Anadolu Agency / Getty Images A "City Hall Autonomous Zone" sign hangs outside New York City Hall, June 27. I...
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A "City Hall Autonomous Zone" sign hangs outside New York City Hall, June 27.
In New York City, hundreds of protesters have taken up residence in the public spaces surrounding the city hall, demanding the defunding of police in this week's budget proposal for the 2021 fiscal year. As with Seattle's Capitol Hill Organized Protest, the Occupy City Hall demonstration in New York City draws inspiration from the 2011 Occupy Wall Street movement by creating an entirely autonomous zone complete with food, lodging, entertainment, and resources for social activism, such as libraries and voter registration stations. The message for police reform comes as many across the nation continue to demand justice following the killings of George Floyd and other Black Americans in police custody.
On Monday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio acknowledged the protesters' demands by committing to cut $1 billion from the police department and to shift those resources "to communities in a way that would help address a lot of the underlying issues that we know are the cause of so many problems in our society."
These pictures show how demonstrators have transformed New York City Hall into a thriving community demanding to defund the NYPD.
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Hundreds of Black Lives Matter protesters congregate at New York City Hall, June 27.
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Demonstrators organize supplies at the city hall, June 24.
Andrew Kelly / Reuters
People erect a tent near the city hall, June 27.
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A voter registration station at the Occupy City Hall protest, June 27.
Mike Segar / Reuters
A makeshift mobile phone charging station near New York City Hall, June 26.
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Hundreds of Black Lives Matter protesters congregate outside the city hall, June 27.
Andrew Kelly / Reuters
A person hangs a sign that says "I love you" at a protest to defund the police in lower Manhattan, June 27.
Andrew Kelly / Reuters
A man has his hair braided at a protest to defund the police in New York City, June 27.
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A library at the Occupy City Hall protest, June 27.
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A protester plays guitar in a park outside the city hall during the demonstration, June 24.
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A baby at the Occupy City Hall protest, June 26.
Andrew Kelly / Reuters
People gather at a protest to defund the police, June 27.
Mike Segar / Reuters
A demonstrator confronts an NYPD officer near City Hall in lower Manhattan, June 26.
Anthony Behar / Sipa USA via AP
Anti-NYPD paintings are placed at a subway entrance at the Occupy City Hall encampment, June 26.
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"No Cop Zone" is written at the entrance of the Occupy City Hall protest, June 27.
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Black Lives Matter cardboard signs are hung near a City Hall Park sign, June 27.
Photographer Lev Radin / Sipa USA via AP
A man relaxes in a hammock as protesters gather outside New York City Hall, June 25.
Photographer Lev Radin / Sipa USA via AP
Free pizza is offered to protesters outside New York City Hall, June 25.
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Black Lives Matter protesters organize supplies outside New York City Hall, June 24.
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A Black Lives Matter protester reads a book while lying down on the ground outside New York City Hall, June 27.
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Protesters paint signs in a park near New York City Hall, June 25.
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A woman paints signs of protest in a park near New York City Hall, June 25.
Photographer Lev Radin / Sipa USA via AP
Protesters dance in the rain outside New York City Hall, June 27.
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People attend the Occupy City Hall protest, June 26.
A Black Lives Matter protester draws portraits of people killed by police on the sidewalk outside New York City Hall, June 27.
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