SVP carried out a successful sidewalk reclaimation in Brooklyn yesterday, with food vendors Hamdy Akl and Mohammed Altaf Hussain declaring “we will not be moved!” What happened? For nearly a month, after a disagreement involving some other vendors nearby, the police undertook a reign of intimidation, harassment, cart confiscation, and unlawful arrests (bravely captured on videotape by Hamdy here and here).
The 67th precinct did not respond to our pleas for a meeting, so we got their attention Tuesday, with a “take back the sidewalk” press conference by SVP board members, the vendors, and dozens of supporters from the community. Photos here, with the full story in the NY Times here and Daily News here. Today, the precinct commander apologized for his underlings’ behavior, promising the vendors will no longer be harassed. Now how often does that happen?
It’s really sad the way police treat people in our neighborhood! I live in Flatbush and I see this kinda thing all the time. It’s good to see that vendors are getting togther. Is the community getting involved somehow?