The New York Police Department arrested a top BLM official during a recent rally. Authorities announced that they had apprehended Hawk Newsome, who is the co-founder of the Greater New York chapter of Black Lives Matter, at Sunday’s rally in Chelsea, New York.
The Founder of Black Lives Matter, Hawk Newsome, is seen arrested in this video with his hands up during a counter protest action in Chelsea, New York City today. pic.twitter.com/h6CR77mJlA
— Scootercaster (@ScooterCasterNY) November 1, 2020
The rally was marked by elevated tensions and fights between activists and the police. Some reports have claimed Newsome and the Greater New York BLM are preparing for a “bloodbath” of political violence if President Trump is re-elected.
New York police announced that they are working to prevent and minimize any potential violence.
Newsome’s Radicalism
Newsome is well-known for his radical views and promotion of violence in the name of his cause. In an interview with Fox News host Martha MacCallum, the BLM official spoke about burning down the system if he doesn’t get his way.
“If this country doesn’t give us what we want then we will burn down the system and replace it. All right. And I could be speaking figuratively, I could be speaking literally.
It’s a matter of interpretation. Like let’s be very real and observe the history of the 1960s. When black people were rioting we have their highest growth and wealth and property ownership,” Newsome said.
Another one of the BLM official’s more famous quotes from the interview with Fox News involved justifying looting as a form of reparations, acting as if stealing from high end clothing stores is a way to feed their families.
Newsome stated: “I don’t care if somebody decides to loot a Gucci or a Macy’s or a Nike because that makes sure that that person eats. That make sure that person has clothes. That’s reparations. That is reparations.”