New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has reaffirmed his commitment to disbanding the NYPD's Strategic Response Group (SRG), a unit that responds to protests and emergency calls across the city. The SRG, established in 2015, has been widely criticized for its handling of demonstrations, with allegations of racial bias and violence against protesters.
The criticism escalated after Tuesday night when officers from the SRG were involved in the arrest of dozens of anti-ICE protesters who occupied a hotel lobby near Canal Street. According to reports, police repeatedly demanded that the group leave before arresting 66 people, sparking widespread outrage on social media.
Despite the controversy, Mayor Mamdani's spokesperson described the NYPD's response as satisfactory. However, in a statement, Mamdani said he believes there should be no unit with both counterterrorism and protest-policing responsibilities. This move is seen as a significant shift, given that Mamdani had previously criticized the SRG on the campaign trail.
Mamdani has been working to address concerns about the SRG's tactics, following a settlement in 2020 between the city and Black Lives Matter protesters who alleged they were assaulted by NYPD officers during demonstrations. The agreement imposed limits on how officers from the SRG could respond to protests.
The mayor says he will continue to work with Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch to disband the unit, although it's unclear what will replace it or how it will be phased out. One thing is certain: the controversy surrounding the SRG has reignited calls for reform and an end to the deployment of officers from this specialized unit to protests.
As tensions continue to rise in New York City over immigration crackdowns and police brutality, Mayor Mamdani's stance on the SRG marks a significant step towards reform. The city must now navigate how to effectively balance public safety with the need for free expression and accountability.
The criticism escalated after Tuesday night when officers from the SRG were involved in the arrest of dozens of anti-ICE protesters who occupied a hotel lobby near Canal Street. According to reports, police repeatedly demanded that the group leave before arresting 66 people, sparking widespread outrage on social media.
Despite the controversy, Mayor Mamdani's spokesperson described the NYPD's response as satisfactory. However, in a statement, Mamdani said he believes there should be no unit with both counterterrorism and protest-policing responsibilities. This move is seen as a significant shift, given that Mamdani had previously criticized the SRG on the campaign trail.
Mamdani has been working to address concerns about the SRG's tactics, following a settlement in 2020 between the city and Black Lives Matter protesters who alleged they were assaulted by NYPD officers during demonstrations. The agreement imposed limits on how officers from the SRG could respond to protests.
The mayor says he will continue to work with Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch to disband the unit, although it's unclear what will replace it or how it will be phased out. One thing is certain: the controversy surrounding the SRG has reignited calls for reform and an end to the deployment of officers from this specialized unit to protests.
As tensions continue to rise in New York City over immigration crackdowns and police brutality, Mayor Mamdani's stance on the SRG marks a significant step towards reform. The city must now navigate how to effectively balance public safety with the need for free expression and accountability.
I'm low-key impressed w/ Mayor Mamdani 4 takin down the SRG 
he's finally listenin 2 da ppl & makin changes 
it's about time, rn! 
Da way he's goin all out 2 disband da unit shows he's got da courage 2 stand up 4 what's rite 
i hope dey can find a way 2 make sure public saftey isn't compromis'd w/out da SRG 
it's a big step, but I think it's a good one 
. I mean, who needs a unit that's basically both counterterrorism and protest-policing? It just sounds like they're trying to bust up protests instead of keeping people safe 
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. Did Mayor Mamdani just decide to flip the script on his campaign promises? I don't know if it's a good thing that he's taking heat from social media, but at least now we might actually see some real change 
. We can't have police just running around, breaking people's bones, and calling it "public safety" 
. This is one step in the right direction, for sure 
!
it's been clear 4 yrs now that they're a problem, but still no action is takin. i mean what's the point of havin a group thats supposed 2 handle protests w/ "balance" when u got history of racist cops makin headlines? 
we need more than just empty promises & statements, we need real change! 
! Finally, someone is listening to the people and taking action against those units that are supposed to protect us but end up hurting us instead 
. It's time for a change and I think Mayor Mamdani is on the right track 
. Let's hope they can find a solution that works for everyone and not just a select few 
!
. I mean, you gotta admit, the NYPD's response was pretty heavy-handed in that hotel lobby situation 
. 66 people getting arrested just 'cause they were occupying a lobby? That's some wild stuff. And yeah, the allegations of racial bias and violence against protesters... it's hard to ignore.
I'm not surprised by this move, NYC is already one of the most progressive cities in the US 
The fact that Mayor Mamdani is willing to listen and act says a lot about his commitment to reform 
. But, still gotta keep an eye on how this all plays out 
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. Let's hope Mayor Mamdani and Police Commissioner Tisch can work together to make this happen 
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. This controversy has clearly highlighted the need for change, but now comes the hard part - actually making it happen 
. What worries me though is what's gonna replace it... are they just gonna create another unit with the same problems? 
. I mean, what's the point of having a special unit if they can't even handle peaceful protests? It's all about control and power, not public safety. And don't even get me started on the "settlement" in 2020 
. That was just a PR move to calm people down, but it didn't change anything. The SRG is still out there, waiting to pounce on anyone who dares to speak out. We need real reform, not just token gestures 
. Can we trust the city to get it right this time? 
just think about it, 66 people get arrested just cuz they were protesting against ICE... its wild that the cops got away w/it 
. These anti-protest officers are just trying to do their job, but they're getting slammed for it 
. What's next? Disbanding the entire police department?! No way, we need more cops on the streets, especially during protests 
. it's not just about the SRG, but about creating a culture of accountability within the NYPD. i hope they actually follow through on this promise 
. We need to be willing to listen, not just speak, and find a way to balance our fears with our freedoms 
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). But if the mayor can get rid of it, that's huge! It's like a domino effect - now other cities are going to be forced to take a hard look at their own protest-policing units.
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. We need to keep pushing for reform and making sure that our police departments are accountable to the communities they serve