NEW YORK - After a night of mostly peaceful protests, Mayor de Blasio has lifted the citywide curfew a day early.
"New York City: We are lifting the curfew, effective immediately. Yesterday and last night we saw the very best of our city,” he said on Twitter.
“Tomorrow we take the first big step to restart. Keep staying safe. Keep looking out for each other."
There were four arrests and 24 summonses in the entire day. De Blasio said Saturday marked the fifth day without significant property damage and fewer arrests made.
The curfew was set to expire Monday morning when phase one of reopening begins.
Thousands gathered in Washington Square Park today calling for police reform and transparency.
Called "the March for Stolen Lives and Looted Dreams,”it began at the statue of Frederick Douglass near 110th Street and Central Park West in Harlem.
The march then made its way down the park onto Fifth Avenue before finishing at the park.
The organizers are demanding the mayor cut the NYPD's $6 billion budget and redirect money towards community and youth programs.
Protesters we spoke with say the large turnout gives them hope.
Crowds gathered around 10 this morning on the northwest end of Central Park.
And later in the day, larger crowds formed in Foley Square.
Health care workers who also joined marches this evening down Fifth Avenue received applause from nearby residents and protesters. Some expressed the need to address racial bias plaguing the health care system.
Those we spoke with say they will not let up until they see justice for George Floyd and all Black Americans they say have been discriminated against by police solely because of the color of their skin.
They say they do see some slight progress but want to see even more changes to the systems they consider oppressive and unfair.
All protests today have been organized and extremely peaceful.
Hundreds have also shown up at Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn.
That's where last night protesters were met by police and got into a tense standoff with police officers in Brooklyn late Friday, despite a mostly peaceful night overall.
As protesters defied curfew, they pushed messages challenging police brutality, the government's response to the protests and the curfew itself.
It remains in effect through Sunday from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.
When asked whether he believes the curfew is doing more harm than good, Mayor Bill de Blasio insists there are still people among the protesters promoting violence.
He also promises swift disciplinary actions against officers who use excessive force.
Governor Andrew Cuomo says he supports the mayor's decision to keep the curfew in place, adding that individual cities are to make that type of decision.
Police Commissioner Dermot Shea alleges that some New Yorkers protesting the police killing of George Floyd are intent on causing violence and mayhem.
In a tweet Friday night, Shea said, "These are not the tools of peaceful demonstrators...these ARE the tools of criminals bent on causing mayhem & hijacking what we all know is a worthwhile cause. These items were seized from individuals arrested in the Bronx last night."
Shea posted photos of the items seized by police, including hammers, spray paint and knives.
The standoff in Brooklyn began about an hour after curfew in Grand Army Plaza, where a large crowd of protesters was met by police who blocked off the venue.
The group had marched from from Barclays Center, which has been a hub for demonstrations throughout the week.
In Lower Manhattan, crowds were turned away after marching to the steps of City Hall where barricades were in place.
And for the third straight night, a silent protest was held outside Gracie Mansion.
Demonstrators there specifically called on Mayor Bill de Blasio to hold the NYPD accountable for acts of brutality.
Saturday's event is called the March for Stolen Lives and Looted Dreams.
It began at 11 a.m. at the Frederick Douglass Statue near 110th Street and Central Park West, make its way down the Park onto Fifth Avenue and finish at Washington Square Park.
The organizers are demanding the mayor cut the NYPD's $6 billion budget and redirect money towards community and youth programs.
They're also calling for the repeal of the civil rights statute that keeps police disciplinary records secret.
While protests ensue, hundreds joined together in prayer for two vigils Friday night in Manhattan.
Infinity Bible Church in the Bronx organized a demonstration in Union Square.
This was the same group that occupied Times Square Thursday.
Over at St. John the Divine Cathedral in Upper Manhattan, roughly 400 people participated in a prayer service honoring George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and other lives lost.
NYPD Officers Suspended Over Protest Incidents
Two NYPD officers have been suspended without pay over incidents caught on video during protests over the death of George Floyd.
Police Commissioner Shea said in a statement Friday that the NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau has concluded its investigations of two cases.
Those officers been referred to the Department Advocate for disciplinary action.
One officer involved in an incident back on May 29 was caught on camera shoving a woman to the ground in Brooklyn.
The following day, another officer was caught pulling down a man's face mask and pepper spraying him.
A supervisor who was on the scene there will also be transferred.
Shea says that while the investigations play out, he wants to assure the public that there will be transparency during the disciplinary process.
He also says the actions of the suspended officers stand apart from the, "restrained work of the thousands of other officers who have worked tirelessly to protect those who are peacefully protesting and keep all New Yorkers safe."