Transcript from Thursday, February 23, 2023: Mayor Adams Delivers Remarks Before Performance of "Parade"

February 23, 2023

Michael Arden: This is our third public performance with previews, and we were here a week ago. And we are so, so happy to be sharing this with you guys tonight. Thank you.

How many New Yorkers do we have here? And how many guests to New York do we have here tonight? We just want to welcome you. New York is an incredible place. We are proud to be a diverse, welcoming, loving city.

And we just started performances a couple nights ago. We had some people join us outside the theater exercising their right to free speech, and unfortunately, this was not the New York spirit we love. This was hatred. It was bigotry. And it was antagonistic. And it's not what any of us stand for. And we just want you to know how important you are as our audience here, and we welcome everyone to the theater. And tonight, we have a very special guest to continue that welcome. New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

Mayor Eric Adams: Thank you so much. And really, thank you. When you look over at the arc of our lives, it would be a person who sat down for a portrait, and he had a scar on his face. And he told the artist that, "I know you notice the scar. But remember, I have a face." And oftentimes, we really highlight the scars. The ugly act that took place here was just a scar. It wasn't our face. These are our faces. There's the beauty of diversity, particularly in a city like New York.

We have the largest Jewish population outside of Tel Aviv. We like to call ourselves the Tel Aviv of America. And when you come out and really cross pollinate the ideas and culture, that's the beauty and that's the symbol of New York City. I'm excited about tomorrow's and I'm excited about today's. And I just want to thank this cast for telling a powerful story. Leo Frank's story can resonate with so many people. And when we feel a fear, we send a message out there that this is not a place where hate lives.

We're doing something called Breaking Bread, Building Bonds throughout the city. A thousand dinners, 10 people at each dinner, all coming from a different culture and lifestyle. And they sit down and do something revolutionary. They're talking to each other. They're looking at the beauty and the lubricating value of a meal. I'm asking you to sign up for one of those dinners, host one of those dinners, talk about the play after. Tell another friend to come out and see the play, and really support this amazing cast. You make me proud to be a member of the greatest race alive, and that's the human race. Thank you very much. Enjoy tonight.