Violence Erupts at Influencer’s Gift Distribution in Manhattan

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Kai Cenat, known for his humorous content, announced a distribution of gifts in the middle of Manhattan. But at least 2,000 people answered the call, and violence broke out.

Posted on 08/05/2023 19:49 Updated on 08/05/2023 19:49

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Scenes of violence in the streets of Manhattan on August 4, 2023, after a rally called by an influencer. (ALEXI J. ROSENFELD/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA)

A New York influencer sparked a surprise rally of at least 2,000 young people in Manhattan on Friday August 4. But the event degenerated into street violence and injured people, announced the police, who made arrests.

It all started with an Instagram call from African-American streamer Kai Cenat. The 21-year-old invited his audience to meet him in lower Manhattan for a distribution, broadcast live on social networks, of gifts, including PlayStations 5 game consoles. Thousands of young people then gathered very quickly in the Union Square neighborhood of lower Manhattan Island in hopes of seeing the star, who has millions of followers on her Twitch, YouTube and Instagram platforms and social accounts.

A rally degenerated after a call from an influencer on August 4 in New York (United States). (ALEXI J. ROSENFELD / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP)

Suddenly and, apparently for no reason, young men started throwing projectiles from a nearby construction site, targeting other people and the police, who were rapidly deployed in large numbers. Televisions also showed individuals surrounding and blocking vehicles and climbing onto the roof of a black SUV.

“It was out of control”

“I personally saw young people walking bleeding from the head and face, I saw young people with panic attacks, anxiety and asthma (…) It was out of control”said current New York City Police (NYPD) Chief Jeffrey Maddrey, during a very brief press briefing in the neighborhood. “It took us a while to regain control and a lot of young people were injured”, lamented the police officer. At the end of the day, a thousand police officers had managed to disperse the rally. A total of 65 people – half of them minors – were arrested, according to information from New York Times.

Influencer Kai Cenat in the middle of the crowd, August 4, 2023 in New York (United States). (ALEXI J. ROSENFELD / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP)

Jeffrey Maddrey clarified that several people had been arrested and that Kai Cenat had been taken for questioning at a police station. According the Washington Post, he will appear in court on August 18 for inciting a riot and organizing an unlawful assembly.

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2023-08-05 17:49:35
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