Mayor de Blasio cancels major NYC events through September except for Black Lives Matter protests

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has canceled all large events requiring a city permit through the end of September in an effort to stave off a surge in coronavirus cases. Ahead of de Blasio's announcement the parade organizers said they were still coming to a decision as to whether it would be held as planned on September 7 De Blasio gave an exception to the Black Lives Matters protests that have become a mainstay on New York City streets over the past six weeks, insisting the 'historic' demonstrations must be respected. The mayor is seen painting a Black Lives Matter mural on Fifth Avenue in front of Trump Tower on Thursday morning The cancellations came as residents flocked to reopened Coney Island on Thursday - in a sign that the city hit hardest by coronavirus in its early months is finally seeing some normality Through September 30, the city will not issue a permit for any event spanning more than a one-block radius or that interferes with the Open Streets or Open Restaurants program. Speaking to CNN's Wolf Blitzer Thursday night, de Blasio explained why Black Lives Matter protests will be allowed to continue under the events ban Earlier, in another act of solidarity with the Black Lives Matter demonstrations, the NYC Mayor descended upon Fifth Avenue with a group of volunteers to paint a large mural of the movement's namesake on the road in front of Trump Tower Protests in the name of Black Lives Matter have occurred consistently in New York since the police killing of George Floyd on Memorial Day. An organization leader of the group Warriors uses a megaphone to address the crowds during a protest outside of City Hall on July 1 Protests in the name of Black Lives Matter have occurred consistently in New York since the police killing of George Floyd on Memorial Day The mayor announced the city would paint 'Black Lives Matter' on streets at locations around the city following the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police in May.