NYPD Investigates Officer Who Shoved Protester During Demonstration

https://twitter.com/KeeganNYC/status/588252718252294144

A demonstration protesting police brutality on Tuesday turned violent in our area, and now a police officer is under investigation for a shove that landed a woman in the hospital.

Protesters marched from Union Square, across the Brooklyn Bridge, and then up Flatbush Avenue, where, at 7th Avenue at about 5:30pm, the officer shoved 27-year-old Elsa Waithe, causing her to fall onto a metal tree guard, which sent her to the hospital with bruised ribs.

Keegan Stephan, who was marching with the group and who shot the video above, told DNAinfo that police began arresting people on the street, then moved a big group to the sidewalk, getting “very physical with everyone” and shoving people in the process, which is when Waithe was pushed.

The NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau is investigating the incident, reports the Daily News.

Waithe’s partner, Heather Scholl, has set up a gofundme campaign to help raise money to pay for medical expenses, a phone to replace one that was damaged during the protest, and more.

“I am turning to my network of friends, comedians and activists for support at this time,” Waithe says on the campaign’s page. “I am unable to work as I recover from injuries sustained in the attack. My partner has also taken time off of work to care for me and lost her phone during chaos of the hospital visit.”

The campaign is looking to raise $5,000, and contributions can be made online.