Issuing a police bullet-in
NYPD warning against J’Ouvert violence
The NYPD has a message for revelers taking part in Brooklyn’s J’Ouvert festival next weekend: Don’t shoot.
The 71st Precinct in Crown Heights posted fliers Thursday warning festival-goers to refrain from violence during the annual predawn Labor Day celebration.
“This community will no longer tolerate this violence,” the fliers say. “Do not shoot anyone. Do not stab anyone. Every act of violence will be fully investigated and prosecuted. This year celebrate J’Ouvert and keep it safe.”
The flier also reminds residents that two people were killed last year during J’Ouvert, a pre-dawn street procession before the West Indian American Day Parade.
“4 people have been indicted for those murders,” it reads. “Each of them may spend up to 20 years in prison.”
Last year, an aide to Gov. Cuomo, Carey Gabay, was shot and killed by a stray bullet fired during a fight that broke out in the middle of the festivities.
He was struck in the head while trying to escape the chaos, and died nine days later.
Speaking of the posters, a police source said, “I guess this is the de Blasio crime prevention program.
“I found this absolutely hysterical. It’s just incredible. We’ve come to the point now where we’re asking people not to shoot one another. As if this doesn’t come naturally?
“If they really want to reduce the crime here, they should be enforcing the law and restricting the permits.
“This will have zero impact, of course. What a waste of paper, though I don’t want to put the graphic artist out of business.”
A Facebook post by Anton Gold, who lives in the neighborhood, read, “This notice which I witnessed NYPD posting all over is one of the most disgusting, racist, condescending and rude public announcements I have ever heard of !
“It is a FACT that EVERY YEAR there is a huge spike in domestic violence coinciding with the St. Patrick’s day parade! Do you think the NYPD would ever post a sign like this asking white folks not to get drunk and beat their spouses!?
“NEVER! So why are they lump- ing hundreds of thousands of peaceful Jouvert celebrants with gang bangers from Ebbets Field!!?? It’s completely outrageous and the opposite of what the NYPD says they are trying to do!!”
Local resident Timothy James Thomas posted sarcastically : “I’m just glad they reminded me not to shoot anyone or stab anyone. Some days I plum forget.”
Barbara Anne Rogers was equally unimpressed: “Bad to stick a staple into a tree (and I think illegal too. Way to go 71st pct,’’ she posted.