NEW YORK (VINnews) — A prominent New York based Black Lives Matter activist promised rioting and “bloodshed” on the streets if Mayor-elect Eric Adams keeps is word to put the NYPD anti-crime units back on the streets.
Hawk Newsome, the co-founder of Black Lives Matter of Greater New York, made the comments on Thursday following a Wednesday meeting with Eric Adams together with other activists at Brooklyn Borough Hall.
“If they think they are going to go back to the old ways of policing, then we are going to take to the streets again. There will be riots. There will be fire and there will be bloodshed,” Newsome threatened. “There’s no way we’re going to let some Gestapos come in here and harm our people. We pray for peace, but Black opportunities prepare for the worst.”
BLM leaders in New York promised "riots" and "bloodshed" if Mayor-elect Eric Adams reactivates the NYPD’s anti-crime unit.
Look for the media to try and spin this as peacefully protesting… again. pic.twitter.com/bbjMrw7EGU
— MediaResearchCenter (@theMRC) November 11, 2021
Later, Adams reacted to the inflammatory comments, calling them “silly.”
“That’s silly. That’s silly. I think New Yorkers should not allow rhetoric like that,” Adams said. “This city is not going to be a city of riots.”
Furthermore, Adams said, the activists never even brought up the issue of the anti-crime units during the meeting, and were only taking the opportunity to grandstand after the fact.
Although the sit down was behind closed doors, the meeting was streamed live on social media.
“You’re holding me accountable? I’m holding you accountable,” Adams told the group during the meeting, according to the video. “You’re on the ground. Stop the violence in my community. I’m holding you accountable.”
Adams later reiterated that he intends to keep his word and reinstate the NYPD anti-crime units in order to curb the deadly gun violence that continues to plague the city.
NEW YORK – Black Lives Matter leader is vowing there will be "RIOTS" & "BLOODSHED" if Mayor-elect Eric Adams reinstates NYPD's PLAIN CLOTHES anti-crime unit.
(Need stop & frisk)BLM is a racist Terrorist organization that just threatened bloodshed on New York city!
Arrest them! pic.twitter.com/oTdzE1ZfxK— poetWOAgun (@poetWOAgun) November 11, 2021