NYPD covering ‘Joker’ screenings over fears of incel violence
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The NYPD is taking no chances when it comes to the premiere of the new “Joker” flick, which has already drummed up fears of movie theater violence, The Post has learned.
NYPD Chief of Patrol Rodney Harrison has directed all the city’s precincts to provide police coverage at Big Apple theaters showing the movie, law enforcement sources told The Post.
The thriller starring Joaquin Phoenix will be screened Wednesday at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center during the New York Film Festival, and officers have been instructed to cover, sources said.
According to sources, uniformed patrol cops will also be sent to AMC theaters throughout the city for screenings of the comic book-inspired movie, which officially opens in theaters across the country Friday, but is showing in some city theaters Thursday.
The police coverage is “until further notice, so every showing time at each theater will be covered until we are directed to stop,” one high-ranking police source in Manhattan said.
Sources said it’s up to each precinct to decide how to staff theaters showing the film.
Officers “should be standing in high visibility at the main entrances,” a source said.
Many cinemas in New York and around the country have already banned moviegoers from wearing costumes and masks to attend showings of the “Joker” flick.
Landmark Theaters said anyone wearing masks, painted faces or costumes will be turned away.
AMC, however, said though it will allow costumes, masks are not allowed.
Meanwhile, Michael Uslan, executive producer of “Joker,” defended the movie over fears that it may incite mass shooters.
“Look at what I consider some of the most important films: What have they done? They’ve held up a mirror to our society, and there are times when people don’t want to see that reflection, they want to run from it,” Uslan told the Asbury Park Press.
Last week, the US Army issued a warning to its personnel about the possibility of “incel” extremists carrying out mass shooting at screenings of “Joker.”
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01 Oct 2019, 11:52 am
