(CNN) — Police are investigating an incident after video allegedly shows a New York City Police Department vehicle ramming multiple people during protests Saturday in the wake of George Floyd’s death.
The 27-second video, posted on Twitter, shows a NYPD car in front of a crowd throwing objects at the vehicle. There is a barricade in front of the vehicle. The car appears to be driving towards the barricade, shooting down the protesters. Screams are heard as a person is seen jumping on top of the truck. It is not known if anyone was injured.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said the incident is under investigation, but stressed that officers may have had no other choice.
“I’m not going to blame the agents who were trying to deal with an absolutely impossible situation. The people who were surrounding that police car did something wrong, and they created an untenable situation, “he said. “I wish the agents had found a different approach, but let’s start at the beginning. The protesters in that video did the wrong thing by surrounding the police car, period.
However, New York representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez criticized de Blasio’s comments as “unacceptable.”
“As mayor, this police department is under your leadership,” he tweeted Sunday morning.
“It’s wrong to defend and make excuses for the NYPD to put SUVs into crowds. Do it well. Descale ».
