The nationwide looting and rioting being perpetrated by Antifa and Black Lives Matter in major American cities has caused devastating destruction in the communities it has affected. But in New York, it has taken a heavy toll on the police officers tasked with suppressing the violent demonstrations. 

The New York Post reported that “At least 472 cops across all ranks have been injured responding to riots and protests since May 28, department data shows.” The report indicated that “Officers have been shot at, stabbed, assaulted with rocks, bricks, struck by vehicles and had Molotov cocktails hurled at them.” 

The article continued, noting that most of the officers who were injured required medical attention. “Of those injured, 319 cops required hospital treatment and seven, like Lt. Richard Mack, who was badly beaten while making a July arrest on the Brooklyn Bridge, were admitted to hospitals,” they wrote. 

The 472 officers who were injured while dealing with violent protests contributed to the overall number of 7,528 law enforcement officials harmed in the line of duty so far this year. This represents a 47 percent increase from 2019.

“The average person doesn’t hear about the daily assaults and injuries to police officers,” NYPD Sgt. Joseph Imperatrice, founder of Blue Lives Matter NYC, told The Post. “Officers are hurt every single day whether in regards to being assigned to routine patrol or a riot location.”

Since the death of George Floyd, riots have persisted throughout New York City and have contributed to the rise in violent crime. Imperatric told The Post that during protests in Soho, participants flung “air mail” “including half-filled drink bottles, garbage, rocks and brick fragments” at members of law enforcement. He also stated that an officer sprained his hand, “tackling a subject running away from the scene of a location where they had just broken storefront windows.” 

The NYPD has made several arrests of individuals engaged in rioting. Some of the activities included trying to torch police vehicles with Molotov cocktails, assaulting officers with a car during a hit-and-run, and other violent acts. 

Officers blame “turnstile justice” and politicians for the spike in police injuries. Patrick Lynch, the head of the Police Benevolent Association, released a statement in which he said, “the chaos that politicians are encouraging on the streets is putting cops in the hospital.” He continued, “Hundreds more are being injured because criminals are emboldened to fight cops the moment we step on the scene. They know our hands are tied. Every New Yorker needs to ask their elected officials how cops can protect them when we can barely protect ourselves.”

Antifa operatives do not appear to be letting up anytime soon. Indeed, since they are essentially allowed to carry out their violent acts with little-to-no opposition from local Democratic governments, they have no incentive to cease their activities. There can be no doubt that the Democrats’ lenient approach to the thugs terrorizing these communities will damage them politically in November. The question is: Will it be enough to ensure that they are defeated?

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