero for the US pandemic, officially ended in October.
Landlords were allowed to begin the court process that would allow them to start collecting payments from renters who have not paid what they owe.
So far, the city's Office of Court Administration has logged 23,395 non-payment, eviction petitions since the end of November, according to Gothamist.