NYC bans vehicle traffic below 96th street as part of curfew

The New York Police Department (NYPD) is banning vehicle traffic south of 96th street in Manhattan as the city prepares for another night of protests sparked by the death of George Floyd, NYPD Chief Terence Monahan tweeted Tuesday.

TRAFFIC CLOSURE:
At 8pm tonight when the #curfew begins in #NYC, there will be NO vehicular traffic allowed south of 96th Street in Manhattan — with the exception of residents, essential workers, busses, and truck deliveries. pic.twitter.com/bpiVb45Gej

— Chief Terence Monahan (@NYPDChiefofDept) June 2, 2020

The closure bans unessential traffic in the lower two-thirds of Manhattan. 

Only local residents, essential workers, buses and truck deliveries will be allowed to drive during those hours. The mayor extended the city’s 8 p.m. curfew through June 7 on Tuesday and promised to take action against the “outsiders,” “gang members” and “common criminals.” 

New York is one of many cities across the country where protests have sparked up in the past week since Floyd, a 46-year-old unarmed black man, died in Minneapolis police custody. 

Derek Chauvin, the former officer who was filmed kneeling on Floyd’s neck, has since been fired and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. Three other officers were fired but have not been charged.

The NYPD came under scrutiny from some congressional lawmakers and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo after videos online appear to show them using excessive force on peaceful protesters.

One viral video showed two police SUVs driving through a crowd of protesters on Saturday. De Blasio called for an investigation after another video showed a New York officer pushing a female demonstrator to the ground.