New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is reportedly poised to fulfill a significant campaign promise by announcing the disbandment of the NYPD’s Strategic Response Group (SRG), a unit tasked with controlling protest violence and handling counterterrorism operations. This move, detailed by Politico, aims to separate the SRG’s dual functions, with Mamdani asserting that counterterrorism efforts should be distinct from responses to First Amendment activities. While Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch has previously indicated discussions focused on the general management of protests rather than outright disbandment, sources suggest the SRG’s duties might be absorbed into Mamdani’s new Office of Community Safety, potentially via executive order. This anticipated decision comes amid ongoing pressure from Mamdani’s base and follows his own statements emphasizing the need to decouple the unit’s original counterterrorism mandate from its role in managing public demonstrations. A spokesperson for the Mayor confirmed that the administration intends to disband the SRG and separate protest response from counterterrorism, with further details expected soon.
Adapted from: Latest Political News on Fox News
