New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio spoke at a memorial for George Floyd and was relentlessly booed, eventually giving up and yielding the microphone.
De Blasio, who has voiced support for police action in his city during the riots despite a history of contention with the NYPD, was not welcome from the onset.
Event organizer Rev. Kevin McCall introduced the mayor and his wife Chirlane McCray, pleading with the crowd to show de Blasio some respect, leading onlookers in a chant of the same word.
Immediately after the introduction, those in attendance were booing loudly.
“Again, again, again, we said respect! We said respect! Say it with me, respect!” McCall begged.
“Let us welcome, with respect, the mayor of New York City, Bill de Blasio.”
Crowd answers with loud boos at Brooklyn vigil for George Floyd. https://t.co/sRjzb8ejYu pic.twitter.com/nrNbNBa4Rl
— Dan Linden (@DanLinden) June 4, 2020
RELATED: De Blasio Hints Rioting Is Okay, Going To Church Is Not During Pandemic – They’re ‘Not the Same’
Universally Despised
Even prior to speaking, de Blasio’s arrival was enough to trigger memorial attendees as they shouted “De Blasio, go home” while he got up on stage.
The ire of the crowd seemed to dissipate as McCray took to the podium first, raising her fist and shouting “Power to the people!”
De Blasio’s speech contained all of the right keywords and phrases one would think would placate the crowd – “Black lives matter in New York City” and “change that you can see and believe.”
But they weren’t having it, drowning out his words with a chant of “Resign,” and calls to “Turn your back,” with many in the crowd complying.
Fox News and Deadline both reported that the mayor “gave up” after about 90 seconds of speaking.
Many in crowd turn backs on de Blasio. Wow pic.twitter.com/7Fo8HA6kHB
— Matt Troutman (@ByMattTroutman) June 4, 2020
Incompetence
De Blasio, for whatever reason, has tried desperately to play to both sides during the riots that have seen his city burn over the last several days.
He seemed to justify police action even though at many points during his tenure those same police officers were accused of racism by the mayor.
At the same time, he has justified violence in New York saying it’s understandable why people are rioting because of a history of racism in America.
De Blasio on why protests are allowed but not religious services or small businesses:
“400 years of American racism, I’m sorry, that’s not the same question as the understandably grieved store owner or the devout religious person who wants to go back to services” pic.twitter.com/TGxPAlcu6E
— Jewish Deplorable ?? (@TrumpJew) June 2, 2020
“When you see a nation, an entire nation, simultaneously grappling with an extraordinary crisis seeded in 400 years of American racism,” de Blasio lamented at a press conference.
An equally incompetent Governor Andrew Cuomo called the mayor’s handling of the riots a “disgrace” and suggested he has the power to “displace” de Blasio.
It looks like the people in this crowd would be completely on board with that move.
