After being recently indicted on federal bribery allegations, Mayor Eric Adams has surrounded himself with African American civil rights leaders, pastors, and grassroots organizers, which hasn’t come as a surprise to many Black New Yorkers.
Adams, a native of Brooklyn who went from the working class to the top political position in the city, is regarded as more than just the second Black mayor of the city. He is considered family by many.
- Advertisement -
“Four more years!” demanded a substantial group of Black church leaders who had assembled to pray for the mayor outside City Hall on October 2, 2024.
Adam addressed the group stating, “What I want in your prayer is to continue to lift me up, and this administration, with the strength to move forward.”
The mayor declared after his election, “This is what we fought for and many of you were part of the campaign.”
However, conflicts arise even amongst the closest of families. Black New York groups, government officials, and citizens have loudly called for Adams’ resignation in response to the five-count indictment. It’s also spurred discussions on whether to support a divisive individual who, in the eyes of many, is a turning point in Black representation in politics.
There is precedence in Black political history for Adams’ actions: a community-raised youngster who ascended to the highest levels of leadership faced legal issues for possible inappropriate behavior and then went back to the electorate to seek support.
Voters in New York elected Black leaders to a record number of municipal and state posts almost two years ago. Some Black leaders now fear that Adams’ indictment may taint the greater political representation that was attained. In addition to keeping people accountable to the communities they serve, this has caused many to struggle with their newly acquired representation and the possibility of losing it.
The National Action Network’s president and CEO, Rev. Al Sharpton, stated, “I think that as we achieve power, we ought to make sure we handle it in a way that protects the people that helped you achieve it.”
He noted, “But we also shouldn’t rush and throw everybody under the bus because of accusations.”
Having known Adams for over 35 years and counting him among the early backers of his civil rights group, Sharpton recently informed reporters that he has “never known him to do anything criminal.”
Adams has been charged by federal prosecutors with obtaining and accepting over $100,000 in lavish travel benefits and illicit campaign contributions from Turkish officials and other foreign nationals hoping to purchase his influence.
They claim that in return, he carried out official actions that helped Turkey, such as approving the construction of a consulate in Manhattan despite fire safety authorities’ protests that the structure was unfit for occupancy.
Adams is facing charges while federal investigators are working on several cases related to high-ranking officials in his administration, such as the brother of his former police commissioner, a consultant for his school’s chancellor and deputy mayor for public safety, and Tim Pearson, one of his closest confidants and top advisers.
The police commissioner, Edward Caban, and the chancellor of schools, David Banks, announced their resignations weeks before Pearson’s resignation. All have denied any misconduct.
Black also is the U.S. attorney Damian Williams, who filed the lawsuit against Adams.
The indictment of Adams, according to Michael Blake, a former assemblyman from New York and vice chair of the Democratic National Committee, was “a reflective moment” for the Black neighborhoods in New York and the Black political elite who supported Adams’ election.
Blake stated that “this cannot be the standard” and that “embarrassing” and “chaotic and unsustainable” feelings were expressed by elected officials he had spoken to.
In any case, Blake stated, regardless of the outcome of Adams’ criminal case, “I feel pretty confident that come January 1st, 2026, Eric Adams is not going to be the mayor of New York City.”
The former assemblyman is thinking of declaring for the mayoralty of New York City.
The question of whether Black leaders should push for Adams’ resignation is frequently discussed. Sharpton announced that he would be talking about it with other prominent Black New Yorkers shortly. To commemorate the historic participation in state and municipal government, the reverend has previously called a meeting with Adams, the attorney general of New York, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the City Council, and the Black district attorneys of Manhattan and the Bronx.
The belief that Democrats had lost ground in the midterm elections and that crime had increased was one of the reasons for calling the conference in December of last year. Sharpton declared that he would wait to decide whether to demand Adams’ resignation until after another meeting with that prestigious organization.
“We may feel he’s innocent but can’t run the city. We may feel he’s innocent and can run the city. We may feel he’s guilty,” Sharpton stated. “We need to talk.”
Still, some people aren’t holding out for Sharpton’s gathering.
New York City Council Speaker Adrienne E. Adams, a Black woman unrelated to the mayor, stated, “I ask the mayor to seriously and honestly consider whether full attention can be given to our deserving New Yorkers who need our government to be sound and stable.”
She described the mayor’s allegations as “serious” last week and expressed her “deep concern” about how Adams’ court fight might affect the city’s administration.
“Each New Yorker deserves a mayor who is dedicated to serving our communities, and who upholds the dignity and integrity this office requires,” Sen. Zellnor Myrie of New York State remarked. Referring to the indictment as a “sad day for the city, and especially painful for so many Black New Yorkers who put our hope and faith in this mayor.”
Representing portions of Brooklyn, Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, a member of the New York Assembly and the chair of the Brooklyn Democratic Party, stated, “I was a little shocked and didn’t understand why all of this was happening, quite frankly, to these heroes of ours. And the response that we got from many Black constituents asked, ‘Why is the government coming after Black folks.”
“We all know that an indictment is not a conviction,” Bichotte Hermelyn explained. She cited the proverb that was initially said by the chief judge of New York state: prosecutors “can indict a ham sandwich.”
“Adams represents a big political and empowered working class of Black neighborhoods, which is the foundation of his electorate,” Bichotte Hermelyn stated.
“People of color from all over, immigrants, women, and others came together when he ran in 2021. It was a very grassroots approach.”
Even if some of his fellow Black leaders are hesitant to endorse him, Adams said he is listening to the locals who want him to reject the calls for his resignation in the meantime.
Regarding the emails and remarks he has received on social media since his indictment, the mayor advised him to “stay the course,” Whilst avoiding being sidetracked.
