After the New York Knicks lost to the San Antonio Spurs in Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday, a crowd near a watch party at Bryant Park in midtown Manhattan turned violent. Fans fought in the street, ripped out street signs, banged on cars, blocked traffic, and climbed on top of light poles and police vehicles, according to the New York City Police Department.
One man decided to push back.
Balladoli Mieses, a 32-year-old father of four, stepped in front of a group attempting to pull a street sign from the ground and asked, "What are y'all doing? This is our city." The moment was captured on video and spread widely across social media.
The crowd did not stop. People booed Mieses and slapped him. He told CBS News on Friday that he did not care. He said he acted on instinct to protect where he lives. "New York City means a lot to me because this is where I was raised…this is where my daughters live," Mieses said.
When asked how he found the courage to put himself at risk, Mieses said his parents always taught him to do right and to never be scared of saying what he wanted to say. He said of his decision to intervene, "I would do it again for my city."
Police took 21 people into custody Monday night. Two days later, after the Knicks won Game 4 in dramatic fashion, another crowd became rowdy and disruptive, and police took 56 people into custody.
Game 5 is scheduled for Saturday. Mieses said he plans to celebrate the team and hopes other fans do so safely.
