New York.- The Dominican community of Upper Manhattan remains alert following a call spread through social media to hold a new massive gathering of young people in the Dyckman area, a recent scene of violent incidents that left one person dead, others injured, and material damage.
The concern arises after an advertisement began circulating promoting an activity for this Sunday identified as “Dyckman Takeover: Part 3”, the origin of which had not been confirmed by the authorities.
Faced with the situation, elected officials, representatives of the New York Police Department (NYPD), merchants, community leaders, and residents held a meeting at Quisqueya Plaza, located at the intersection of Broadway and Dyckman Street, to coordinate actions aimed at preserving safety in the area.
Among the measures evaluated are temporary street closures, access controls, and a large police deployment. Reports published about the meeting indicate that around 700 NYPD officers could be part of the operation, along with the potential temporary closure of Quisqueya Plaza.
Upper Manhattan on alert
The preventive mobilization in Upper Manhattan occurs following the disturbances recorded in the Dyckman area after the celebrations related to the National Dominican Day Parade in New York.
During those events, clashes, stabbings, and other acts of disorder were recorded. One of the incidents left a 23-year-old man dead from stab wounds, while another person was injured. Property damage, affected vehicles, and a significant accumulation of trash in the streets were also reported.
Local merchants were also forced to close their establishments earlier than usual due to the incidents and the large number of people gathered in the area.
Authorities are seeking to prevent a potential new gathering from leading to similar situations and have requested that young people and their families act responsibly.
Upper Manhattan coordinates
Among the authorities and community representatives who participated in the talks about the operation were Congressman Adriano Espaillat, Councilwoman Carmen de la Rosa, Dominican overseas deputy Cirilo Moronta, Assemblyman Al Taylor, and Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal.
Representatives from the NYPD, the New York City Fire and Sanitation departments, Community Board 12, and various merchant, resident, and tenant organizations from the area also participated.
Concern about this type of encounter is not limited to New York. In various American cities, so-called “teen takeovers” have been reported, gatherings of teenagers and young people organized mainly through social media that, in some cases, have ended in riots and forced authorities to reinforce security measures.
As the date announced on social media approaches, residents and merchants of Inwood and other sectors of Upper Manhattan remain attentive to the provisions of the authorities, in an area characterized by a strong presence of the Dominican community.
