It is obvious that you truly have no idea what you are talking about nor have you been inside of a NY jail in any capacity. The police dont keep people from making phone calls, despite your this isnt the movies line of reasoning. It isn’t a conspiracy to silence the protestors, I promise. I’m also sure they would have reported on that when they spoke to the reporter so we know they weren’t prevented from making phone calls due to any security reason or that would have been reported on as well.
As to your statement, yes, phones calls are subject to reasonable restrictions related to security but, No, they don’t arbitrarily prevent you from using a phone. There are actual phone kiosks in NYC jails. Hell, all jail phone calls have been free since 2019 (Intro 0741, pass by NYC council) from 7am to 11pm.
Then there is New York State Assembly Bill 2023-A6484that allows inmates in state and local correctional facilities to make free, confidential phone calls to attorneys and legal service providers.
Furthermore, Chapter 11-A, Part 2, Title H, Article 120, Section 90, Subsection 8 of New York Criminal Procedural Law is the literal law that entitles anyone arrested in the state of New York to communicate by phone. (Link)
In New York, if you are arrested or detained, you are legally entitled to a phone call. But please, go ahead and argue.
Dear Reddit users: downvotes because you dislike facts (with links to state sites) don’t mean anything on Lemmy. Sry, not sry.