Adams, clergy leaders continue to call for peaceful protests

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Mayor Eric Adams and more than a dozen local clergy leaders gathered at an anti-violence vigil Sunday in Bedford-Stuyvesant to talk about keeping New York City safe when it comes to protests.

“When I saw that video, I felt like it was a betrayal because these are the same men and women who fought to diversify police departments from all groups,” Adams said.

In Adams’ first public reaction since seeing the gruesome video showing Tire Nichols being beaten by five Memphis police officers, the retired NYPD captain-turned-mayor said New York City must remain dedicated to becoming in a city where fighting crime and fair policing go hand in hand. -hand.


what you need to know

  • Mayor Eric Adams attended an anti-violence vigil Sunday in Bedford-Stuyvesant hosted by more than a dozen local clergy leaders.
  • Adams, who is a retired NYPD captain, said New York City must remain dedicated to becoming a city where fighting crime and fair policing go hand in hand.
  • Adams said that when he saw the police body camera video, he felt it was a betrayal. She added that they are the same men and women who fought to diversify police departments from all groups.

“It’s not going to throw us off course,” Adams said. “If there is something that is going to give us energy to continue being firm in the mission that we have ahead of us to build a city and a country where security and justice can be achieved.”

Adams began calling for peaceful protests before the video surfaced Friday night.

“Let’s unite, let’s protest, let’s do it,” said Rehoboth Cathedral Bishop Gerald Seabrooks, “but let’s keep New York City safe. That is the message we want to give and we want to pray”.

While most of the protests in the city since Friday have been peaceful, the clergy leaders organizing the vigil noted the unique and violent scene in Times Square on Friday night.

A man was arrested after jumping on the roof of a police vehicle and damaging a windshield during the protest on Friday.

The actions at Friday’s protest were the kind of non-peaceful behavior that clergy leaders said they hope protesters avoid going forward with.

Their goal on Sunday was to remind and discourage anyone planning to protest in the coming days from committing violence that could result in bodily harm, vandalism, or other harm to local communities.

“The real question is why haven’t we been here before?” said Bishop Albert Jamison of Pleasant Grove Tabernacle. “I believe that the church must be at the forefront of this situation. The Bible commands us to be at the forefront.”

Clergy leaders who lent their support Sunday received Adams’ full support.

“I can’t thank you enough for coming out and just raising your voice in prayer for our city, for our country,” Adams said. “About how we begin the healing process after these painful encounters.”

Peaceful protests is what Nichols’ mother and stepfather had asked the public.

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