NYC Mayor-elect Eric Adams slams 'extremists' who vandalized Queens neighborhood to protest Rittenhouse verdict: NYPD charges five with rioting while one is arrested in Portland
Five people have been arrested and charged with rioting in Queens, and one in Portland, Oregon, amid national unrest over the jury verdict finding Kyle Rittenhouse not guilty.
On Friday night, a group of 40 to 50 'anarchists' tore through the quiet residential neighborhood of Middle Village, damaging property and ripping down American flags, officials said.
The middle-class neighborhood in Queens is known as conservative-leaning and sympathetic to the police, making it a ripe target for the ultra-leftist mob venting fury over the Rittenhouse acquittal.
In a visit to Middle Village on Saturday afternoon, Mayor-elect Eric Adams slammed the destructive behavior, saying that randomly targeting private citizens over political grievances is unacceptable.
In a visit to Middle Village on Saturday afternoon, Mayor-elect Eric Adams slammed the destructive behavior, saying that randomly targeting private citizens is out of bounds
On Friday night, a group of 40 to 50 'anarchists' tore through the quiet residential neighborhood of Middle Village, damaging cars (above) and ripping down American flags
'We're not going to live like this in New York City. And you're not going to have to live, walking home at night with someone trying to attack you. We're not going to allow these extremists on both ends to win,' Adams said, WABC-TV reported.
'We're going to win, this is going to be a safe city,' said Adams, a Democrat and former NYPD captain who surged to victory in the mayor's race with his tough-on-crime talk.
Arrested in the Middle Village disturbance were: Kyrk Freeman, 22; Charles Edmonds, 37; Jonathan Lefokowitz, 38; Daniel Wattley, 28; and Alexander Davis, 33.
All are facing multiple charges including riot, obstructing governmental administration, unlawful assembly, and walking in the roadway.
Police said that Lefkowitz was found in possession of a hatchet and hammer and was additionally charged with criminal weapons possession.
NYPD photos show that the mob targeted one car that had an American flag bumper sticker, blacking out the flag with spray paint and scrawling 'f*** you' on the vehicle.
'These are not New Yorkers. These are not our neighbors. They want to give the impression that the city is at odds and fighting with each other,' said Adams.
NYPD photos show that the Queens mob targeted one car that had an American flag bumper sticker, blacking out the flag with spray paint and scrawling 'f*** you' on the vehicle
New York City Councilman Robert Holden, a moderate Democrat who has often been at odds with outgoing Mayor Bill de Blasio, also slammed the Queens rampage in a statement.
'Last night, 40 to 50 anarchists dressed in black assembled at Crowley Park in Elmhurst and then entered Middle Village to vandalize and disturb the peace,' said Holden.
'These rioters vandalized property, tore down American flags, turned over garbage cans, jumped on and spray-painted cars, and blocked traffic,' he added.
Meanwhile in Portland, police declared a riot and arrested one and criminally cited another as a mob broke windows and scrawled graffiti in anger over the Rittenhouse verdict on Friday.
Elly A. Starling, 27, of Portland, was arrested on an open warrant during the riot, the Portland Police Department said. The charges were not immediately clear.
Alan J. Bordeaux, 44, was criminally cited for recklessly endangering after cops said that he shined a handheld laser at a police helicopter.
In Portland, the central police precinct was vandalized with graffiti on Friday night
Vandals also broke the windows of the city print shop on Southwest Madison Street
A patrol sergeant vehicle's rear hatch window was shattered as well
Portland police said they declared a riot after a 'violent, destructive group' began to breach the gate into the Multnomah County Detention Center.
Vandals also broke the windows of the city print shop on Southwest Madison Street between Southwest 2nd Avenue and Southwest 1st Avenue.
A patrol sergeant vehicle's rear hatch window was shattered as well.
Rittenhouse, 18, was acquitted on all charges on Friday after a jury accepted his claim that he acted in self-defense in opening fire during confrontations at anti-police protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin last summer.
He killed two and injured one, and had faced life in prison if convicted on all counts.
The case became a national flashpoint and ignited political passions, with conservatives hailing the teen as a champion of gun rights, and liberals denouncing both him and the verdict as racist.
No comments