Mother’s arrest for not wearing a mask sparks rally at Barclays Center

Community activists rallied at the Barclays Center Friday after the recent arrest of a mother not wearing a mask at a subway station.

News 12 Staff

May 15, 2020, 9:35 PM

Updated 1,435 days ago

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Community activists rallied at the Barclays Center Friday after the recent arrest of a mother not wearing a mask at a subway station. 
The activists claim that the NYPD shouldn’t be enforcing social distancing. The mother, identified as 22-year-old Kaleemah Rozier, was supposed to be at the rally Friday but says she is terrified for her life and decided not to attend. 
Police say Rozier was trying to enter the subway with her child Wednesday when officers noticed she didn’t have a mask. They say they told her she needed to wear one in order to go inside. 
Police say Rozier then cursed at officers and that as she was being escorted out, she waved her arms and hit an officer with her hand. 
Officers say they then handcuffed her in front of her child. 
Activists spoke out after the mayor addressed the issue in his daily press briefing. He says the NYPD will continue to enforce social distancing but says they are looking to get more community members involved. 
If there is no serious public danger, Mayor Bill de Blasio says the NYPD will not take enforcement action for not wearing a face covering. 
However, the group still wants the mayor to address what they call overly aggressive tactics by the NYPD.
Black Lives Matter of Greater New York says it warned Gov. Andrew Cuomo that the NYPD would not be the best choice for enforcement, but says it fell on deaf ears.
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