Some New Yorkers are fighting to remove Eric Adams
Protestors and community organizers gathered outside Governor Kathy Hochul’s office on Friday, Feb. 21, demanding the Governor remove Mayor Eric Adams from office. Those gathered were particularly concerned by the alleged “quid pro quo” deal Mayor Adams struck with President Donald Trump—dropping the federal corruption charges against Adams in exchange for permitting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents into the Rikers Island prison complex.
The protest was organized in the 24 hours following an announcement from Governor Hochul about her plan for Mayor Adams.
“Governor Kathy Hochul just announced that she will not be removing Eric Adams from office and will instead be creating what she calls ‘oversight’ which is really a state power grab to give the mayor less power,” said Alicé Nascimento, a lead organizer with New York Communities for Change. “And you know, it’s kind of a cowardly move to not remove the mayor when it’s clear he’s corrupt and beholden to Donald Trump.”
Many protestors held signs reading “Cut the Strings,” referring to the puppet strings they believe Trump uses to control Adams.
“We don’t have an oversight problem, we have a mayor problem and his name is Eric Adams,” Nascimento said.
Protestors blocked the entrances to Hochul’s Manhattan office while NYPD officers tried to clear the sidewalk. After an hour-long standoff, protestors rushed to shut down 3rd Avenue.
An opportune pause in traffic gave organizers a chance to bring their banners into the street and redirect traffic.
The NYPD responded quickly, with officers dressed in riot gear arriving in minutes, ready to arrest protestors. In total, nine people were arrested.
Two of the organizers taken into custody spoke to City Newsroom at the beginning of the week, when New York Communities for Change held a protest outside City Hall demanding that Adams be removed.
“If Eric Adams is under indictment and under the control at this point of Donald Trump, he is not going to be able to act autonomously in the best interest of New Yorkers,” said Emily Skydel, an organizer for Food & Water Watch.
“New York City is being held hostage right now and we can’t afford a MAGA mayor,” added Santosh Nandabalan. “This is for immigrants, this is for healthcare workers, this is for teachers, this is for every day New Yorkers. Eric Adams just has to go.”
Skydel and Nandabalan vow to continue protesting until they see real change.
Madison Edward-Wright is an investigative journalist from Montreal. For City Newsroom, she covers local politics and takes particular interest in voting rights and government corruption.
