The Trump administration has demanded the NYPD crack down on “an organized and unlawful campaign of harassment” against staffers with the US mission to the UN — or face federal troop deployment.
“Demonstrators regularly and aggressively approach USUN staff walking to and from the mission, using obscenities and terms including ‘fascists,’ ‘baby killers,’ and ‘Nazis’ in a threatening manner,” wrote Craig Goldstein, regional security for the US Mission, in a letter Friday to the NYPD deputy inspector of Manhattan’s 17th Precinct, which encompasses the United Nations.
“We are writing to request the New York Police Department immediately take additional appropriate measures to address the organized and unlawful campaign of harassment, impediment, and intimidation targeting officers and employees,” Goldstein said in the missive, a copy of which was obtained by The Post.
“Absent immediate and effective action, we are fully prepared to engage federal law enforcement resources to handle the lawbreakers and protect our personnel from harassment, abuse, and intimidation.”
While Goldstein did not mention the specific cause being protested during the confrontations, anti-Israel demonstrators have frequently taken to the streets near the US Mission to the UN in recent months.
This was especially true in the run-up to addresses from world leaders including President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the UN General Assembly last week.
Goldstein pointed to examples in which the protesters appeared to lack proper permits for their demonstrations and instances where they may have violated other laws.
“On September 18, demonstrators followed members of our staff for over a block, swarmed at them, screamed in their face, and honked air horns in their ears as they crossed First Avenue,” Goldstein wrote.
Some employees also recounted protesters recording them entering and exiting their office and being blasted “by name” on camera.
“These acts violate applicable laws and create obvious security risks,” Goldstein said. “Additionally, these demonstrators have unlawfully vandalized U.S. government property.”
“One of the Mission’s bollards was painted red, and prior to the NYPD bike racks being installed, cow’s blood was thrown on the mission’s front window and graffiti was written on the mission’s exterior wall.”
Goldstein contended that demonstrations in “the road and in adjacent crosswalks” shouldn’t be tolerated anymore and that recent arrests of agitators haven’t been enough.
The NYPD did not respond to a Post request for comment.
The post US Mission to UN warns NYPD to curb protesters’ harassment against staff or else feds will intervene appeared first on New York Post.
