Controversial BLM founder says 'riots are the voice of the unheard' before storming out of interview with Dan Bongino who called him a coward for refusing to condemn violence and bloodshed
A Black Lives Matter activist ended up walking out of an interview on Fox News on Saturday night after refusing to answer questions about rioting and vandalism linked to his group, and his promise of more riots in New York City if the incoming mayor doesn't cooperate.
Hawk Newsome, who is co-founder of BLM in New York City, was asked by host Dan Bongino for his stance on violence linked to the group's protests in recent years and a threat he made earlier in the week as he claimed new policing plans for New York City by incoming Mayor Eric Adams would trigger 'riots and bloodshed' in the streets.
'Do you condemn rioting and burning down buildings?' Bongino asked during the interview.
'No. What I'll say is, I understand when a police officer unjustifiably kills someone, why people lash out. I understand that completely,' Newsome said. 'I'm not going to condemn, nor am I going to condone it.'
Bongino did not appear happy with the answer and pushed once again, asking Newsome if his comment was 'cowardly.'
The two continued to butt heads, with Newsome at one point saying Bongino was 'trying to bait' him before removing his audio wire and ending the interview.
Saturday's interview came following a speech Newsome made on Wednesday outside Brooklyn Borough Hall, which saw him deliver some harsh words for the incoming mayor, should he go through with his plans to reinstate the NYPD's plainclothes cop units.
Hawk Newsome, right, who is co-founder of BLM in New York City was asked by Fox News host Dan Bongino, left, about his stance on violence linked to the group's protests in recent years
'If he thinks that they're going to go back to the old ways of policing, then we are going to take to the streets again. There will be riots, there will be fire and there will be bloodshed because we believe in defending our people,' Newsome told reporters earlier in the week
Hawk Newsome (pictured) told reporters last week 'There will be riots. There will be fire, and there will be bloodshed,' if Mayor-elect Eric Adams reinstates the NYPD's anti-crime units
'If he thinks that they're going to go back to the old ways of policing, then we are going to take to the streets again. There will be riots, there will be fire and there will be bloodshed because we believe in defending our people,' Newsome had told reporters.
Newsome told the New York Daily News Friday that he made his 'riot' comments because he was triggered by a question about plainclothes officers.
'It made me think about the death of Eric Garner, it made me think about the death of Breonna Taylor, it made me think of the death of George Floyd,' he told the Daily News in a phone interview, referring to three black Americans killed by cops. 'And to think that Eric Adams is legitimately wanting to put our children in danger — it scares me.'
Bongino who used to be a former officer with the NYPD and worked as a Secret Service agent asked Newsome a seemingly simple question about protests and rioting on the streets of NYC
On Saturday evening, Bongino - who used to be a former officer with the NYPD and worked as a Secret Service agent - asked Newsome a seemingly simple question about protests and rioting on the street.
'Do you condemn riots and the burning down of buildings after a police use-of-force incident you don't like?' Bongino asked.
'Dr. King said riots are the voice of the unheard,' Newsome said. 'It is a natural occurrence that people can continue to be oppressed, they will lash out. That's it.'
'Do you condemn rioting and burning down buildings?' Bongino responded.
'No. What I'll say is, I understand when a police officer unjustifiably kills someone, why people lash out. I understand that completely,' Newsome continued. 'I'm not going to condemn, nor am I going to condone it.'
Bongino did not appear happy with the answer and pushed once again.
'Isn't that cowardly? "I'm not going to condemn it, but I'm not going to condone it -- so I don't want to take a stand?" … You seem to talk a lot of junk and then when I put you on the spot you won't answer a damn question. Do you condone violence or you condemn violence? You're all over the place. Just condemn violence and burning of buildings down. How hard is it?'
BLM activist Newsome (pictured) said that Adams was trying to distract from the real issue by zeroing in on his threat
Thousands of New Yorkers joined by religious leaders and elected officials gathered at Brooklyn Borough Hall in June 2020 for a massive march over the Brooklyn Bridge into Manhattan, demanding Justice for all victims of police brutality making a loud call to defund the NYPD and invest in communities
Newsome attempted to make a counterpart as he compared the response of Black Live Matter protesters to that of the U.S. Government's approach following the 9/11 terror attacks.
'OK, so when Osama bin Laden attacked the World Trade Center, did you say America should deal with it peacefully?' Newsome asked.
'You're not answering the question, man,' Bongino jumped in. 'That has nothing to do with people burning down businesses in New York City. You're not gonna answer the question, Hawk...'
Becoming flustered, Newsome attempted a rebuttal. 'I don't condone it, I don't promote it, but I will not condemn it.'
'Man, that's just cowardly. That's just cowardly,' Bongino said responded, at which point Newsome pulled out his earpiece and walked off set ending the interview prematurely.
'You're trying to bait me!' Newsome said, before the camera cut away.
'You're trying to bait me,' Newsome answered, before removing his audio wire and ending the interview.
Newsome, a controversial New York figure who has labeled members of the U.S. government 'terrorists' because the 'government goes and pillages different countries,' on Wednesday slammed the mayor-elect's hard-nosed approach to bring back the units, which were disbanded in 2020 at the height of the violent BLM protests.
When the BLM leader asked during their sit-down if the stop-and-frisk is coming back, the mayor-elect responded: 'Stop-and-frisk never went away, brother.'
'It’s about bringing back a sense of protection in our city and not the disorder we feel at this time,' Adams had said earlier this month prior to being elected, regarding his plan to clean up the city streets - which have seen an influx of violent crime since the start of the pandemic.
Newsome told attendees outside Brooklyn Borough Hall on Wednesday that if Adams brings back the axed units, history will be doomed to repeat itself.
Speaking after the sit-down to the New York Post, Newsome said: 'To ignore that history and say you're bringing it back means that he's tone deaf.'
He also told the New York Daily News: 'There is no way that he is going to let some Gestapo come in here and harm our people. We pray for peace but ... prepare for the worst.'
Adams, a moderate candidate, defeated progressive rivals in June's Democratic primary on a law-and-order ticket, pledging to crack down on violent crime that has soared in New York City since the coronavirus pandemic.
However, on the campaign trail last year, he was criticized by progressive candidates for vowing to reinstate the anti-crime unit.
Chivona Newsome, a BLM co-founder and sister of Hawk Newsome, made similar threats should the unit be brought back.
'We will shut the city down. We will shut down City Hall, and we will give him hell and make it a nightmare,' she said.
New York BLM co-founder Hawk Newsome, pictured during an NYC press conference in September 2021, has threatened 'riots' and 'bloodshed' in the streets if Mayor-elect Eric Adams reinstates the NYPD's anti-crime units
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