New York Mayor Demands Oversight of Police Unit at Protests

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has ordered that the city's police department must obtain approval from his administration before deploying the Strategic Response Group (SRG). The SRG is a specialized unit often used for mass arrests during street demonstrations, according to Politico. This new directive comes days after SRG officers were involved in the arrest of approximately 100 pro-Palestinian activists. The protesters had gathered outside UN headquarters during a speech by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Among those detained were politicians aligned with the current mayor.

During his election campaign, Mamdani had pledged to completely disband the SRG and had frequently criticized the unit's forceful tactics against demonstrators. Responding to the Politico report, the mayor stated he stands by his promise and the only remaining question is the timeline for its fulfillment. The requirement for prior approval from the city administration is considered an interim measure, pending a final decision on the potential reorganization or complete dissolution of the controversial unit.