July 4 mayhem descends on Washington Square Park as NYPD cops in riot gear enforce midnight curfew and kick ravers out NYPD officers were forced to remove rowdy revelers from Washington Square Park as they spoiled what was mostly festive July 4th celebrations in New York City For the second time over the holiday weekend, NYPD descended in force on the iconic Manhattan park as they attempted to squash another all-night rave Officers could be seen lined up underneath the arch at the park's north side off Fifth Ave ahead of the midnight curfew As the curfew approached, people reported hearing police sound a siren before officers moved into the park and forcibly moved the large crowd gathered there out of the area