Mayor Bill de Blasio was met with hostility today, at a memorial for George Floyd in Brooklyn.
New York City Mayor, at his first appearance in person before protesters who have been marching in New York City’s streets for a week was jeered. The scene unfolded in Cadman Plaza in Brooklyn, where the night before the NYPD clashed with demonstrators who had remained there past the curfew.
The demonstrators chanted “resign” and “I can’t breathe” and used a profanity to decry the 8 p.m. curfew that was imposed by New York City Mayor
At his Speech Mr. Bill de Blasio said,
“For all of us who know white privilege, we need do more, because we don’t even fully recognize the daily pain that the racism in this society causes.”
But after struggling to be heard, the mayor quickly cut off his remarks.
The mayor was introduced by his wife, Chirlane McCray. A local pastor raised a peace sign to the crowd, urging that the mayor be given a chance to speak at the memorial where Mr. Floyd’s brother Terrence spoke.
Wearing a face mask bearing an image of his brother, and a Yankees cap, Mr. Floyd’s brother, Terrence Floyd said:
“`I want to thank God. It wasn’t his fault. It was his will. I thank God for you all showing love to my brother.”
But he also criticized some of the violence that has broken out at some protests.
“I’m proud of the protest, but I’m not proud of the destruction. My brother wasn’t about that.”
After the memorial ended, thousands of those gathered left Cadman Plaza and marched across the Brooklyn Bridge into Manhattan. In previous evenings that was stymied when police refused to allow protesters to go between boroughs.
By Alex Ammohostianos