Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that he is more than doubling the amount of “social distancing ambassadors,” taking the pressure off the NYPD.
The announcement comes after a series of viral videos sparked debate calling social distancing enforcement the new stop and frisk.
The mayor says there's going to be even more people out starting next week. The police department has been under criticism after a series of videos have gone viral showing violent arrests. Activists and local leaders have been calling on the city to change their practices, saying there has been clear racial disparities when it comes down to social distancing enforcement.
Earlier this month in Brooklyn, a bystander filmed an NYPD officer from the 75th Precinct holding down and appearing to punch a young man. His mother tells News 12 he was hanging out with some friends when police approached him. News 12 is told when trying to disperse the group the young man tried to get into a police car, and then hit a sergeant in the arm.
However, activists say the force used was unnecessary.
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The mayor is now taking a different approach to ease tensions with officers. By next week, 2,300 “social distancing ambassadors" will be spread out throughout the boroughs. Their job will be to make sure people are following rules and have masks.
Recent numbers released by the NYPD show black and Hispanic people made up a majority of arrests or issued summonses for violations.