#NYC man sues de Blasio, NYPD over ‘unconstitutional’ curfew

A Manhattan man claims in a new lawsuit that Mayor Bill de Blasio and top NYPD brass have violated his constitutional rights by enforcing an 8 p.m. curfew in New York amid citywide protests and unrest this week.

William Hamilton of Morningside Heights said in the Manhattan federal court complaint that the curfew limits his freedom of speech and assembly because it does not give him enough time to partake in the demonstrations.

“I am a full time employee and I work a regular schedule of 9am to 6pm Monday through Friday,” Hamilton wrote in the civil-rights complaint that names de Blasio, NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea and NYPD Chief of Department Terence Monahan as defendants.

“Because of the 8pm curfew, my ability to engage in my constitutional right of freedom of speech and expression, in order to express and vocalize peacefully my opinions of the Floyd case in Minneapolis, were limited as I did not have sufficient time to engage in any meaningful events due to the curfew,” the complaint adds.

Hamilton adds that he can’t do basic tasks around the city — including visiting an elderly friend — without fear of being arrested.

“This includes walking my dog, grocery shopping, shopping for medically necessary medications, caring for an elderly friend of mine located in midtown, and other related activities outside of my apartment without fear of violating the law and being arrested,” the claim states.

Hamilton is seeking an immediate injunction of the order with the complaint. A rep for the City Law Department did not immediately respond.