Neal Kwatra Breaks Down Why New York Protesters Are Turning Their Backs on Mayor de Blasio

New York City – May 26 2014: New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio speaking at the annual Memorial Day Remembrance ceremonies in Riverside Park

The city
of New York is giving its mayor the cold shoulder after an enforced curfew went
wrong in the eyes of the public last Wednesday. 

“The
most charitable assessment is that his mayoralty is currently on life
support,” said a former adviser to Mayor de Blasio, Neal Kwatra. Kwatra is the founder and CEO of MPS, a high-level
political consulting firm. Below, we share the events surrounding New York
City’s executed curfew and de Blasio’s denouncement:

Saturday,
May 30: 
Protestors gathered in
New York City to seek justice for the death of George Floyd, who was wrongfully
killed by police during his arrest. During nightfall, police reacted to
protestors by bulldozing through crowds with their patrol vehicles. The
incident created unrest for many, including multiple advisors who were in once
or are currently employed by Mayor de Blasio. These past and present staff
members openly expressed their lack of confidence in the mayor’s leadership
abilities. About four hundred of these individuals signed a public letter that
criticizes de Blasio’s policing strategy approach and requests a call of action
for the mayor to cut New York Police Department funding. This letter includes
snapshots taken from the Saturday when police plowed through the
protesters. 

Monday,
June 1: 
For the first time
since World War II, a curfew was enforced for the entire city to control
protesters and widespread looting and violence. Citizens were required to
reside in their homes from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Curfews are often looked to by law
enforcement as a worst-case scenario for attempting to curb violence or crime
that has gotten out of hand. However, the curfew’s implementation only
exacerbated the tension between police and the community they are supposed to
serve and protect. 

Wednesday,
June 3: 
After setting into
place an even more strict curfew that was in place from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., Mayor
de Blasio received a lot of criticism from the public as well as former
staffers and current council members for defending the police’s curfew
enforcement approach. Videos circulated on social media showing the police and
their actions against peaceful protestors as well as New Yorkers just trying to
get home. A recording revealed several officers utilizing their batons on
protesters. De Blasio claims to have not yet seen such footage. To add to the
unfortunate day, two officers found themselves wounded from a gunfight that stemmed
from an assailant stabbing a police officer.

Thursday,
June 4: 
Mayor de Blasio
started his morning at Kings County Hospital, having to address the incident
that resulted in two wounded officers in a press conference. Then, along with
his wife Chirlane McCray, de Blasio attended and spoke at a memorial for Floyd
in Brooklyn. The citizens of New York in attendance clearly expressed
disapproval towards the city’s mayor when he drew ridicule from the audience.
De Blasio received boos upon arrival as members of the crowd turned their backs
to him while even chanting “resign” and “I can’t breathe”
during his ninety-second speech.

About
Neal Kwatra

Since the
founding of MPS in 2013, Neal Kwatra has been at the forefront of the most hotly
contested political and advocacy campaigns in New York and across the nation.
Kwatra expanded the reach of MPS into the strategic management of nationally
recognized grassroots and issue advocacy campaigns, including the #FightFor15,
where New York became the first state to pass a $15 minimum wage.