Transcript: Mayor Adams Delivers Remarks at Flag-Raising Ceremony for Pakistan

August 14, 2024

Consul General Aamer Ahmed Atozai, Consulate General of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in New York: Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem, respected mayor, Eric Adams, my dear friend, commissioner, International Affairs, Mayor's Office, Edward Mermelstein, my dear friends from the American Pakistani Advocacy Group: Ali Rashid, Amin Ghani, Naveed [Bhai,] first of all, happy Independence Day. 

Ladies and gentlemen, today is a highly momentous day in our history, in our national history. Today is the day when we were able to carve a country out for us, so that we can live in liberty, peace, and with the values of justice and compassion. Having gotten our country, I think this day reminds us to think about the ideals and vision which compelled our founding fathers, that why did they think about creating a separate homeland for them. As an instance, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father, had a motto for this country which was unity, faith, and discipline. I personally understand and believe, I have my conviction in this, that brought together all these values, they can turn into a very strong foundation for building the superstructure of any society, nation, or any country. 

We need to realize as to why we have a separate homeland. That is highly important. Secondly, I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to the American Pakistani Advocacy Group for having always been there to assist the community, their welfare services to the Pakistani community and any community during COVID and otherwise. They are highly appreciable, they need to be commended for that, so please give them a big round of applause. I would also like to thank them for always being there and never missing an opportunity to bring the two countries closer, to act as a bridge between Pakistan and the United States of America, always on the move to explore new horizons and frontiers of cooperation between Pakistan and the United States of America. We take high pride in that and we are highly proud of you, and we are also proud of you ladies and gentlemen for being outside Pakistan, but Pakistan lives inside you. 

And today's event is highly indicative and reflective of your love and passion for Pakistan. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Mayor's Office for International Affairs, my dear friend, Commissioner Edward Mermelstein, for always being there, not just for the consulates, but also for all the community organizations, irrespective, I've seen him working not just, he's not involved just with the Pakistani organizations, but everyone. He's always accessible and for being part of this event, for having assisted the APGA in organizing this event, so a big round of applause for him. I would also like to thank Attia, [Asim Saab, and Adeel Saab] who was just here, and all other very respectable friends, and specifically Mayor Eric Adams for taking hiss time out of his busy schedule, who also happens to be my neighbor, by the way, but for coming here and celebrating Pakistan with us, celebrating our values with us, which are the same. Equal justice, liberty, global peace, and human rights. I thank you all, ladies and gentlemen, Allah Hafiz.

Commissioner Asim Rehman, Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings: Good afternoon, everyone, As-salamu alaykum. My name is Asim Rehman, I'm the commissioner and Chief Administrative Law Judge at OATH. What that means is I run a city agency, and when you run a city agency, you know that it takes a lot to get things done. So I want to express my thanks to APAG and all the members of City Hall who worked hard to get today's event together, but also a thanks to all the people who you don't see up here, the people behind the cameras, the people back at City Hall, in the offices, who are contributing to helping events like this come together. Without their help, we can't do things like this. 

It is a real joy to be here with all of you celebrating Pakistan's independence, because if I can't be in Pakistan celebrating today, I want to be in New York celebrating today. There's no place I'd rather celebrate Pakistan's independence than in New York City, because New York is a home to so many people of Pakistani origin. Because New York is a place where Pakistani culture can flourish and thrive, and where we celebrate it. Because New York is a place where we welcome all people, all cultures, all languages, all faiths, all points of view. And because New York is a place where you can get involved, and you can get involved in government. And that means that you have so many Pakistani Americans, like myself, like Sister Attia, like Sister Ahsia, and many more people who you don't see, who are back in their offices, who are members of the Pakistani community, who work for the City of New York, who are public servants working for you, and I'm proud to be one of them. That happens in a city like New York. 

And speaking of this city, it is a true privilege of mine to introduce you to the leader of our city, an old friend of the Pakistani community here in New York City, a leader who understands that New York's diversity is our strength, and a leader who keeps coming back to this spot to raise the flag of Pakistan. Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in welcoming the city's 110th mayor, Mayor Eric Adams.

Mayor Eric Adams: Thank you so much, commissioner. And we like to say that New York is the Islamabad of America, you know. This community I knew so well from my days of being Brooklyn borough president and watching the strength and resiliency along Coney Island Avenue, along McDonald Avenue, and just watching what's happening from Little Pakistan in Brooklyn to—and Queens, and the growth of this community. 

You believe in those things that many immigrant communities believe in. You believe in family, you believe in faith, you believe in small business, and you believe in public safety. And as you watch the immersion and the growth of the men and women in the New York City Police Department that are from the Pakistani community, you're seeing how much you have fully integrated in what this city is about. And I think the commissioner is right. This country, you do not have to abandon your motherland to embrace your adopted land. In fact, we ask just the opposite. We ask that you hold on to your culture, your food, your song, your dance, your dress. Everything that you brought from your motherland, we want to incorporate into America. That's what American energy and spirit is about. 

And I'm so happy to be here with the consul general as he sees the infusion of the energy of the Pakistani community that's here in New York City. And it took 109 mayors before it was acknowledged that this community should have its flag raising here at Bowling Green, the center of our financial strength. I wanted to make sure, as the mayor, not only am I going to be substantive of bringing down crime, educating our children, building housing, and making the city affordable and livable, but I want to be symbolic, the symbolism that comes with raising your flag here today. It is our way of saying, we see you, we notice you. 

We notice you from every aspect, from your mosque. We notice you from how you walk the streets. We notice you, and you are part of the fabric of the city, and you're joined by many of the other immigrant groups that came here to pursue the American dream. Only country on the globe where dream is attached to its name. It's a real dream, and we should never deny anyone any aspect of being able to achieve that. It doesn't matter if you're in a Baptist church, a synagogue, a mosque, a Buddhist temple, no matter where you pray or if you don't pray. This is a city that is inclusive to everyone. 

So 77 years of your rich independence, we're highlighting that today when we raise the flag here in a place that you call home. Thank you so much. As-salamu alaykum to you.

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