Black Lives Matter protesters staged a large demonstration outside the Met Gala on Monday evening, leading to multiple arrests. Several videos of the protest that include a clash with police have been posted online. “A copy of the flyer from the protest indicates that the protests were initiated by an ‘autonomous group of NYC abolitionists who believe that policing does not protect and serve communities,” reports The Daily Mail.
Early reports of total arrests were conflicted but as of Tuesday afternoon, Patch reported at least 9 arrests in “the protests, which began Monday afternoon in Lower Manhattan [and] moved uptown by around 6 p.m. Protesters’ demands included defunding and eventually abolishing the NYPD, as well as ending the relocations of homeless people from hotels into shelters.”
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In the videos shared above, police can be heard yelling at demonstrators on the streets to ‘Move Back!’ while a protestor is heard yelling, “Black lives still matter.” Fox News also shared that “Protestors [could] be heard chanting the name of Mike Rosado, a Bronx man who died last month in a shootout with police.”
Monday marked the 75th Met Gala, which was initially supposed to take place on the first Monday in May but was delayed due to Covid-19 fears. Nicki Minaj was a widely noted celebrity no-show to the event, saying she wouldn’t get vaccinated until she’s done enough research. Minaj went on to say the Covid vaccine would make you impotent, which Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading infectious disease expert, quickly debunked.
The Met Gala is formally referred to as the Costume Institute Gala. Its goal is to raise money for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. Monday night marked the first of a two-part exhibition titled, “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion.” Part II will come May 2022.
Among the many notable attendees of the Gala was Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-NY, who wore her protest on a custom Brother Vellies ivory wool jacket dress with an organza flounce and the message, “Tax the Rich” in red across her back.
The Met Gala exhibit will open to the public in the Anna Wintour Costume Center on September 18.
