NYPD Officers Clash With Trans Rights March In The West Village

WEST VILLAGE, NY — A trans rights march that began outside the Stonewall Inn in the West Village and traveled to Union Square ended in a tense confrontation between a large group of marchers and NYPD officers on bicycles.

The march kicked off outside the iconic West Village bar where hundreds of people gathered to listen to a weekly singing performance.

Performances outside the Stonewall Inn, and a subsequent march have taken place every week throughout the past couple months. However, police presence was significantly higher at Thursday's event due to the citywide protests going on and the presidential election, according to The New York Daily News.

The group started their journey towards Union Square, but there was a clash with police before they made it to their destination.

Police said one protester was arrested after he attacked an officer by pushing him to the ground and holding a chain to the officer's throat.

Tonight, while performing their duties near Bond St & Broadway in Manhattan, an officer was pushed to the ground & had this chain pressed against his throat. The suspect was apprehended & will be charged with assault, criminal possession of a weapon & attempted strangulation. pic.twitter.com/QuWAosMAAP
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) November 6, 2020

The NYPD also tweeted out Thursday night, "Violence — in any form — is unacceptable."

A transgender performer named Joel Rivera, an organizer of the weekly demonstrations outside the Stonewall Inn, was arrested during the march, according to the Daily News.

On the trip to Union Square, there were multiple reports of officers using bikes to shove demonstrators, including members of the press who were covering the event.

Video also emerged of an officer wearing shoulder pads pushing Public Advocate Jumaane Williams back after a confrontation between the two.

Once protesters eventually made it to Union Square around 9:30 p.m., approximately 150 bicycle officers with the NYPD Strategic Response Group lined up opposite them on 14th Street, according to the NY Daily News.

this is a public park pic.twitter.com/3xnoZILZ2C
— New York Year Zero (@newyorkyearzero) November 6, 2020

Police used their bicycles to push the remaining group of protesters farther into Union Square Park, in an attempt to kettle them.

The crowd dispersed soon after.

The NYPD told Gothamist Friday morning that 18 people were arrested during the demonstration.