Protesters, police clash in New York ahead of vote to slash NYPD budget

Protesters outside of City Hall reportedly clashed with New York Police Department (NYPD) officers on Tuesday morning ahead of an expected vote on a city budget that includes a $1 billion cut to the NYPD.  

Police in riot gear are seen pushing protesters back, in video footage reported by ABC News. 

The clash between protesters and police followed the arrest of an 18-year-old from Brooklyn who police said was caught spray-painting a statue outside of City Hall at 2:40 a.m. on Tuesday, ABC reported. 

The man, Dominique Tombeau, has reportedly been charged with making graffiti, resisting arrest, obstructing governmental administration, criminal mischief, reckless endangerment, criminal tampering and disorderly conduct. 

The arrest may have prompted protesters to move into Centre Street, from a park next to City Hall, where they stayed for hours until law enforcement pushed them back around 6 a.m., ABC reported. 

The clash comes after weeks of protests in the city over police brutality and racial inequality sparked by the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis last month and ahead of the expected City Council vote on a city budget that includes massive cuts to the NYPD. 

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) on Monday said he proposed a budget that includes a $1 billion cut to the police. The department has an annual budget of about $6 billion.