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Minutes before federal prosecutors detailed an indictment Thursday against Mayor Eric Adams of New York City, the mayor convened his own news conference outside Gracie Mansion to denounce the charges and insist they would not distract him from managing the city.
But the extraordinary event was itself disrupted by protesters from the Black Lives Matter Greater New York group who shouted “abuse of power” and “you are a disgrace to David Dinkins,” the city’s first Black mayor, at Mr. Adams, the second.
The loud interruptions stood in contrast to those who stood next to the mayor in this time of crisis: Black members of the clergy, leaders of community groups and some influential mentors.
“Everyone who knows me knows that I follow the campaign rules and I follow the law,” Mr. Adams said during the raucous 20-minute news conference, held under a tent to protect against a light rain.
Mr. Adams said he had been demonized and urged people to be patient. “I ask New Yorkers to wait to hear our defense before making any judgments,” he said.
As speaker after speaker came forward to defend Mr. Adams and demand he receive due process, the mayor stood with a wide smile on his face.
“We are not surprised — we expected this,” Mr. Adams said. “The actions that have unfolded over the last 10 months, the leaks, the commentary, the demonizing. This did not surprise us that we reached this day.”
As the news conference ended, protesters broke into chants of “resign.” The mayor indicated that he has no intention to do so.
Mr. Adams’s supporters were upbeat, despite the indictment that accused him of taking illegal foreign campaign contributions and over $100,000 worth of undisclosed gifts and luxury travel benefits dating back several years.
“It’s one more battle we have to fight,” said the Rev. Herbert Daughtry, a civil rights leader and one of Mr. Adams’s mentors who recalled how he encouraged him to consider a career in public service by joining the Police Department. “We’re going to win this fight.”
Bishop Gerald Seabrooks, president of the United Clergy Coalition, who stood behind Mr. Adams during the news conference, said that the mayor was in good spirits.
“His mood is good, upbeat. We had prayer and we said, ‘Guess what? There’s a sovereign God who’s in control of everything,’” Bishop Seabrooks said.
But throughout the news conference, protesters made themselves heard.
Kathleen Callan, 62, a retired federal law enforcement officer, traveled to Gracie Mansion to watch the news conference and joined the crowd in the “resign” chants as Mr. Adams left the lectern.
“He’s done nothing for our citycrown89,” Ms. Callan said.
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