John,
Earlier this week, in a desperate attempt to get press attention for himself, Yonkers Mayor Spano joined a local radio show and launched a racist attack against Jamaal, the first Black person to represent NY-16.
During the interview, Spano insulted the civil rights movement and Jamaal's recent arrest while protesting the stalled voting rights legislation. He said "they should have arrested him..." for his recent vote to keep the President's full agenda together. This is an extremely troubling sentiment as Mayor Spano oversees the Yonkers Police whose duty is to protect and serve the community that Jamaal's family lives in.
John, we're only six days into the start of Black History month, and we're already seeing racism rear its ugly head, and here in our own backyard in Yonkers. This is the kind of rhetoric Donald Trump would use to instill fear in his opponents, and members of the Democratic party should be better than that.
Mayor Spano's words mean something — when he says that Jamaal should have been arrested, it is not just a comment, it's a threat and unfortunately a threat that far too many Black Americans have heard before.
The story of a white person threatening Black and Latino/a bodies with arrest is one that is all too familiar in this country. We have a history of police being weaponized against Black and brown men.
The Westchester Black Women's Political Caucus expressed, "It is extremely disappointing that the Mayor of Yonkers, a diverse community that includes a sizable and historical African American community, stooped to engage in hateful rhetoric to further his political ambitions."
The people of NY-16 deserve better leaders who bring us together, not follow Donald Trump's playbook to promote hate and division. Mayor Spano has hinted at challenging Jamaal's seat and our progressive movement in the upcoming election. If there's one thing NY-16 does not need, it's racism and carelessness for Black lives.
The only way we'll be able to fight back is by ensuring our movement continues to grow and gain momentum to withstand any obstacle that comes our way. Please consider supporting our movement with a contribution of any amount today so that we can maintain our progressive power and eradicate racism in our political institutions once and for all.
In solidarity,
Bowman for Congress
