Paying no heed to COVID-19, an illicit rave reportedly took place on Saturday night under Brooklyn's Kosciuszko Bridge. This gathering is said to have drawn hundreds, and comes at a time in which bars and clubs remain closed in NYC due to the pandemic.
Videos circulating on social media claiming to show the rave captured some in attendance wearing masks (an organizer estimated that 70 to 80 percent in attendance did this), but there wasn't any social distancing...which you probably gathered when we wrote "rave" in the headline/first sentence.
Gothamist writes that the party began this past Saturday night, and was busted up around 4 a.m. on Sunday. It took place at a park below the bridge, and featured sets from Pictureplane and DJ Mazurbate.
Consider those inadvertent plugs.
The event was similar to one hosted at the same location on July 4 that was billed as "a Black Lives Matter party." It's unclear what a party's theme would even have to do with—you know what, whatever, this isn't a think piece. The website Guest of a Guest writes that this most recent gathering appears to have been billed as a protest, but that Pictureplane also referred to it as a "rave" in a tweet that got deleted.
Reached by Pitchfork for comment, Pictureplane's Travis Egedy expressed regret, saying he "really hope[s] that no one gets sick after this event."
His full statement reads: "i had never worked with those promoters before. when we spoke on the phone the day before the event, i expressed reservations and told them i was nervous about DJing it.. and that i was aware of backlash from a previous rave that happened a few weeks ago. they told me that this one would be super safe, and that masks and sanitizer and water would be provided to everyone who entered. and when i saw video of the location, it looked enormous. i figured that it was a large enough space that people would have tons of room. and wouldnt be any different than going to like rockaway beach on a saturday. i was pretty surprised at the crowd. and of course everyone just crowded around the sound system. it felt incredible to DJ after being alone in my house for basically 6 months ! and im sure a lot of people there felt the same. but i dont think it was worth the risk looking back on it now. i definitely wont be going to any events like that again while covid is still happening. and i really hope that no one gets sick after this event."
Guest of a Guest also reached out to one of the event's organizer, with that organizer saying it wasn't intended to be a "protest," but was actually a fundraiser for the Legal Aid Society. An anonymous organizer (possibly the same one who spoke to Guest of a Guest) also defended the rave to Gothamist, but conceded more precautions could've taken place and that things did get out of hand.
"If you think people aren't going to gather, you're a fool—there's no stopping that," the organizer said. "The event got out of control because people wanted to come, people wanted to be out. People have been cooped up for so long. The pressure is building, and people need a release. It's already happening. We can do it more safely, or we can pretend it isn't happening."
He continued to justify things from there. "My friends are being forced to go back to work with thousands of employees," that person added. "New York is back open. Stores are open, the subway is open, the parks are open, people are trying to go back to normal. Look at the beaches, look at the playgrounds. Riis Beach is packed, the parks are full of people hanging out, remembering they're alive. At least we're telling people to wear a mask."
He added he's unsure if he'll throw any more of these types of events.
Last week, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo called out a Chainsmokers concert that took place in the Hamptons. On Monday Cuomo addressed this most recent bash, in addition to a(nother) illegal gathering on a river boat, saying, “It’s disrespectful. It’s illegal … It violates common decency. Look at all the people you endangered. What if one of the people gets sick and dies? … We need better enforcement all across the state.”
