Brooklyn Borough President and mayoral hopeful Eric Adams condemned the recent attack against NYPD officers in his acceptance of several endorsements from organizations representing cops and firefighters on Sunday.
Speculating that the chemical and Molotov cocktail attacks allegedly orchestrated by Lionel Virgile, 44, a resident of Bridgeport, Connecticut, on Saturday were an attempt at vigilante justice for a recent spate of deaths in black communities by police officers nationwide, Adams went on the offensive about non-New York City residents taking issue with NYPD.
“I denounce the attacks by police officers that took place these last few days, [but] you don’t fight for justice by throwing Molotov cocktails and throwing acid in the face of offices, that is not justice. Justice is in the courtroom, not on the streets. You don’t replace tyranny, with tyranny,” Adams said. “We believe the Floyd trial is important. We believe that the officers should be found guilty. We believe anyone who abuses their authority should be held accountable. But there’s a process, the city will not go into anarchy from those who come to the city and attempt to hurt our city. That is unacceptable.”
Adams, a former NYPD officer, backed police officers in New York City by emphasizing the work law enforcement does investigating hate crimes and arguing that members of FDNY in return for the endorsements from Vulcan Society, The Grand Council of Guardians and the National Latino Peace Officers Association NY Charter.
Virgile is expected to appear before the U.S. District Court in Brooklyn on April 19 for arraignment on federal charges and may face charges for possession of a weapon of mass destruction.
The attack with caustic liquid occurred in the 67th Precinct in East Flatbush near Clarendon Road and East 45th Street during a traffic stop before the suspect fled and threw a Molotov cocktail at an NYPD cruiser near Snyder Avenue and East 56th Street.
According to NYPD, none of the officers involved were injured and Virgile had been taken into custody without further incident after being boxed in.
