Two women were arrested during a chaotic protest in Times Square opposing Israel, where police faced difficulty reaching an Uber vehicle. They are now suing the NYPD, claiming injuries sustained during their arrest.
Jasmeen Nijar and Anees Hasnain filed individual lawsuits in Manhattan Supreme Court last week. They accuse the department of assault, illegal search and seizure, false arrests, and failure to provide medical assistance during the Palestine Million March held on March 2, 2024.
Hasnain, 33, who works as a program director for a nonprofit, alleges that a NYPD detective punched her in the face and arrested her while she was wearing a backpack.
Nijar, 31, a course associate at Columbia University and a social worker, claims that during the arrest, she was forcibly dragged, struck in the back of the head, and handcuffed so tightly that it caused injury to her left hand.
The lawsuit does not detail the dramatic circumstances that led to police presence. A reported bomb threat nearby involved a hand-held explosive device found in an Uber vehicle, which the Uber driver flagged to officers. While police later established the device was inactive, protesters allegedly thwarted the police’s ability to respond effectively by blocking the streets and surrounding emergency vehicles.
NYPD Deputy Commissioner Kazu Daughtry commented on social media about the protesters’ actions, suggesting they would face serious consequences for obstructing emergency services.
Video footage released by the NYPD shows numerous demonstrators facing off with police as the situation escalated.
The filing asserts that the officers used racially charged language and denied medical assistance requests made by the women.
Both Nijar and Hasnain claim they experienced illegal searches at NYPD headquarters and were held for hours before being released with tickets, though no formal charges were filed. The prosecutor ultimately chose not to pursue the case.
The lawsuit lists several officers, including Captain Guzim Palazi, Officer Vito Skalich, and Detective Craig A. Jacob, and seeks unspecified damages. However, it doesn’t mention the incident regarding the explosive device or any alleged interference with the police response.
The NYPD has opted not to comment on the ongoing litigation, and the women’s attorney has not responded to inquiries.
