The NYPD said at least 15 people were in custody early on April 22 in connection to a protest at a newspaper printing site in Queens, with unconfirmed reports a vehicle was driven through demonstrators.

Climate activists from Extinction Rebellion blocked the entrance to the site on the morning of Earth Day.

The activists said the act of civil disobedience was “intended to disrupt the distribution” of The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and USA Today. The papers were “failing to cover the climate emergency with the frequency it deserves,” Extinction Rebellion claimed.

The NYPD said the arrests came during what a spokesman called an “ongoing incident” at the New York Times plant in College Point. The spokesman said he was not aware of the specific allegation that a vehicle had been driven towards demonstrators.

An ABC 7 reporter on the scene said that delivery trucks were seen exiting the premises. Credit: Josh Pacheco via Storyful

Video transcript

- Come on, off the car, off the car.

- Why do you do that?

- Take it off.

- Oh, my god. This crazy man.

- You killed somebody.

- Anyone hurt?

- Who?

- Are you good?

- I want to go home.

- No.

- Turn it off.

- Are you guys OK?

- Yeah, good.

[INTERPOSING VOICES]

- We slipped to the gate when you drive-through.

- He drove right to you.

[INTERPOSING VOICES]

- Everyone except us, step away from the car.

- Are you OK?

- Yeah.

[CAMERA SHUTTERS]

- [INAUDIBLE]

- Are you OK?

- Yeah, yeah.

- [INAUDIBLE] the idea?

- Yes, I do.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

- You wanted [INAUDIBLE]?

- No, no. Thank you.

- Luckily I gotta--

[CAMERA SHUTTERS]

- Go anywhere.

- I think so.

- Yeah. everybody good?

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]