Following yesterday morning’s melee with the police scuffle outside of Pete Rock and Smif-N-Wessun‘s Monumental release party, Pete Rock’s lawyer, Kenneth Montgomery, and wife, Shara McHayle, have issued statements regarding the melee. The incident, which took place outside of New York City, New York’s Tammany Hall, ended up with six citizen arrests and five police injuries.
Smif-N-Wessun’s Official Statement Regarding Police Melee
On Tuesday, June 28th, Pete Rock, Tek & Steele (of Smif N Wessun) were celebrating the release of their collaborative album, ‘Monumental.’ It was a peaceful gathering inside of a sold-out Tammany Hall (lower-east side Manhattan, NY) to see the group perform new music from the project. Earlier in the evening some guests wanted to enter the event but were turned away by the management and bouncers employed by the club. A minor argument ensued, but eventually was diffused by the bouncers. Thirty minutes after that minor skirmish 15-20 uniformed Police Officers from the 7th precinct arrived at the venue. Shortly after even more uniformed officers arrived. The officers then hurried into the club and began macing and assaulting individuals inside the club, dragging one of them out and pummeling him directly in front of the club. Present at the event were artists, industry tastemakers, fans, photographers, and cameramen. Several people began filming and recording the unprovoked brutality, much to the dismay of the police. The officers then began to mace and assault anyone within arms length, including several women. Kenneth Montgomery, the group’s attorney, who was in attendance at the event, stated that the Police “behavior was unjustified, unprovoked, and simply barbaric considering there was no provocation.” Pete Rock, Tek and Steele fortunately were not harmed, however some of their friends & family were assaulted by the Police. The group’s attorney, Kenneth Montgomery, is addressing the situation now with local community leaders & is available for comment with more detailed information.
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Pete Rock’s Wife, Shara McHayle, Speaks On The Incident
“With an extremely heavy heart I communicate to my friends and colleagues that over 24 hours ago my family and friends went out to celebrate the album release of Monumental. It was a peaceful, fun classic hip hop party. We all left the venue to be greeted outside by a sea of NYPD gloved up and very aggressive. As we began to move we all witnessed the most brutal beating of a party patron. He was on the floor surrounded by 10 police officers with sticks out beating him. In shock, we must have not moved quickly enough to the officers liking and they shouted “Move the FUCK back” and then shoved myself and my daughter down to the ground. Now we were surrounded by 3 cops and 1 pinning us down. My daughter shouted “Get off my mother” and was handcuffed and arrested. I am sure you heard or saw the disturbing graphic videos that have been circulating on line. Tonight with a lump in my throat my daughter remains in police custody with 4 others. She has been charged with assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. With gratitude I have received emails, texts, msgs and phone calls sending support and asking what they can do. Tonight I ask if you can to join us peacefully tomorrow morning 9am at 100 Centre St New York, NY to stand up with us to this injustice. If you can not, please repost, tweet, email and let the world know.”
[June 30]
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Pete Rock Vows To Fight Police Brutality In The Wake Of NYPD Scuffle
Pete Rock spoke to Jay Diamond yesterday outside of New York Criminal Court on Centre Street in Manhattan, New York. During the discussion, he explained that his daughter was arrested trying to defend her mother from unwarranted police assault.
“That she attacked a police officer, but that’s so untrue. What happened was, she was trying to protect her mother from the police hitting her, hitting her mom. So they were hitting her on her leg, and she was like, ‘Don’t hit my mother.’ My wife was saying, ‘Don’t hit my daughter.’ That’s what happened. No one assaulted cops. The cops were the ones that assaulted people, period. It’s just enough is enough. I’ve had enough. I’ve had enough of seeing it on the news, I’ve had enough of seeing it in the street. Now, I’m in the middle of it and I’ve really had enough. We’re just going to support and keep this thing going until we get justice.”
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Watch the full interview below, which also features Steele and Louis Skagg.
RELATED:Details Emerge In Police Scuffle At Pete Rock & Smif-N-Wessun’s NYC Release Party
