Subway Police Protest Begins With Swipes, Vandalism And Banners

NEW YORK CITY — Commuters protesting increased subway policing and fares have begun their day of action against the MTA with vandalism, free swipes and a large black banner that declares, "F--- your $2.75."

Protests mounting across the five boroughs are being organized and documented in part by Decolonize This Place and will culminate with a rally in Grand Central at 5 p.m. Friday, an organizer told Patch.

"We want to send this clear message," the organizer said. "We're taking a stand against police."

Read more about the protest's mission here.

The large, black banner at the World Trade Center station appears to have been among the first protests Friday morning.

In the hours that followed, protesters met at the Gun Hill Road 2 and 3 train station in The Bronx to provide free MetroCards, painted over an OMNY machine and chained an emergency exit door open, media posted to Twitter show.

A New Yorker told the group one company had authorized leaving work early so employees could avoid the Grand Central protest.

The group has since drawn criticism from President Donald Trump's son, the NYPD's largest police union and the MTA.

"While we respect the right to peaceful demonstration, we have zero tolerance for any events that put the public’s safety at risk," said MTA Chief Safety Officer Pat Warren.

"This is true endgame of the anti-police movement," the Police Benevolent Association wrote on Twitter. "An end of all policing & destruction of public order."

Patch will continue to update this story throughout the day.