New York, May 5 (RHC)-- In New York City, cellphone video has gone viral showing police officers aggressively pinning a Black man to the ground as they arrested him, then violently attacking a passerby — also Black — dragging him on the street, punching him and kneeling on his neck, during what was supposed to be a social distancing enforcement action. 

The witness who took the video said police falsely accused the first man and a woman of violating social distancing rules, before going after the passerby.  At least some of the officers involved in the attack were not wearing protective face masks, as required in New York when social distancing is not possible.

Over 1,000 New York police officers were dispatched over the weekend to enforce social distancing rules. Photos emerged on social media over the weekend of crowded parks and other public spaces as New Yorkers left their homes to take advantage of the warmer weather.