3 Years, 3 Months, 6 Days and I finally got a speck of justice... hopefully.

For those of you who followed me throughout the years, on May 31, 2020, I was attacked by the NYPD unjustly for covering the George Floyd Protests. I was held in a holding cell along with other protesters and later released literally an hour before the crack of dawn, without being charged with a crime.

A brand-new electric bike destroyed by the FDNY (no fault of their own). My phone busted, along with any evidence. My chest is forever scarred. The memories of the NYPD forever in my mind, altering my already views on policing in general to the point of abolishing the current police system.

What followed years after was me in a case vs. the NYPD and NYC. Along with other victims of NYPD's brutal tactics, we stood firm in holding the NYPD accountable.

I decided to become one of the public faces of this case, by doing interviews (under my real name of course), recalling details while trying to hold back tears mixed with anger.

I spent years reading comments about how I was "a paid actor by the Democratic Party", a "plant" by Black Lives Matter, a "crisis actor" and an opportunist when the only opportunity I wanted was to cover the protest from the protesters side, sell my work to the media and go home and have a quiet birthday.

I have to fund raised and get strangers to help me put my mental state back together in a quick manner so that I will be able to be of sound mind as I speak up for people.

Well, I'm happy to say that something came out of it.

My quote, if you don't want to read the article states:

(The reporter didn't do any research, just grabbed quotes from the lawyers website)

Sadly, one of the things I can't do is go into the exact details of how I feel about the settlement. I do have some strong opinions about it, but that's the problem with settlements. You can't really express them the way you want to.

However, I will in the near future talk about the impact of the settlement.

But at the very least... the very least... I can start to move on from this long and tiring court case.

And now to see if we can hold them suckas accountable retroactively.

Rudy Giuliani Encouraging Police Terrorism Against American Democracy 

Guess who’s lawyered up and will be suing NYC & the NYPD for police brutality? 

Yep.

I know a lot of people are making jokes about the MTA's "pooping" ban and it's a barrel of laughs for those who kinda think that MTA needs to clarify the language.

But what probably went over your head is who those laws are targeted at. Basically, it's an excuse to put even more police within the transportation system, and this can cause problems as it gives a constant state of police surveillance with BIPOC in New York City.

So while I get that it's funny, it's a short term laugh.

My fundraiser has been up for close to 3 months and GoFundMe is closing it down on Sept 30th. Here’s an update on things:

So far 2 of my goals within the fundraiser have been secured. I’ve been talking to a therapist and my ability to speak with someone is about to close out on Tuesday. But I was given enough resources and homework to at least cope until I can afford them again.

My current phone is usable enough to work at a capacity that I have been working before the incident with the cops.

However, it looks like I might have to take out a loan to afford a deposit for my new place. See, I didn’t work in June and that would have covered my deposit, but that’s lost income. So, any amount donated will go to pay back the loan, or if I get a decent amount by Wednesday, I won’t need a loan.

I also decided that since so many people have given so much, I’m going to pay it forward next year and donate the amount that was given to me back to people that needs it during 2021. More info on this TBD.

P.S. - if you have a reddit account and want to post up on Reddit, please do it. I have one, but my karma is too low to post up my link. So any signal boosts on Reddit will be great because I REALLY don’t want to depend on a loan. 

What’s It’s Like Being Arrested by the NYPD for Protesting....

@nukirk (yours truly), who attended a protest as a journalist / free press member was arrested and let go hours afterwards with no charges. Others were either more lucky, but most were not.

This is going to be triggering for a lot of people, especially since I clearly was on the verge of tears, so be prepare for it.

If you would like to help me get back up on my feet, please go to https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-nukirk-recover to help me raise funds for therapy as well as help me get a phone capable of the work I was doing before being arrested.

Thanks.

Vice covered my story. Video will be up next... and I don’t want to highlight anything in particular at the moment.

"The officers were on my back and I wasn't focusing on anything other than, "My God, is this when I'm gonna die? For no particular reason other than just covering the protests?" — V. Matthew King-Yarde, 42, arrested by the NYPD on May 31. (Photo: Joe Hill/VICE News)

While some of us were asleep last night, Shake Shack was trending on Twitter for the wrong reasons. 3 NYPD officers claimed that employees might have put something in their shakes.

The NYPD uncovered that there were no evidence.

But that didn’t stop NYC’s PBA from publishing this letter before the investigation was completed:

In POSSIBLY UNRELATED news... the NYPD disbanded the Undercover / “plainclothes” division yesterday.

The headline basically sums up the article. You know, bad math.

#MyCopStory

I read that there are fewer arrests since Officer Daniel Pantaleo’s firing, the officer who choked Eric Garner. Wither it’s “retaliation” is at best debatable. But one thing lead to another and I was thinking... when did I had a good interaction with cops? 

Here’s what I mean: we all make mistakes, errors or have been a victim of “wrong place, wrong time”. I’m not saying this have to be a feel-good moment and there should be some form of regret, but how heavy do they pound it on you? On the flip side, what about when you ask them for something? Do they go the extra mile or do they take the report and it’s nothing? That can be counted as good.

So, I thought about my interactions with the cops on both ends of the argument... and I can’t think of one good one. Most of the times, if the experience is negative, I’m at best in handcuffs while they write a summon (I wasn’t going to go anywhere, but they insisted on handcuffing me), and at worse, I’m spending a night in the holding cell while presenting to them a REASONABLE idea why I don’t have an ID on me (btw, they made a BIG ass spectacle on that one. For not having an ID).

On the flip side, when I needed help, they actually SCREAMED at me (when a citibike was stolen from me). The only “good” moments I can recall was when I reported my bike stolen (but they showed up 4 hours later) and when the front of my house became a crime scene.

Speaking of the crime scene, for the summer, cops were actually around my block, monitoring situations. But it was only after the fact, even though there’s a police HQ stationed within a 10 block radius. 

So, it makes me wonder... do you have any experiences you would like to share?

Just so you know, the purpose of this thread/hashtag is to find some stories that sounds similar. So, here’s how to partake:

1) Your interaction with the cop was a must. Like you HAVE to talk to the cop, not WANT to.

2) Was the interaction at a level you expected or was it way worse than you imagine?

3) How was the issue resolved?

On one hand, I hope the stories here can at least show people that yeah, you kinda want officers around, but the way they think kinda make you less likely to approach them in the future. Or maybe there’s something they can do better.

So, think back. Tag your post with #MyCopStory and let’s see what we get.

Gang databases are overinclusive, inaccurate and they have a disparate impact. Indeed, the vast majority of those entered into the NYPD gang database are Black and Brown New Yorkers. More importantly, entry into the gang database does not require any evidence of criminality or suspicion of wrongdoing. The NYPD secretly continues keeping eyes on Black and Brown communities in New York, and you have a right to know if you were among the thousands who were subject to this racist and overbroad surveillance.

This link can help you request information to find out if you’re listed.

What NYPD do in their spare time...

(someone showed me this and I can’t unsee it. So, I don’t want to suffer alone.)

P.S. - I tried hard to source the video... but too many people are using NYPD and pussy as a call to the mayor... so... *shrugs*

Chat Today:

While delivering a package to 4 World Trade Center (WTC), I missed the building. (Hate going around WTC. Bad vibes.) So, I walked to a Military officer. Convo went like this:

Me: Excuse me, where is 4 WTC? Military Officer: *thinks for a second* I have no idea. Why don’t you ask him? *points to police officer* Me: Okay... *turns to the other direction* Military Officer: The officer is that way. Me: *shhhhh* Don’t draw attention! I only go to a police officer when I have absolutely positively no choice. Military Officer: Are you going to let a few negative experiences ruin your interactions with the NYPD? Me: You protect my freedom. They take it away from me through fear. Tomorrow, you might do that as well. Today, you are ordered not to. Military Officer: ... Me: It’s a sad state of affairs, I know. But I understand you. I don’t understand THEM. Have a good day. *bounce to look for someone else*