January 21st 2025.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams made a sudden change to his schedule on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Instead of attending celebrations in honor of the civil rights leader, he decided to travel to Washington D.C. for President-elect Donald Trump's second inauguration on January 20th.
The news was first reported by The Gothamist, who obtained the updated schedule from City Hall. It showed that Mayor Adams had canceled his appearances at the Brooklyn Academy of Music and Convent Avenue Baptist Church, both of which were planned as part of the MLK Day festivities.
According to Kayla Mamelak, a spokesperson for Adams, the mayor received an unexpected invitation from Trump's Middle East envoy in the early hours of Monday morning. As a gesture of goodwill, Adams accepted the invitation on behalf of New York City. Fabian Levy, the deputy mayor for communications, also clarified the situation on his social media account.
"In the early hours of Monday morning, the Trump administration reached out and invited Mayor Adams to attend the inauguration at their request. Mayor Adams accepted on behalf of New York City," Levy wrote.
He further explained, "As the mayor has stated before, America has chosen a new national leader, and it is our responsibility to work together towards a safer, stronger, and more affordable New York City."
However, this decision was met with criticism from Rev. Al Sharpton, a prominent supporter of the mayor. Sharpton, who has been compared to Martin Luther King Jr. for his activism, accused Adams of seeking favor from Trump, possibly in hopes of receiving a presidential pardon.
During an appearance on MSNBC, Sharpton expressed his disappointment, saying, "To say that you're not raising eyebrows would be dishonest. This is going to make a lot of us wonder what this is all about."
Just two days before, Sharpton had addressed Adams at a rally organized by the National Action Network to honor Dr. King's legacy. He warned the mayor about being manipulated by Trump and urged him to stand up for the interests of his people.
"Our elected officials need to talk to the president – I've got to walk on the president," Sharpton said at the rally. "But we need to be careful of those who will use our presence in a way that goes against our interests. We must not let them turn us against each other."
Sharpton then revealed that Adams had called him to ask if he should attend the event. "You come every year, and you have to come this year," Sharpton said, recalling his conversation with the mayor. "I don't know what Trump did to you down there, but if he did something, I can baptize you again. I might have to put you down in the water this time," he joked as the crowd laughed.
The news of Adams' absence at the Martin Luther King Day event in Harlem did not go unnoticed. Residents of the community criticized him for seemingly aligning himself with the incoming Republican administration.
New York Public Advocate Jumaane Williams condemned Adams' decision, stating that the mayor has consistently disappointed the people of New York City. "Just when I think I cannot be more shocked and disappointed with this mayor, he proves me wrong. While it is important to work with any administration to benefit the city, it is also crucial to stand against policies that will harm our residents. In that regard, this mayor has failed miserably," Williams told CBS News.
These events occurred amidst reports that President Trump was considering pardoning Adams in a federal indictment probe. The mayor has not commented on the matter, but his actions have raised questions about his relationship with the Trump administration.
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