NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- More than 80 people were arrested in Lower Manhattan on Tuesday night as police grappled with demonstrators protesting the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement crackdown.
Police said they took 86 people into custody, including 52 who were released with criminal court summonses for minor crimes and 34 who were charged with assault, resisting arrest and other crimes. The size of the crowd was estimated to be around 2,500 people.
NYPD officers in riot gear clashed with demonstrators at Foley Square and on surrounding streets—on the same night a curfew was imposed in Los Angeles over violent protests and riots related to raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The protest in New York was initially peaceful outside the ICE offices at the federal buildings near Foley Square. But the situation ramped up as the hours went on into the night and protesters spilled onto side streets like Duane Street.
Protesters threw objects at police as cops and demonstrators pushed and shoved each other.
“Nazi scum,” protesters chanted as the clashes broke out. "Shut it down."
The arrests and scuffles continued until around midnight. No serious injuries were reported, according to officials.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the vast majority of demonstrators were peaceful. She blamed smaller groups for causing the disorder that required police intervention.
Organizers said they planned another protest at Foley Square on Wednesday evening and are expecting hundreds, maybe thousands, of people.
Immigration-related protests in Los Angeles led to President Donald Trump sending National Guard and Marine troops to that city.
In a prime-time speech on Tuesday night, California Gov. Gavin Newsom said, “Democracy is under assault before our eyes.”
Mayor Eric Adams and NYPD officials warned earlier this week that protests in New York would not be allowed to descend into violence and rioting, as has been seen at times in Los Angeles, with cars set on fire and shops looted.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.