NEW YORK CITY, NY – Devina Singh of Schwenksville, Pennsylvania, in the heart of very “blue” Montgomery County, northwest of Philadelphia was arrested after spitting in the face of a New York Police Department sergeant.
She claims that officers were “attacking” people before her spitting incident. This wasn’t Singh’s first trip to New York and not her first protest there.
In an interview after being reached by phone, she expressed her anger.
She explained that she’d just been released from the hospital after her arrest. She was in a pivotal role during protests primarily involving anti-police protests where a left-wing mob chanted:
“Burn the precinct to the ground!”
Screenshot courtesy of New York Post video
She claimed that she only spit in the officer’s face after she witnessed police assaulted members of the crowd.
“…..they hit us with their bikes repeatedly … and started attacking people.”
LOL Wokes
pic.twitter.com/sd3fEM4epp— Gabbbar (@GabbbarSingh) November 5, 2020
The New York post showed a slightly different story – she was standing in front of a line of officers, shouting insults and death wishes, finally screaming, “F–k you, fascist!,” and then she spit in a police sergeant’s face.
She was immediately arrested and charged with obstruction of governmental administration, violation of local law and harassment.
This woman, Devina Singh, was arrested for spitting into a police officer’s face. She was arrested twice before in “mostly peaceful protests” in New York City. pic.twitter.com/cYOCxJzwF8
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) November 5, 2020
Singh is known to the NYPD, since she was arrested in September during a protest in Manhattan against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
She was also arrested later that month in a similar protest in Brooklyn. Singh allegedly jumped on the back of an officer making an arrest during a protest at Washington Square Park after the announcement of the indictment of the cop who killed Breonna Taylor in Louisville.
She said in an interview about her arrest:
“It just seems like it is impossible to deny there is a genocide being sanctioned by the state against Black and Brown bodies in a systemic fashion. We gotta stop it now before it gets worse and fascism and ethnic cleansing are allowed to go unchecked.”
In a since-deleted Instagram photo, she bristled over her arrest and insulted one of the arresting authorities:
“im so f—— mad … probs bc behind me (white shirt) is Deputy Inspector Elias J. Nikas AKA Little Dick Nik.”
Her other comments on social media outlined her deep-seated anger towards police and ICE:
“I had four officers on my back, pinning me to the ground. I was forced to watch, while I was pinned, as they beat the kid next to me into the pavement.
Take it to the streets and f–k the police; no justice, no peace.”
Screenshot courtesy of New York Post video
Singh obviously believes that property has no real value. Her statement on the subject:
“[Property] “has no feeling … no value outside of what we assign it.
The outrage over theft of clothing from Saks 5th Avenue?? The violent sentences being levied against people who caused no human harm, while we allow white people and those in power to continue to demonize and brutalize Black and Brown folks??? If you’re still running these lines, stop.”
Singh’s now-deleted Facebook profile said she attended New York University and studied global public health and social work and worked as an intern for Congressman Jerrold Nadler for five months from 2018 to 2019.
From her postings, she evidently doesn’t like white people, especially white Republicans. Although she interned for Jerry Nadler. Interesting?
“As a whole, i rlly don’t like white ppl:)”
Her rants against Republicans, included Senator Rand Paul being attacked by protesters outside the Republican National Convention.
“Republicans are by title lil bitches. That’s their party platform, i didn’t make the rules.”
On the night Singh was most recently arrested, she was among 57 people apprehended in New York City.
34 men and 23 women were arrested, where at least one demonstrator was arraigned and 24 were given desk appearance tickets. 32 were given criminal court summons.
Several fires were started in Greenwich Village, and NYPD Chief of Department Terence Monahan’s official vehicle was pelted with eggs.
23-year-old Rachel Mernard of Brooklyn punched Assistant Chief Stephen Hughes in the face and was arrested on charges of assaulting a police officer. Hughes is the commander of Patrol Borough Manhattan South.
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November 5, 2020
NEW YORK CITY, NY – For the record, “protesters” and “demonstrators” don’t set fires – “rioters” do.
But with designation aside, several hundred demonstrators took to the streets yesterday to support “Count Every Vote” in an apparent “celebration of justice, fairness and democracy.”
At least 50 people were arrested, though, for resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, unlawful assembly and obstruction government administration.
“Justice, fairness, and democracy” includes violence and arson? Who knew?
We support everyone’s right to self-expression, but setting fires puts others at risk and will not be tolerated. We are working to de-escalate the situation near Morton Street in the West Village to prevent further damage from occurring. pic.twitter.com/4nTK6UUBzC
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) November 5, 2020
“One woman, 24-year-old Devina Singh, allegedly spit in a police officer’s face and was arrested at Seventh Avenue South and Leroy Street.
Singh is from Schwenksville, Pennsylvania, ironically Montgomery County, the center of the ballot dispute. She has prior arrests for resisting arrest and unlawful assembly and is a known protester in New York City.”
These weapons, confiscated at protests tonight, put others at risk. Bringing weapons to peaceful protests cannot and will not be tolerated. We are currently working to de-escalate the situation. Anyone caught with a weapon will be arrested. pic.twitter.com/GiCDv74ncT
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) November 5, 2020
Mayor Bill de Blasio commented on the protests:
“We certainly have seen some of that earlier in the year. Last night,we saw relatively few people out. Certainly nowhere near what was projected that was raising concern.
I think we can safely say the vast vast majority of people simply want to see the election results counted fairly, they want to know the result as soon as possible and then we are in a position to move forward.
I do not see a particular problem like you described. Clearly, what most overwhelming number of New Yorkers want is just a peaceful approach to this election dynamic, and the ability to move forward and move on.”
One protestor had an amazingly enlightening perspective:
“One thing that every American should agree on is that when you cast a ballot, when you vote in this country, it should count. It should be heard.
We should all be able to agree on that, Democrat or Republican. And when you win, you win. And when you lose, you lose. You have to go back to the battle of ideas and try to win more votes next time.”
John Miller is Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence for the NYPD. He’s a former Fox News analyst and noted tactics displayed by these protestors mirroring those seen in Hong Kong:
“Something we’ve never seen before which is almost a hundred percent resisting arrest, and what we’ve seen on top of that is a tactic called de-arresting. So not only is the person not compliant in being arrested, but a group of people come in to try to pull them away.”
The NYPD also announced the initiation of a looting task force designed to work specifically around protests and demonstrations.
🚨 USA – NYPD making arrests after Pro-Biden demonstrators set fires, cause damage in Manhattan; The NYPD announced it has formed a Looting Task Force pic.twitter.com/xa97UYHAfp
— Intel Slava (@SlavaIntel) November 5, 2020
In related protest news, the Oregon National Guard was activated by Governor Kate Brown, with the specific mission to quell disturbances in the Portland area.
Reports of widespread violence were common in Portland, with several arrests made. Arrests were also made in Minneapolis and the aforementioned New York City.
Over 100 events were planned in major cities like Portland, Phoenix, and Las Vegas, the large majority organized by groups Protect the Results and Indivisible and Stand Up America. Both organizations are related, and a coalition of more than 165 grassroots organizations, advocacy groups and labor unions.
Other examples involved demonstrators in Philadelphia, who were seen holding signs that said “Count every vote.” Hundreds of people gathered in downtown Chicago for a “Trump out! Power to the people!” protest. And the Los Angeles Police Department announced for the second day in a row a citywide tactical alert “to ensure sufficient resources to address any incidents that may arise as a result of Election Day activities.”
A “Count the Vote” protest was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as votes continue to be counted in the 2020 presidential election. https://t.co/vgPuyqCutI pic.twitter.com/mKrUHvoc37
— ABC News (@ABC) November 4, 2020
4 protestors were arrested in Denver in clashes with police. Police had received reports of vandalism, including broken windows and the painting of graffiti, in downtown Denver. They were arraigned on charges of suspicion of criminal mischief and other related charges. It is reported that officers confiscated a pistol, a knife, a hammer, and bear spray.
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