Maya Wiley blasts NYPD for clashes with Pride revelers in Greenwich Village

Dave Goldiner, Rocco Parascandola

NYC Democratic mayoral candidate Maya Wiley slammed the NYPD for cracking down on Pride marchers in Greenwich Village late Sunday night.

Endorsed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) as the progressive choice to lead City Hall, Wiley accused police of acting improperly by unleashing pepper spray and arresting marchers near Washington Square Park.

NYPD clash with revelers during Gay Pride festivities after trying to clear a street on the edge of Washington Square Park in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York.
NYPD clash with revelers during Gay Pride festivities after trying to clear a street on the edge of Washington Square Park in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York.


NYPD clash with revelers during Gay Pride festivities after trying to clear a street on the edge of Washington Square Park in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York. (Andrew Lichtenstein/)

“When “protect and serve” becomes “pepper spray and serve up to the criminal justice system” we must scream this is NOT public safety!” Wiley tweeted.

The civil rights lawyer called the ugly crackdown an example of why police reform is necessary for New York.

“We need civilian oversight of the priorities and policies of policing,” Wiley added.

New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Maya Wiley
New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Maya Wiley


New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Maya Wiley (Luiz C. Ribeiro/)

The NYPD said police arrested eight people when disturbances erupted in and around Washington Square Park as the annual march wrapped up last Sunday.

Four people remained behind bars Monday facing charges ranging from assaulting police officers to resisting arrest.

Mayor de Blasio conceded that the police response was a bit heavy-handed.

“A couple of things in Washington Square Park could have been handled better, should have been handled better,” de Blasio said.

NYPD clash with revelers during Gay Pride festivities after trying to clear a street on the edge of Washington Square Park in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York.
NYPD clash with revelers during Gay Pride festivities after trying to clear a street on the edge of Washington Square Park in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York.


NYPD clash with revelers during Gay Pride festivities after trying to clear a street on the edge of Washington Square Park in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York. (Andrew Lichtenstein/)

Wiley made police reform a key part of her mayoral campaign. She vowed to move billions from the NYPD budget to what she called more effective strategies to keep communities safe.

Wiley trails Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams by about 10% in the ranked-choice primary fight after he made crime and public safety a key part of his pitch to NYC voters. Ex-Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia trails a bit behind Wiley in third.

Election officials will start counting up to 200,000 mail-in ballots Tuesday.

Once they reach a final tally of first-place votes, officials will start tallying ranked-choice votes from candidates that have been eliminated from the race.

Although Adams is considered a solid favorite to hold his lead, it could take well into July before an official winner is known.

A spokesman for Adams did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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