By: Kaitlyn Zhou
After a multitude of individuals swarmed New York City's Park and its vicinity, Kai Cenat, a prominent online influencer boasting 6.5 million Twitch followers, initiated a giveaway of PlayStation 5 consoles. This seemingly innocuous gesture, however, spiraled into chaos, resulting in injuries and numerous arrests throughout NYC. The repercussions of these actions are poised to subject Cenat to a series of serious charges and potentially incite a riot.
Speaking at a news conference, Jeffrey Maddrey, the highest-ranking uniformed officer in the New York Police Department, addressed the unfolding situation. He revealed, "Word of the riot had rapidly disseminated across online platforms, prompting an influx of thousands of individuals to Union Square."
Maddrey further elaborated that, due to safety concerns, law enforcement personnel eventually intervened and removed Cenat from Union Square. The aftermath saw the apprehension of 65 individuals, including 30 juveniles. Amid the chaos, two officers and four civilians required ambulance transport to hospitals, with one officer sustaining a fractured hand. Maddrey lamented that the tally of injured individuals was likely to increase.
The police officer recounted witnessing many people departing with injuries—cuts, bruises, and lacerations. Remarkably, Maddrey himself fell victim to a blow to the head. This unsettling incident underscored the potent duality of social media—its power and its peril. In mere minutes, the crowd swelled from around 300 to several thousand.
As the throng of citizens congregated, a segment took to jumping on cars, obstructing traffic, dismantling barriers, and hurling objects at law enforcement. In a subsequent news conference, Maddrey confirmed that Cenat would face a battery of charges. He declared, "Cenat will be charged with, at the very least, two counts of incitement to riot, unlawful assembly, and several other charges."
The tumultuous scene wasn't limited to vehicular climbing; individuals in the park unleashed paint cans, bottles, and rocks, while others wielded shovels, axes, and tools pilfered from nearby construction sites. The situation escalated further as a faction within the crowd ignited fireworks, prompting two officers to withdraw due to sustained injuries.
Between the hours of 5 and 6 pm, mounted police units began to disperse the crowd, seeking to restore order amidst the mayhem.