Occupy City Hall Protesters, Cops Clash Ahead Of Budget Vote

NEW YORK, NEW YORK — Occupy City Hall protesters felt the brunt of NYPD's batons hours before city officials vote on a budget that could slash the police force by $1 billion.

Videos show cops shoving and taking down protesters outside City Hall on Tuesday morning. A cacophony of opposing shouts can be heard in one video.

"Get back," police shout as they use batons to push back protesters.

"You are violent and dangerous," a protester shouts back.

Occupy City Hall protesters have camped for days outside the seat of New York City government to call for at least $1 billion to be cut from NYPD's budget amid a national reckoning over police brutality and racial justice. Those funds would better be served in the communities, paying for education and social services, they argued.

It appeared Mayor Bill de Blasio on Monday agreed to the demand after weeks of refusing to commit. He announced his office and the City Council reached a budget deal that would slash NYPD's budget by $1 billion and move funds to youth programs.

But critics and protesters quickly denounced the deal as smoke and mirrors — de Blasio only shifted NYPD's funds to other departments, they argued.