In Brooklyn’s Sheepshead Bay, at 2134 U Avenue and Coyle Street, a proposed homeless shelter sparked intense protests on Wednesday (April 30th), which escalated into conflicts lasting over ten hours and resulted in the arrest of at least seven individuals. Three people were initially detained in the morning, although the case was eventually dismissed. However, after 8 p.m., tensions flared up once again, leading to the arrest of four individuals, including a senior citizen in their seventies, causing shock and outrage within the community.
Apart from local Councilwoman Mercedes Narcisse, Councilwoman Wong Wenyi from the adjacent district, two former police assistants of State Senator Chen Xueli, a police friend, and Assemblyman Coton’s chief of staff, Helen, all arrived at the scene in the evening to show support for the protesters. They went to the police station to assist those who had been arrested, and transported the elderly individual who was feeling unwell to receive medical attention. The individuals involved remained busy from Wednesday evening until 2 a.m. on Thursday.
Councilwoman Wong Wenyi pointed out that an elderly person was pinned to the ground by three or four police officers, denied water at the police station, and their requests for assistance due to their physical discomfort were ignored by the officers. Family members and the councilwoman herself had to carry the elderly person out of the police station. She strongly criticized the government for abusing tax resources to suppress Asian residents, stating, “This is the cruelest betrayal of law-abiding taxpayers by the government.”
According to Western media reports, two women arrested that night included a 62-year-old woman charged with reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct, and obstructing traffic, and a 54-year-old woman charged with second-degree assault and intimidation. However, as of Thursday evening, after various efforts, all those arrested had been released.
Videos circulating in WeChat groups show an elderly woman in a pink top and white coat being arrested on the sidewalk on Wednesday night, with an elderly man subdued for trying to intervene, prompting loud protests from onlookers. During the daytime standoff between police and civilians, protesters shouted “No homeless shelter,” with some individuals becoming emotional, at one point crying out “Help me!” The situation briefly escalated into chaos.
Wong Wenyi questioned the police’s excessive enforcement, noting that despite the deployment of some Manhattan officers who could speak Chinese to assist in the operation, it did not prevent rough treatment of the civilians. She remarked, “I don’t understand what harm these elderly people caused to the police to deserve such treatment.”
She believes that if the issue is to be resolved, Asian police officers who understand the Chinese community and language should be appointed to lead and command, otherwise orders from the top lead to actions at the grassroots level. She emphasized that since the developers did not have the relevant construction permits, the city government should cease enforcement suppressing protesting civilians and reconsider the project in line with community needs.
State Senator Chen Xueli from Albany also voiced consecutive criticisms on Facebook, lambasting Mayor Eric Adams for misplaced priorities in governance: “Subway chaos, fare evaders running amok, car thieves roaming the streets, yet police arresting unarmed elderly people?” He questioned, “What kind of mayor is this? Is he solely intent on locking up all law-abiding citizens?”
Chen Xueli emphasized that this is a betrayal of Sheepshead Bay residents and pledged to use all legislative and legal means to prevent the establishment of the shelter, stating, “Sheepshead Bay is not a dumping ground but the home of our elderly, children, and families. We will defend our community at all costs.”
Councilwoman Narcisse reiterated her position, indicating that the initially supported project by the City Council and the community was for affordable housing, not a shelter. She has formally written to the city government to demand a comprehensive review of the construction permits for the project and to protect the rights of peaceful protesters.
Currently, the protests are ongoing. Demonstrations have been continuous for over a month. On Thursday, protesters gathered once again at a street corner near the construction site, rhythmically banging signs that read “No homeless shelter,” expressing their discontent and determination.