As New York City’s Pride month came to an end Sunday evening, violence erupted at Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village, disturbing scenes captured on video showed.
A total of 15 individuals were taken into custody for various charges, including assault, disorderly conduct, and obstructing governmental administration, according to the NYPD. The chaotic events unfolded over several hours, documented in a series of videos shared online.
Among the harrowing moments, a young woman dressed in pink was violently pulled by her hair over a concrete barrier near the park’s large fountain. Soon after, another woman standing beside her was punched in the face, causing her to fall. Video footage revealed both women being repeatedly punched and dragged across the ground by their aggressors before escaping into the crowd.
Scenes of Brawls and Mayhem
Brawls broke out sporadically throughout Washington Square Park following the Pride parade. In one clip, two men were seen exchanging punches before one was thrown to the ground and kicked in the face by a bystander. Nearby, another fistfight erupted between two women.
The scene swiftly deteriorated as people sprawled on the pavement while swinging at each other. One woman was seen pushing through the tumult with blood on her face.
Good Samaritans and Continued Chaos
A few good Samaritans assisted the victims, helping them to their feet and guiding them away from the fray. Meanwhile, many other attendees either continued fighting or indulged in boisterous activities such as twerking for cameras or climbing light poles.
The chaos persisted well past sunset as people hopped over police barriers and held up their phones to capture videos of the ongoing disorder.
Historical Context and Continued Challenges
Washington Square Park is located just blocks from the historic Stonewall Inn, a pivotal site for LGBTQ+ rights since protests against police raids in June 1969. This year’s violence underscores persistent challenges as Joshua Hensley, 25, had earlier written on Facebook that he planned to make pressure-cooker bombs and commit a mass shooting
at Nashville Pride this weekend, according to prosecutors. Although different city locations are involved, it highlights ongoing threats faced by Pride events.
Protests Disrupt Pride Parade
This year’s Pride parade witnessed another layer of disruption as anti-Israel protesters vandalized floats and blocked routes earlier in the day. Yet organizers seemed undeterred. It is certainly a more active presence this year in terms of protest at Pride events
, remarked Sandra Pérez, Executive Director of NYC Pride, adding that we were born out of a protest
.
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