A smashed library screen at Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn (Rhododendrites / CC BY-SA)
June 5, 2020 By Allie Griffin
Local lawmakers are warning the public about a possible ‘loot-out’ planned for Jackson Heights and surrounding neighborhoods today.
State Sen. Jessica Ramos, Assembly Member Catalina Cruz and Council Member Francisco Moya issued an emergency joint statement last night decrying a ‘loot-out’ planned for 5 p.m.
The loot-out is planned for East Elmhurst, Jackson Heights and Corona, in areas where the majority of stores are mom-and-pop shops owned by immigrants, the lawmakers said. They did not say exactly where the looting is planned.
Should the loot out take place, it would come at a time when many of the businesses have already been devastated by the coronavirus shutdown. The lawmakers said many of the local shop owners have also received no economic relief and a looting could be the final straw.
“Our community has been ravaged by COVID and the threat of further destruction is absolutely heartbreaking,” the lawmakers wrote.
“Sixty percent of our neighborhoods’ population are immigrants who drive our local economy and we cannot allow a lack of city resources or counterproductive protesters to take away their only means of survival,” Ramos, Cruz and Moya wrote.
They denounced acts of violence, looting and the destruction of private property.
Groups of looters have taken advantage of unrest in the city in the wake of protests against the police killing of George Floyd.
They have smashed in windows of storefronts along entire blocks and grabbed hand fulls of items from major chain stores in Manhattan’s shopping corridors — such as Macy’s iconic flagship store and a luxury Chanel store in Soho — as well as small businesses in the Bronx.
Earlier in the week, buzz about a loot-out planned at Queens Center Mall on Monday surfaced on social media.
However, no looting actually happened at the mall, according to Council Member Robert Holden, who spoke with the commanding officer of the 110th Precinct.
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31 Comments
we need the elected officials to have law enforcement confront and arrest these looters…pretending to be against violence and then letting looters run wild is ridiculous…we will remember at the ballot box
Only cowardly criminals are looting and rioting! I am out there, not afraid to resist the animals!
Nothing to do with Floyd, just criminals taking advantage of the situation! DaBozo completely ineffective or worse, enabling the looters/rioters…?
Violence takes away from the message.
Brave to speak openly about your interesting perspective on the internet. Why don’t many of you come out from hiding and shown your face and let your family, friends, coworkers know how you really think and feel about race relations, as well various other social economic topics.
What will be the outcome of these protests? Because so far these ‘protests ‘ has done nothing for the black community and people of color but destroy local businesses and pharmacies owned mostly by people of color.
The global protests are about that, because it’s bad. Wow, you’re REALLY out of the loop.
This is the new lazy debating style so fashionable on the Internet. Politicians pander to the populace. What’s new?
I hope this loot out is just trash talk. If not, you’re going to need those police y’all want to defund.
I don’t understand the ignorance of people wanting to destroy the neighborhood they are living in. We are already living in a dire situation with the COVID19, no income to provide us with basic necessities like food, shelter and utilities. People should report any crime that is plan or in progress. Using George Floyd’s death as an excuse to loot, destroy and burn businesses is ridiculous. I’m for peaceful protesting any time.
Jessica Ramos . Peaceful protests yes, yet these politicians forget who the represent. Let the police do what they do best , Instead of saying and pointing fingers about lack of resources. Unleash NYPD on these vandals, before the law abiding citizens and business owners take matters into their own hands.
Yes because it’s good to go to the store on Thursday before it rains I’ll park in a good spot so in case it rains it won’t be too bad
Typical of the hoodlum culture and then they scream when the cops get tough with them.
Good point, the businesses mostly affected by this are immigrants. I’m glad you support immigrants so much. Shame about that wall Trump was gonna build huh? (besides the one that’s now around the wall house).
The vast majority of protests have been peaceful and no looting or property destruction occured. Of course, there are those who are exploiting the unrest but they are a small minority, Unfortunately, the focus is on that and not the important problems that are so upsetting to so many people. Polite demonstrations need to be noticed. Colin Kaepernick tried to peacefully protest police brutality and racial inequality in the United States and look what happened. People were enraged and ignored the point he was trying to make. Kneeling quietly, hardly disrespectful, does really NOT make an impact, does it?
@ local
Well, there’s the mayor who said he is proud of his daughter after she was arrested. Then there’s all the politicians who did away with bail so police can’t hold these miscreants very long. That’s just two examples off the top of my head. There are plenty more.
Good point, they purposefully leaked all of her personal info. Protect and serve!
At least the leaked report confirmed that the protest was entirely peaceful. Oops!
You are leaving out the most important part of the story these politicians said and I quote as a community,we must look out for each other and deter any additional police presence which has traditionally provoked more fear than provide peace of mind.i don’t know where in queens these politicians claim these view reflect the majority of people
What does this accomplish? Nothing. Please search your conscience before taking action.
This article is based on a lie, all the lawmakers mentioned have already denounced this rumor as false and harmful. You’re not helping anyone by posting this.
As Jessica Ramos said: “ I’ve released a joint statement with @CatalinaCruzNY @FranciscoMoyaNY regarding an alleged “loot-out” rumored to take place in our community.
We want to reiterate that these types of activities don’t help keep our community safe & only invite a greater police presence.”
If they know an area where there’s going to be criminal looting why aren’t they prepared to handle that right now, these do-nothing City politicians have blood on their hands if they allow this to happen the Democratic primary is June 14th and whoever doesn’t respond will find out if they have a job after this is over
Hashtagger- How will the local artist know who you are ? You hide behind anonymity.
Were they the ones paying to bail out those looters that got arrested?
Nope, that’s completely false. If the stuff you made up were true though, wow, what a shock that would be!
Nuttin is gonna happen. People just be trolling.
Everyone gangsta till someone cough in the crowd.
A year from now, the same people supporting this lawless mayhem and wanton destruction will be whining that there are no more local businesses serving their communities and providing jobs.
Of course, they’ll blame it on racism.
I’m in my 70s and think it’s time I stood up for the neighborhood I need and love. I’m trying to decide which establishment to stand in front of to protect my neighbors from wanton destruction. Covid has done enough damage.
To local artists supporting these violent protests I am so done with you
Will not see your shows and no more donations
Rain and thunderstorms are in the forecast today and for the next couple of days. I wouldn’t be surprised if some of our local officials pass out umbrellas and rain coats to the looters to keep them dry.
Is there a single reason to believe they support violence and destruction? I’ll wait here.