Harlem Protest Of Subway Cop Influx Leads To Arrests

Reporting by Kathleen Culliton/Patch

HARLEM, NY – Police were seen arresting apparently peaceful protesters in Harlem Friday night as more than 100 gathered to oppose an influx of officers targeting minor crimes in the city's subways.

Witnesses said at least seven people were arrested on 122nd Street and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard around 5:30 p.m. as a crowd moved through the neighborhood. More arrests took place at 125th Street.

As they were taken away, one women yelled," No-one here consented to being searched."

Police arresting peaceful protesters on 122 and Adam Clayton Powell. pic.twitter.com/mjn93HjQTq
— Kathleen Culliton (@K_Culliton) November 22, 2019

Others shouted, "We are not here to play." The protest was organized by an activist group called Decolonize This Space.

The MTA said the NYPD had asked that 4, 5 and 6 trains skip the 125th Street station while the protests continued. Service later resumed, but MTA officials said police officers were not allowing people to enter the station.

The NYPD had not confirmed arrest numbers as of 6:15 p.m.

The protest was in response to a recent series of arrests that have spurred backlash to Gov.

A young woman named Madeline was held down by a swarm of cops on Fifth Avenue at the @decolonize_this protest. This is her asking if she can be taken in with her friend. pic.twitter.com/Zbg4ZRyQDg
— Kathleen Culliton (@K_Culliton) November 22, 2019

Andrew Cuomo's plan to deploy 500 additional police officers in the subway system to crack down on fare evasion.