Several protesters gathered with Georgia Congresswoman and Trump acolyte Marjorie Taylor Greene in Chinatown Tuesday morning to protest the arraignment of the former president on criminal charges linked to a hush money scheme.
Greene and the protesters gathered at Chinatown’s Collect Pond Park, just hours prior to Trump’s court appearance.
During the protest, Greene (who slandered Democrats as a “party of pedophiles” in her controversial “60 Minutes” interview on April 2) called out Mayor Eric Adams, who on Monday name-dropped her while warning protesters to “control [themselves]” as they protest Trump’s arrest.”
“To the Mayor Adams, as you can see, I’m sitting here peacefully protesting, but you called me out by name while you allow crime in your streets and you send your henchmen down here to commit assault against people,” Greene bellowed into a megaphone.
Contrary to her remarks, Mayor Adams and the NYPD have not allowed crime in the streets, and the NYPD has recently reported decreases in overall felonies. Adams also did not send any “henchmen” to assault people at the protest, though the NYPD was dispatched there to ensure the proceedings remained peaceful.
Protesters donning MAGA clothing and holding up signs told reporters that they are witnessing history in the making while defending what they claim to be true.
“It is a glim of justice, when you think of 2016. I have put my body in a position to stand here and bear witness to history. We have to defend our institutions,” said Tanya Kalmaovitch.
Public Advocate Jumaane Williams condemned the protest, noting that politicians like Trump and Greene — the latter of whom has called for a “national divorce” not seen since the Civil War — are upholding a system that upholds division.
“Marjorie Taylor Greene [and] Donald Trump represent the same iteration of the business that we’ve seen from the beginning of this country,” Williams said. “Anytime you’ve seen this country almost divided itself, whether it was the Civil War of slavery, whether it was segregation, whether it’s MAGA, it’s been the same thing — trying to uphold a system that divides and oppresses.”
Trump’s arraignment drew MAGA supporters as well as those who were there to condemn him. However, most were peaceful, with no major incidents reported.
Additional reporting by Lloyd Mitchell and Gabriele Holtermann.
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