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Photos by Jimin Kim, 7/9/20
"New York City Hall Autonomous Zone"
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Please click the photo for the complete caption.
Photos were taken at the “New York City Hall Autonomous Zone,” on Thurs. July 9 in lower Manhattan, New York City. Since late May, Black Lives Matter activists have performed demonstrations in New York City. Around mid-June, some of the demonstrators created an outdoor encampment and living space adjacent to New York City Hall where New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s office is located. The occupiers titled the encampment the “New York City Hall Autonomous Zone.”
Overnight between June 30 and July 1, the New York City government reduced the NYPD budget by $1 billion. The decision came after more than a month of demonstrations in the city where protestors called for the New York City government to defund the New York City Police Department,
According to the New York City Council, the total 2021 New York City budget is $88.19 billion. From the NYPD budget, $484 million were cut and $354 million were reallocated. Combined with $162 million in “associated costs,” a total of $1 billion has been reduced from the 2021 NYPD budget.
The reallocated money will fund agencies that will conduct tasks previously assigned to the NYPD. These alternative agencies include the Department of Education, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and the Department of Homeland Security. $500 million of the NYPD budget will fund infrastructure for the Parks Department’s community centers and New York City Housing Authority’s broadband access.
“This was a hard-fought battle, which marks the beginning of the Council’s efforts to not only limit the size and scope of the NYPD, but also reimagine how we structure criminal justice and public safety in this city,” said a press release from the New York City Council regarding the 2021 budget.
After the announcement of the new budget, protestors continue to live and stay in the “Autonomous Zone,” some saying the NYPD budget cut and reallocation aren’t large enough.
Photos were taken at the “New York City Hall Autonomous Zone,” on Thurs. July 9 in lower Manhattan, New York City. Since late May, Black Lives Matter activists have performed demonstrations in New York City. Around mid-June, some of the demonstrators created an outdoor encampment and living space adjacent to New York City Hall where New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s office is located. The occupiers titled the encampment the “New York City Hall Autonomous Zone.”
Overnight between June 30 and July 1, the New York City government reduced the NYPD budget by $1 billion. The decision came after more than a month of demonstrations in the city where protestors called for the New York City government to defund the New York City Police Department,
According to the New York City Council, the total 2021 New York City budget is $88.19 billion. From the NYPD budget, $484 million were cut and $354 million were reallocated. Combined with $162 million in “associated costs,” a total of $1 billion has been reduced from the 2021 NYPD budget.
The reallocated money will fund agencies that will conduct tasks previously assigned to the NYPD. These alternative agencies include the Department of Education, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and the Department of Homeland Security. $500 million of the NYPD budget will fund infrastructure for the Parks Department’s community centers and New York City Housing Authority’s broadband access.
“This was a hard-fought battle, which marks the beginning of the Council’s efforts to not only limit the size and scope of the NYPD, but also reimagine how we structure criminal justice and public safety in this city,” said a press release from the New York City Council regarding the 2021 budget.
After the announcement of the new budget, protestors continue to live and stay in the “Autonomous Zone,” some saying the NYPD budget cut and reallocation aren’t large enough.
NYPD officers stand guard outside the New York City Hall building in lower Manhattan, New York City.
Please click the photo for the complete caption.
Luis Dejesus, 37, who goes by the name, “The Joker of New York City,” poses for a portrait at the “New York City Hall Autonomous Zone.” Dejesus who was born in the United States and whose father is Puerto Rican and whose mother is German and Italian, has been living in the zone for a week. He has spent a total of 21 years in prison and has been 5 years sober from using heroine.
The “Autonomous Zone," is an outdoor encampment adjacent to New York City Hall in lower Manhattan. Some members of the Black Lives Matter movement set up the zone around mid-June and have been living there.
Before coming to live in the zone, Dejesus was living in the Bronx or at his uncle’s basement in Brooklyn. Three weeks ago, he was working as a construction worker in New York City. He was recently fired from his job and has been unemployed and homeless. He is trying to receive New York State unemployment benefits.
“My purpose here is to convince people that color does not matter,” said Dejesus, about the message he tries to convey while living in the zone. “All matter matters.”
He said since was young, he has believed all forms of matter including humans, animals and plants are important. He added that race and skin color are artificial labels and that people are all ultimately forms of matter.
Furthermore, he said he took on the appearance of the Joker not to simply mimic the Joker villain character in Batman comic books, but to represent someone who is shunned by society and to get his message across that “all matter matters.”
He said he sympathizes with the Black Lives Matter movement. But, he said the movement can create negative consequences.
“In reality, that argument only causes more confusion and destruction than we realize because it keeps the argument going,” said Dejesus, about the argument between the BLM movement and its critics.
He said he has faced backlash at the zone for saying, “all matter matters,” and that he had to sit down and explain his beliefs to his critics.
“I’m at a point in my life where I’m comfortable being who I am because people who see me everyday recognize me through the pain,” he said.
Luis Dejesus, 37, who goes by the name, “The Joker of New York City,” poses for a portrait at the “New York City Hall Autonomous Zone.” Dejesus who was born in the United States and whose father is Puerto Rican and whose mother is German and Italian, has been living in the zone for a week. He has spent a total of 21 years in prison and has been 5 years sober from using heroine.
The “Autonomous Zone," is an outdoor encampment adjacent to New York City Hall in lower Manhattan. Some members of the Black Lives Matter movement set up the zone around mid-June and have been living there.
Before coming to live in the zone, Dejesus was living in the Bronx or at his uncle’s basement in Brooklyn. Three weeks ago, he was working as a construction worker in New York City. He was recently fired from his job and has been unemployed and homeless. He is trying to receive New York State unemployment benefits.
“My purpose here is to convince people that color does not matter,” said Dejesus, about the message he tries to convey while living in the zone. “All matter matters.”
He said since was young, he has believed all forms of matter including humans, animals and plants are important. He added that race and skin color are artificial labels and that people are all ultimately forms of matter.
Furthermore, he said he took on the appearance of the Joker not to simply mimic the Joker villain character in Batman comic books, but to represent someone who is shunned by society and to get his message across that “all matter matters.”
He said he sympathizes with the Black Lives Matter movement. But, he said the movement can create negative consequences.
“In reality, that argument only causes more confusion and destruction than we realize because it keeps the argument going,” said Dejesus, about the argument between the BLM movement and its critics.
He said he has faced backlash at the zone for saying, “all matter matters,” and that he had to sit down and explain his beliefs to his critics.
“I’m at a point in my life where I’m comfortable being who I am because people who see me everyday recognize me through the pain,” he said.
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