Crowd of activist advocates, NYPD supporters pack courtroom during harassment hearing

The PBA says cases like this are why there needs to be stronger laws to protect police officers from being tracked down.

Greg Thompson

Oct 1, 2024, 10:48 PM

Updated 12 days ago

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Terrell "Relly Rebel" Harper, the co-founder of We The People NYC was in court Tuesday morning and disputed allegations that he entered the private property of an NYPD officer and yelled threats.
Harper's organization helps feed people in both Bed-Stuy and Harlem every week, with member Dimez Cartier saying that Harper "puts his body and his time, blood, sweat and tears on the line continuously for the people." Hawk Newsome, the co-founder of Black Lives Matter NYC, added "this is not a monster."
But court documents allege that during a protest last Monday, Harper went on to the private property of an NYPD officer in Sunset Park and started kicking the door and pulling on the windows, yelling threats at the officer who was inside.
"This group had no right to go a New York City police officers home and threaten," NYC Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry said at a news conference before the court appearance.
Supporters of both police and Harper filled the courtroom in a show of solidarity.
Harper says the group was outside the house because the officer was violent with protestors at another rally over the police-involved shooting on the subway platform in Brownsville last month. He said "these are officers that we can't get accountability for."
While he refused to discuss much about his case, he has pleaded not guilty. He told News 12 that the charges against him are “straight bull.”
Newsome spoke more freely about the incident.
"Nobody who was there saw what these police are alleging. Let's be logical. If he did what they said he did, why wasn't he arrested by the 100 cops that were there?" he asked.
The PBA says cases like this are why there needs to be stronger laws to protect police officers from being tracked down.
"These people are violent agitators who are trying to cause chaos. They're trying to get rid of police officers. That's what their goal is," said Hendry.
Harper is out on bail after being arrested on a slew of charges, including attempted burglary and criminal mischief. He has not yet been indicted on the charges. He is due back in court on Jan. 15.