New York City's Black Lives Matter chapter leader faces a potentially tumultuous situation after turning himself in on charges of assaulting a Black man during a protest last week. The incident, which occurred at Councilman Yusef Salaam’s Harlem office, was part of a demonstration against the nonprofit leader having her community funding yanked.
Hawk Newsome, president of Black Lives Matter of Greater New York, drew comparisons to civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. while speaking to supporters before his surrender to police. He claimed that King faced similar challenges and was locked up 26 times for advocating for justice, saying, "Recognize this as a step in the right direction. Not only do we fight racism — systemic, Black racism — we fight the Black faces of systemic oppression."
Newsome's actions have been met with varying reactions from his supporters and critics alike. Some claim that the charges against him are "trumped up" and "politically motivated," while others argue that the protest was inciting chaos.
The situation has also sparked a debate about accountability and police violence within the Black Lives Matter movement. An executive director of Silent Voices United Inc., a group whose funding was recently cut, expressed disappointment and frustration with what she described as "political weaponization" in Harlem.
Meanwhile, Newsome's actions have raised questions about his leadership style and the impact that such behavior may have on the organization's reputation. As he faces charges related to assault, it remains to be seen how this will affect his role within the movement and its ability to continue pushing for social justice.
The incident has also drawn comparisons to another high-profile figure who faced similar challenges during their activism. In 2017, a photograph of Donald Trump was used as part of Black Lives Matter protests, with some critics accusing him of being complicit in police brutality. Similarly, Newsome's actions have sparked discussions about the role that prominent figures play in perpetuating systemic oppression.
Newsome's decision to compare himself to Martin Luther King Jr. has been seen by some as a strategic move aimed at garnering sympathy and support from his base. However, others argue that this comparison is misplaced, given the context of the situation. Regardless, the incident highlights the complexities and challenges faced by those involved in social justice activism.
The outcome of Newsome's case remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the Black Lives Matter movement will continue to grapple with issues of accountability, leadership, and the intersection of activism with systemic oppression.
Hawk Newsome, president of Black Lives Matter of Greater New York, drew comparisons to civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. while speaking to supporters before his surrender to police. He claimed that King faced similar challenges and was locked up 26 times for advocating for justice, saying, "Recognize this as a step in the right direction. Not only do we fight racism — systemic, Black racism — we fight the Black faces of systemic oppression."
Newsome's actions have been met with varying reactions from his supporters and critics alike. Some claim that the charges against him are "trumped up" and "politically motivated," while others argue that the protest was inciting chaos.
The situation has also sparked a debate about accountability and police violence within the Black Lives Matter movement. An executive director of Silent Voices United Inc., a group whose funding was recently cut, expressed disappointment and frustration with what she described as "political weaponization" in Harlem.
Meanwhile, Newsome's actions have raised questions about his leadership style and the impact that such behavior may have on the organization's reputation. As he faces charges related to assault, it remains to be seen how this will affect his role within the movement and its ability to continue pushing for social justice.
The incident has also drawn comparisons to another high-profile figure who faced similar challenges during their activism. In 2017, a photograph of Donald Trump was used as part of Black Lives Matter protests, with some critics accusing him of being complicit in police brutality. Similarly, Newsome's actions have sparked discussions about the role that prominent figures play in perpetuating systemic oppression.
Newsome's decision to compare himself to Martin Luther King Jr. has been seen by some as a strategic move aimed at garnering sympathy and support from his base. However, others argue that this comparison is misplaced, given the context of the situation. Regardless, the incident highlights the complexities and challenges faced by those involved in social justice activism.
The outcome of Newsome's case remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the Black Lives Matter movement will continue to grapple with issues of accountability, leadership, and the intersection of activism with systemic oppression.
... i mean i get where he's coming from but come on dude you got charged with assaulting someone during a protest that was literally about you losing funding 
... it's all about accountability and leadership now 
... can't have your org leaders acting like they're above the law while still pushing for justice 
... newsome needs to focus on the bigger picture and not just try to save his own skin 
. Meanwhile, 85% of people on Twitter are discussing the incident using hashtags #BLM and #Accountability 
. Did you know that the average protest in the US lasts only 45 minutes? 
On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being "he's guilty" and 10 being "he's innocent", people are averaging an 8.5 rating for Hawk Newsome before his surrender 
. The Black Lives Matter movement has been active since 2013 and has raised $40 million in donations 
. What do you think about the situation? Share your thoughts! 
like, dude made a mistake, maybe he got caught up in the heat of the moment? But for real though, if someone is gonna get charged with assault during a protest, they should probably think about the impact it could have on their org and the people they're trying to help 
. And can we talk about how Martin Luther King Jr.'s comparison just kinda... sidesteps the issue at hand? I mean, I get why Newsome was trying to draw parallels, but it feels like a stretch 
. We should be focusing on how this situation is gonna affect the movement as a whole, not whether or not Hawk Newsome is a hero 
, but can it when you're facing a storm? The question is, how do we navigate these choppy waters without losing our footing? It's easy to be a hero from the sidelines, but it takes real courage to take a stand and face the music head-on. The problem is, sometimes taking a stand means stepping right into the fray 
. Can Newsome find his way out of this storm or will he get lost in the process? Only time will tell 
.
. But at the same time, assaulting someone, even if it was during a protest, is never okay 
.
. If Newsome's actions are seen as representative of the organization, it could be super damaging to their reputation 
. But at the same time, if they can learn from this and use it as an opportunity for growth, then maybe it'll all work out 
.
! like he literally compares himself 2 martin luther king jr but its not even a fair compo since hes got charges 4 assault 
. i think its pretty sus that ppl are sayin the charges r "trumped up" or "politically motivated" tho... sounds kinda like they dont wanna hold him accountable 
. we need 2 focus on takin down systemic oppression n all that jazz 
. newsome needs 2 prove hes got the leadership skills 2 keep his org accountable 
. anyway, i'm sure we'll be seeing more updates on this as newsome's case unfolds 