Manhattan’s Union Square was inundated with thousands of people on Friday afternoon due to a highly anticipated giveaway organized by an internet personality. However, the event quickly spiraled out of control, resulting in chaos and disorder. Individuals in the crowd began climbing on vehicles, throwing chairs, and even engaging in physical altercations. Law enforcement faced difficulty in regaining control as the packed crowd surged through the streets, causing disruptions to traffic and scaling structures within the park. Car windows were vandalized and some individuals fell off moving vehicles that others had climbed on. City buses were pounded on and climbed atop. The situation only began to improve after an increased number of police officers intervened. Nevertheless, sporadic clashes continued, with barricades being knocked over and bottles, as well as a flower pot, being thrown at officers. Individuals were seen being wrestled to the ground and pursued by officers. The NYPD has not yet provided details regarding injuries or arrests. This unfortunate turn of events followed an advertising image posted on Instagram by the streamer Kai Cenat, promoting the giveaway that was scheduled for 4pm in the park. Expectations among some attendees included the possibility of receiving a computer for livestreaming or a new PlayStation. Skylark Jones, 19, and a friend attended the event with the hope of obtaining something from the giveaway, believing it would include items like gaming consoles or a gaming chair. However, upon arrival, they encountered a crowded and chaotic scene, with bottles being thrown among the crowd. Jones described the situation as similar to a movie, with the police charging at people and utilizing riot shields. Cenat, 21, is a popular video creator with 6.5 million followers on Twitch and 4 million subscribers on YouTube.
Police gradually regained control of the area by 5:30pm. Nonetheless, sporadic skirmishes continued, with some young individuals tipping over barricades and hurling bottles and a flower pot at officers. Police were observed restraining individuals, with at least one young man being escorted away by two officers. Officers also formed lines in the streets in an attempt to manage the crowd.
As for the streamer, Kai Cenat, he had advertised the giveaway on his Instagram feed with an image, attracting multiple attendees. However, the event quickly escalated beyond expectations, leading to the chaos witnessed. This incident serves as a reminder of the challenges that can arise when managing large crowds and organizing such events.
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