It’s been a year since the day tensions between police and protesters came to a head in the south Bronx. Community members in Mott Haven Friday rallied to remember what many are now calling “Bloody Thursday.” 

The Human Rights Watch did an investigation into June 4, 2020 and after interviewing protesters, lawyers and city officials found that the NYPD planned the assault of peaceful protesters last summer. 

Protesters say that around 7:45 p.m police began to surround them, blocking their path and forcing them to violate the city’s 8 p.m. curfew. 

After that, the Human Rights Watch says police began arresting protesters by force, physically pushing and hitting them with batons, as well as pepper-spraying and shoving them to the ground. 

Community members say that this was unprovoked and that the protesters had been marching peacefully. 

Organizers who were there that day say that a year has passed, but they still haven’t seen any real change. 

Over 200 people were arrested, many of whom say they suffered injuries from that violent day and have filed lawsuits against the city. 

News 12 reached out to the NYPD for a statement, but the department has declined to comment.