Mayor Mamdani Vows to Shut Down Controversial NYPD Unit Amidst Protests Against Immigration Crackdown
In a move that has been long in the making, Mayor Zohran Mamdani has reaffirmed his commitment to disbanding the Strategic Response Group (SRG), an NYPD unit that responds to protests and emergency calls across the city. The announcement comes on the heels of Tuesday's protest, where anti-ICE demonstrators were arrested by SRG officers for occupying a Manhattan hotel lobby.
Mamdani's stance has been met with criticism from elected officials who have accused the unit of racial bias and violence against protesters. In 2020, the NYPD agreed to limit how the officers could respond to demonstrations as part of a settlement between the city and Black Lives Matter protesters.
The SRG was established in 2015 and has been at the center of controversy for years. Critics argue that the unit's dual role – counterterrorism responsibilities and responding to protests – creates a conflict of interest and puts protesters at risk of excessive force. In recent weeks, demonstrators have taken to the streets across the city to protest President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown.
Mamdani has repeatedly criticized the SRG on his campaign trail, calling for its disbandment in 2024 after tweeting that officers in the unit had "brutalized" countless New Yorkers exercising their First Amendment rights. The mayor now says he is working with Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch to determine how to phase out the unit.
While Mamdani's commitment to disbanding the SRG has been welcomed by protesters, observers are skeptical about how quickly this can be achieved. Until then, he expects that the SRG will continue to be deployed to city protests, raising concerns about the safety of demonstrators and the role of the police in maintaining public order.
The city's settlement with Black Lives Matter protesters last year put limits on when officers from the SRG could be deployed to protests, but it remains unclear what the replacement unit would look like or how it would address similar criticisms. As tensions between protesters and law enforcement remain high, one thing is clear: the fate of the SRG will have significant implications for public safety and civil liberties in New York City.
In a move that has been long in the making, Mayor Zohran Mamdani has reaffirmed his commitment to disbanding the Strategic Response Group (SRG), an NYPD unit that responds to protests and emergency calls across the city. The announcement comes on the heels of Tuesday's protest, where anti-ICE demonstrators were arrested by SRG officers for occupying a Manhattan hotel lobby.
Mamdani's stance has been met with criticism from elected officials who have accused the unit of racial bias and violence against protesters. In 2020, the NYPD agreed to limit how the officers could respond to demonstrations as part of a settlement between the city and Black Lives Matter protesters.
The SRG was established in 2015 and has been at the center of controversy for years. Critics argue that the unit's dual role – counterterrorism responsibilities and responding to protests – creates a conflict of interest and puts protesters at risk of excessive force. In recent weeks, demonstrators have taken to the streets across the city to protest President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown.
Mamdani has repeatedly criticized the SRG on his campaign trail, calling for its disbandment in 2024 after tweeting that officers in the unit had "brutalized" countless New Yorkers exercising their First Amendment rights. The mayor now says he is working with Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch to determine how to phase out the unit.
While Mamdani's commitment to disbanding the SRG has been welcomed by protesters, observers are skeptical about how quickly this can be achieved. Until then, he expects that the SRG will continue to be deployed to city protests, raising concerns about the safety of demonstrators and the role of the police in maintaining public order.
The city's settlement with Black Lives Matter protesters last year put limits on when officers from the SRG could be deployed to protests, but it remains unclear what the replacement unit would look like or how it would address similar criticisms. As tensions between protesters and law enforcement remain high, one thing is clear: the fate of the SRG will have significant implications for public safety and civil liberties in New York City.
the way things are now its like police are more scared of protesters than helping them 
anyway cant wait to see how this all plays out in a few months
I'm so curious about this development... how did the protests against immigration crackdowns turn into a focus on disbanding an entire police unit? Like, what's next - protests about food prices or something? 
But seriously, I get why people are worried about racial bias and excessive force. Can't we just have peaceful demonstrations without being met with brutal force? And what does a "phase out" even mean in practice? Is it like a slow fade-out of the unit's existence or a full-blown overhaul? 
i mean, who needs a unit that responds to protests with force when we should be supporting each other instead of arresting us? 
i know some ppl might think it's gonna take a while to phase out the SRG but honestly, it's about time! let's keep pushing for positive change in our city 
THE CITY NEEDS A SAFE SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO GATHER AND EXPRESS THEMSELVES WITHOUT FEARING REPERCUSSION FROM THE POLICE! I'M GLAD SOMEONE IS FINALLY LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY AND TAKING STEPS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. IT'S ABOUT TIME THE NYPD ADJUSTED THEIR APPROACH TO PUBLIC ORDER MAINTENANCE AND FOCUSED ON KEEPING PEACE INSTEAD OF PERSECUTING PEOPLE WHO WANT TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD!!! 
! It's about time they listened to those who are affected by this unit's actions 
. I mean, can you imagine being arrested and brutalized just for exercising your right to protest? Not cool, NYPD 
. I'm curious to see how quickly Mamdani can phase out the SRG and replace it with something better 
. Whatever happens next, I just hope it's for the greater good of NYC and its people 
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how do i even keep track of who's in charge and what their roles are? its so confusing 
and now mamdani wants to shut it down? about time, tbh. but phasing it out without any solid plan is just a bunch of hot air 
. it's gonna be a mess when the protesters start taking to the streets again and there are no real cops on the ground to keep things in check 
if we shut down the SRG too quickly, it's gonna be hard to figure out how to handle protests without them... maybe a compromise like retraining the officers or creating a new unit that focuses more on community policing instead of counterterrorism 
it's not easy finding a middle ground, but i think that's what we gotta try to do here 
. Who needs a counterterrorism unit responding to protests? It's like they're trying to create more chaos than necessary 
. But, I gotta say, phasing out the SRG in a way that doesn't put protesters at risk is gonna be super tricky. I'm all for reducing racial bias and excessive force, but we can't just rush into something without thinking it through. What's the plan for replacing the SRG? Are they just gonna bring in another unit with the same issues? And what about the officers who already work on that unit - are they being let go or retrained? We need to make sure this transition is done right, you feel me?
. I mean, what's gonna happen when the protests die down and the SRG isn't needed anymore? Are we just gonna forget about all the issues that led up to this point? Let's hope Mayor Mamdani is keeping his word and not just doing a PR stunt to salvage his legacy 
. The city needs real change, not just some token gesture 
.
. From what I'm seeing, Mayor Mamdani is taking a step in the right direction by promising to shut down the unit 
. The fact that it took him years to get around to it is a bit of a concern 
, but at least he's willing to listen to criticism and make some changes.
. As far as I know, protesters have the right to express themselves peacefully 
. It's the SRG officers' role to maintain order, but they need to do it without infringing on those rights.
. Will we get a new unit that's just as problematic? Or will Mayor Mamdani really deliver on his promise to make the city safer for everyone? Only time will tell 
.
. i'm all about supporting our community and keeping everyone safe, and i think disbanding the SRG is a huge step in that direction 
.
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. Can't let an elite squad like that roam free in a city where protests are protected by law 
. its gonna be interesing to see what happens next and how the city navigates this whole situation 