“Washington Square Park has long served as a vital location for resistance, community, and vibrant public expression that has directly shaped who we are as a church.”
Statement Issued by Judson Memorial Church on NYPD “enforcement” at Washington Square Park:
Judson Memorial Church, located at 55 Washington Square South, stands in firm opposition to the NYPD’s enforcement of a new 10 pm weekend curfew in Washington Square Park, and the closure of the park’s northwest corner. For us, using police in riot gear to enforce littering and noise complaints is a dangerous step backwards.
Washington Square Park has long served as a vital location for resistance, community, and vibrant public expression that has directly shaped who we are as a church.
For decades Greenwich Village has endured repeated attempts to silence and criminalize these voices, often disguising racism, classism, and homophobia in the language of public safety and quality of life concerns. If the last year has taught us anything, it’s that the time for change is now.