Two girls busted throughout a chaotic anti-Israel protest in Occasions Sq. — the place cops had been infamously blocked from reaching a grenade left in an Uber — are suing the NYPD, whining they had been injured throughout their arrests.
Jasmeen Nijjar and Anees Hasnain filed separate lawsuits final week in Manhattan Supreme Courtroom, accusing officers of assault, illegal search and seizure, false arrest and denial of medical care through the raucous March 2, 2024 “Millions March for Palestine” rally.
Hasnain, 33, a program director at a non-profit, claims she was punched within the face by an NYPD detective and cuffed whereas nonetheless carrying a backpack — which she says triggered “heavy pressure” on her wrists.
An officer positioned her telephone in a plastic bag with “pooled water,” destroying it, she claimed in courtroom papers
Nijjar, 31, a course affiliate at Columbia College and a NYC-based social employee, was dragged by her scarf and jacket, punched at the back of the top and zip-tied so tightly that her left hand was injured, the submitting states. Her LinkedIn profile now lists “Free Palestine” in her title.
The filings make no point out of the explosive drama that drew a heavy police presence to the scene.
An Uber driver had found a grenade within the again seat of his Nissan Altima and flagged down officers close to forty second Road and Seventh Avenue. Police later decided the machine was inert — however mentioned protesters delayed the bomb squad’s response by blocking the roadway and surrounding emergency automobiles.
“Happy Saturday to all! Except the people who thought it was a good idea to block an NYPD ESU vehicle on the way to a bomb threat call,” then-NYPD Deputy Commissioner Kaz Daughtry posted after the incident. “They will be spending their Saturday where they belong – in jail!”
Video launched by the NYPD exhibits dozens of demonstrators swarming a police automobile earlier than officers pushed them again.
The go well with claims officers used “discourteous and racist language” and refused to get her medical assist regardless of repeated requests.
Each girls allege they had been denied telephone calls, unlawfully searched at NYPD headquarters and held for hours earlier than being launched with desk look tickets, in keeping with the lawsuit.
Each girls had been issued desk look tickets however by no means formally charged. Prosecutors later declined to pursue the circumstances.
The lawsuits title a number of officers — together with Capt. Gzim Palaj, Officer Vito Scalici and Detective Craig A. Jacob — and search unspecified damages.
The lawsuits make no point out of the grenade incident — or any alleged interference with police response.
The NYPD declined to touch upon ongoing litigation. Attorneys for the ladies additionally didn’t return messages.
