Transcript: Mayor Adams Calls In Live To WBLS 107.5 FM’s “Open Line”

April 30, 2023

Fatiyn Muhammad: ... We want to talk with our special guest that's traveling, traveling back into New York City. And that is the 110th mayor of the City of New York, Mayor Eric Adams. Good morning, Mr. Mayor. How are you this morning?

Mayor Eric Adams: Hey. Good morning, brother and Sister Jones. Good to speak with both of you. Last night we were at TheGrio and the White House Correspondents Dinner and so we headed back down now.

Muhammad: That's right.

Mayor Adams: The National Day on May 4th. And we are going to be holding a series of events and we're going to be asking no matter what your faith is for everyone to spend the day doing something that will really emphasize and lean into our faith. And we believe this is a time that we're dealing with the unseen. And as we cycle out of Covid, we're watching people who are dealing with many issues who are facing mental health issues as well as just some of the issues that are facing our children and young people. 

So we're holding a series of events throughout the entire city that day. Of course, the White House is doing their National Day of Prayer as well. But we're going to do things here in the city and we're going to make sure we really move people into a place of going inward and whichever faith they have to find a level of hope, of peace, and prosperity.

Jennifer Jones-Austin: Good morning, mayor. Good morning, mayor. You sound a little tired. It sounds like it was a good dinner. Hope that it was. So, one of the things that we appreciate about you is that you've let us know that your faith is a big part of who you are and how you move through the world. And so if you could just help us to appreciate how prayer is a part of your life and how it informs what you do.

Mayor Adams: So, so much, sister. And when you think about it, I say over and over again this journey, over 32 years journey, God has played a major role in my life and the life of my family. As a young man, as you know I had my trouble with the law as a child, arrested. I'm dyslexic, still dyslexic, and days have been rejected and I say all the time — now I'm elected to be the mayor of the most important city in the world.

And when I look at it, I see the constant presence of God, of how much praying through these difficult times. And when you deeply pray, no matter again with faith you may have, but when you do that you come in, a level of confidence and a level of security. And that has played such a role in my life. And that's why you see a steady hand as I navigate this ship out of the crisis we're facing. Because each morning, each afternoon and each evening, it's just about prayer. And I participate in levels of prayer throughout today because I know the challenges we're facing and it's crucial to me. It is, I believe, that which underpins me.

Muhammad: Wow.

Jones-Austin: Wow. Now are there any specific activities or is there anything on the nyc.gov website where people can learn more?

Mayor Adams: Yes. We're going to be listing on our website the various locations. So we're asking others to reach out to us and let us know what they're doing in their houses of worship so they can have an opportunity to celebrate and pray in any manner they want and create prayer lines. I have a prayer line. I know many people have prayer lines with friends and family. They wake up in the morning and they get online with others and they pray together. There's power in joint prayer. We have a large event at the Christian Cultural Center with Reverend Bernard, a number of synagogues, Sikh temples, mosques, and other churches. And so we're going to be listing different places where people can go in their own communities or in their own location if they don't want to come to the one major event we're hosting.

Muhammad: Wow. This is good. And before you came on, Mr. Mayor, we got a chance to talk a little bit about the history of National Day of Prayer there when it came into existence back in 1952 and how every other president since then, since Harry S. Truman has signed it. Every president has signed a proclamation moving forward. So we talked about that. Before we let you go, Mayor Adams. We lost two giants this past week. We lost Harry Belafonte, actor and activist, but we also lost someone, a giant here in New York City, and he's known as the attorney at war, Attorney Alton Maddox, a fearless fighter warrior and legal scholar that took all those to school in his classroom, which was the courtroom. And Attorney Alton Maddox, in the past, hee represented the family of Michael Stewart, a Brooklyn man who died while in the custody of the New York City Transit Police. Attorney Maddox was their attorney for Cedric Sandiford and the family of manslaughter victim, Michael Griffin.

And Griffin and Sandiford were the victims of a racially motivated attack in December, 1986 in Howard Beach, Queens. Michael Griffin died. Maddox also represented 15-year-old Tawana Brawley. He also represented Yusef Hawkins who was murdered in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn and Attorney Alton Maddox represented Reverend Al Sharpton where Reverend Sharpton faced a 67 count indictment where Reverend Sharpton was acquitted on all charges. Mr. Mayor, what is your reflection on Attorney Alton Maddox?

Mayor Adams: Well, both Attorney Alton Maddox and Harry Belafonte, they were not people that I read about, they were individuals that I knew. My relationship with Brother Maddox, of course, so far back in the part of a real freedom fighter. And I believe that when he lost his law license, we lost a real warrior in the courtroom. But he continued. Even without his law license, he continued to be an advisor on many legal issues and just had a real depth of knowledge of the law and how to use the law to fight on behalf of those who were unjustly untreated. He started so many movements and conversations throughout the year. And many people don't realize how much he has played a major role in the issues that they were facing in their lives. But he was a real fighter and we're going to miss him. That's a part of life as birth is a part of life. That transition happens. But in his time here, he was a real hero among many. And we'll be wishing him and his family just peace in this very difficult moment of losing this brother.

Muhammad: Wow. Okay. I really appreciate that, Mayor Eric Adams. Like I said to our listening audience, we doing a more in-depth conversation on Alton Maddox on Open Line online the second hour following Open Line. And coming up at 9:10, we have special guests, New York City Councilman Charles Barron and longtime political commentator, Dominic Carter. So they will be joining us on the second hour Open Line. Mr. Mayor, I want to thank you. I know you have a busy day ahead of you and that's what you ... You're not a spring chicken like we were when we were 18, 19 and able to hang out, come in late, and then get up at eight and keep rolling, brother. Got to get that rest.

Jones-Austin: I didn't say that. I didn't say that, Mayor Adams. I’m just glad you had a good night.

Mayor Adams: [Inaudible], I know you lost your life. My heart goes out to you. You have been just a [inaudible], brother, for so many years. When you lose your queen, it's a part of us. So you're in our prayers and I wish you well.

Muhammad: Appreciate that, Mr. Mayor. Thank you. Thank you for those kind words. Thank you. All right. Have a great day, my brother.

Mayor Adams: Okay. Take care.

Muhammad: All right. All right. All right.