Black Lives Matter leader vows 'riots,' 'fire,' and 'bloodshed' if incoming mayor resurrects anti-crime unit. Eric Adams fires back.

A Black Lives Matter leader is vowing there will be "riots," "fire," and "bloodshed" if New York City Mayor-elect Eric Adams resurrects the NYPD's controversial anti-crime unit. Another BLM head threatened to make Adams' time as NYC mayor a "nightmare."

Adams granted a meeting on Wednesday to Black Lives Matter activists, including Hawk Newsome – the co-founder of Black Lives Matter of Greater New York. The meeting was held behind closed doors inside the Brooklyn Borough Hall, but the 30-minute meeting was recorded and shared on Instagram by an attendee, according to the New York Daily News.

Newsome informed Adams, "We're not a traditional black social justice organization, we are more on the line of the Black Panthers."

Newsome told Adams that his organization would hold the mayor-elect responsible for any misconduct by NYPD.

Adams responded, "You're on the ground. Stop the violence in my community. I'm holding you accountable. Don't hold me accountable."

Adams then listed his resume to the group, "Being the mayor, being the borough president, being the state senator — I put my body on the line for my community, so I'm not here for folks to come and say, 'Eric, we're gonna hold you accountable.'"

He rebutted, "No, it's us. We need to do this together."

Adams again flaunted his experience as an NYPD captain and Democratic politician, "The same things I've been doing over the past 35 years I'm going to continue to do, and maybe you should look at those things I have done."

Adams said, "I am not changing who I am. I'm going to begin the way I am; I'm going to leave the way I came in."

Despite being granted a lengthy conference with the mayor-elect, members of Black Lives Matter of Greater New York were unsatisfied with Adams.

Chivona Newsome — co-founder of Black Lives Matter of Greater New York — said when politicians meet black people "they shuck, they jive, they use rap quotes" without providing a "crystal-clear agenda."

"It's pretty much however Eric Adams wants to go about it, that's how Black Lives Matter of Greater New York will address the problem," Newsome stated. "If he wants to see the city in an uprising, we can give him that. If he wants to end poverty ... we're here for that as well."

Newsome also pointed out that she was "the only woman in the room" and hinted that Adams may have dismissed her because of "misogyny or ageism."

Hawk Newsome — Chivona's brother — said after the meeting, "If they think they are going back to the old ways of policing, then we're going to take to the streets again."

"There will be riots. There will be fire, and there will be bloodshed," he threatened. "There's no way we're going to let some Gestapos come in here and harm our people. We pray for peace, but black opportunities prepare for the worst."

"We have people in city council who can create problems for him," Newsome said. "We have people in the streets who can create problems for this administration by shutting it down."

Newsome said he wasn't "threatening anyone," but claimed there would be a "natural response to aggressive oppression" where "people will react."

"We'll Shut The City Down" - BLM meets with NYC Mayor Elect Eric Adamswww.youtube.com

Adams doubled down on his campaign promise to reactivate the NYPD's anti-crime units. During a Thursday appearance on CNN, Adams was asked about Newsome's messaging against the anti-crime unit.

"I made it clear on the campaign trail," Adams said. "I'm going to put in place a plainclothes gun unit. We must zero in on gun violence in our community. That was my promise, and I'm going to keep it."

Adams told WNYW that the group didn't mention any threats, "They didn't say any of that in the meeting."

"They know who I am, I ran on a very clear message: my city will not be unsafe," Adams continued. "I said it before and that is what I am going to continue to say. That is what I promised to New Yorkers, and that is what I'm going to deliver on."

In June 2020, New York Police Department disbanded its anti-crime unit. The anti-crime unit was involved in high-profile police shootings, including the deaths of Amadou Diallo, Sean Bell, and Eric Garner. Crime skyrocketed as much as 200% in the weeks following the disbanding of the anti-crime unit.