Influencer and Twitch streamer Kai Cenat will be charged with at least two counts of inciting a riot and unlawful assembly after thousands of people descended on Union Square in NYC.
Cenat’s promise of free PlayStations sparked a chaotic scene and a massive police response.
Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey said in a Friday evening briefing that the NYPD made 65 arrests, 30 of them juveniles.
I had 1000s of kids out there, I needed 1000s of parents. When it gets to the point where it’s disorderly, we want the parents to come and take control.”
According to ABC News,
The event was “unpermitted” and “not sanctioned” and grew rapidly to 1000s of young people, who Maddrey said attacked officers instead of complying with orders to leave.
NYPD officers arrived in droves to try to quell the mayhem, which erupted after a post by Cenat went viral around 3 p.m., and the officers soon found themselves under attack, according to Maddrey.
The massive crowd caused the park and surrounding streets to become overcrowded. People ran through the streets and some were seen jumping on cars and a city bus. Some people took objects from a construction site in Union Square, including plywood, shovels and axes, according to Maddrey.
Police showed up in riot gear to disperse the crowd. A bus that was holding people in custody was attacked by others trying to pull individuals off the bus…
Maddrey said a 17-year-old was hospitalized from what was initially believed to be a gunshot wound, but was a firework injury.
Cenat posted in an Instagram story, sharing news coverage of the incident saying,
Please be safe.
I love you guys to the fullest you guys are amazing.”
NYC Mayor Eric Adams thanked police “for their quick work” in controlling the situation.
Social media influencer Kai Cenat is charged with inciting a riot and unlawful assembly after thousands-strong crowds gathered in Union Square in New York City for a giveaway, leaving dozens of people arrested and several police officers injured. https://t.co/LCVbWRDmRM pic.twitter.com/Bn272obDIF
— CNN (@CNN) August 5, 2023
(Photos, screen grabs; via ABC News)
