Eric Adams bravely advocates for NYC’s values in defiance of those who sow chaos
Mayor Adams’ remarks Wednesday, the morning after Columbia asked the NYPD to clear out the goons occupying Hamilton Hall, truly summed up the stakes.
He flagged how the protests, from the start, “just did not feel right” likely because of the presence (as in the 2020 madness) of “those who came to the city to disrupt our city.”
Whether he was talking about professional protesters like Linda Fithian or paid agitators like Manolo De Los Santos of The People’s Forum or the various Antifa types arrested Tuesday night inside Hamilton Hall, he plainly has the facts on his side.
And the values, too: “Young people are being influenced by those who are professionals at radicalizing our children, and I’m not going to allow that to happen as the mayor of the city of New York.”
Especially when “these external actors have a history of escalating situations and trying to create chaos. Not to peacefully protest, but create chaos.”
It was even more obvious at City College: “You saw bottles, garbage cans, the other items that were thrown at police officers.”
Bottom line: “They are attempting to disrupt our city, and we are not going to permit it to happen.”
True protest is welcome; “Free speech is the cornerstone of our society,” but: “There’s nothing peaceful about barricading buildings and destroying property or dismantling security cameras,” as in the Hamilton Hall seizure.
“We cannot allow what should be lawful protest to turn into a violent spectacle,” and so: “We’re proud to say they have been removed from the campus.”
A true patriot, Adams took particular pride in showing New York’s Finest restoring the American flag where protesters had imposed a Palestinian one: “That’s our flag, folks. You don’t take over our buildings and put another flag up. It may be fine to other people, but it’s not to me.
“My uncle died defending this country, and these men and women put their lives on the line. It’s despicable that schools will allow another country’s flag to fly in our country.
“So blame me for being proud to be an American. I thank [the NYPD] for putting that flag back up. We are not surrendering our way of life to anyone.”
Eric Adams really is of New York’s heart — in stark contrast to certain other local Democrats (think Jamaal Bowman, AOC, Mondaire Jones) who’ve mindlessly cheered the protests (creeping antisemitism and all), ignored the outside elements escalating them into chaos and condemned the NYPD for standing up for the rule of law.
However we may question some of his day-to-day decisions, this mayor shares the steadfast principles of everyday New Yorkers, and always rises to the occasion at crucial moments like this to give voice to what New York stands for. He’s “not surrendering our way of life to anyone,” and for that you have to love him.
