STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Eric Garner Jr. has taken issue with comments made by a Black Lives Matter leader, who last week said there would be “riots,” “fire” and “bloodshed” if Mayor-elect Eric Adams goes forward with his plan to create a new NYPD plainclothes unit.
In remarks to the New York Post, Garner Jr. said Hawk Newsome should take back what he said.
“Hawk Newsome threatening to burn down our city in response to Mayor-Elect Eric Adams’s proposal of bringing back the anti-crime unit in plain clothes is an insult to injury to my family and the movement at large,” Garner said.
“On behalf of the entire movement, I must ask you to retract your statement and redirect that righteous anger to help all of us form a more constructive way of accomplishing our goals because, at the end of the day, we all we got.
“I will not let you or anyone else jeopardize our progress,” Garner added.
Garner’s father, Eric Sr., died in police custody during an arrest on Staten Island more than seven years ago.
Newsome declined to comment further, but told the Post in response: “God bless him and his fight for justice for his father.”
Adams had met with leaders from Black Lives Matter of Greater New York last week. Activists at the meeting disagreed with his plan to use plainclothes cops.
Portions of the meeting were live streamed on Instagram by an attendee. In a clip, an activist can be heard asking Adams: “What are you going to do to hold NYPD accountable for their unlawful actions?”
The former NYPD police captain fired back, defending his record.
“Brother, have you been living under a rock? I did it in the department,” Adams said.
The following day, Adams defended his stance during a CNN appearance.
“I made it clear on the campaign trail, I’m going to put in place, not the anti-crime unit, I’m going to put in place a plainclothes gun unit.”
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