Q&A
1992 police riot and Giuliani's involvement
2:27:17
·
159 sec
Council Member Hudson provides a detailed account of the 1992 police riot at City Hall, highlighting Rudy Giuliani's involvement. She then questions Mastro about his role and views on the incident.
- Hudson describes the riot as racist and violent, with off-duty police officers assaulting reporters and bystanders
- She emphasizes Giuliani's participation in leading chants during the riot
- Mastro denies involvement, stating he wasn't part of Giuliani's campaign until 1993
Crystal Hudson
2:27:17
Let's start in 1992.
2:27:19
That year, Rudy Giuliani was in the midst of his first campaign for mayor in the lead up to the 1993 election on September 6 1992.
2:27:28
Mister Giuliani attended a protest at city hall organized by the police benevolent association.
2:27:34
The PBA was protesting mayor Jenkins push for the civilian complaint review board to be comprised of all civilians as well as the Mullen Commission that was investigating allegations of widespread corruption in the NYPD at that time.
2:27:47
The protest turned into a riot when 10,000 mostly white off duty police officers stormed surrounded and occupied city hall.
2:27:55
The rioters then marched to the Brooklyn bridge where they blocked traffic, jumped on cars, and frightened motorists.
2:28:01
Reporters and bystanders were violently assaulted by the rioters, many who were carrying guns and drinking alcohol.
2:28:07
It was one of the largest riots in our city's history.
2:28:11
The riot was also filled with overt racism.
2:28:14
Newsday described some of the racist conduct noting that, quote, the cops held up several of the most crude drawings of Dickens, Black, performing perverted sex acts, end quote.
2:28:25
Another officer shouted that, quote, now you got an n word right inside city hall.
2:28:30
How do you like that?
2:28:31
An n word mayor, end quote.
2:28:33
There were chance of, quote, the mayor's on crack, end quote, and signs calling the city's first black mayor a, quote, washroom attendant, end quote.
2:28:43
In the middle of this chaos, Mister Giuliani stood on a flatbed truck with a bullhorn and lead chance.
2:28:49
Mister Giuliani act the anti corruption commission, which he said was solely created, quote, to protect David Jenkins' political ass, end quote.
2:28:58
The NYPD had to send officers to stop the riot.
2:29:02
When arriving at the scene at some point, was then police officer are Eric Adams as a non participant in the riot.
2:29:08
Adams told reporters that the riot was, quote, right out of the 19 fifties, a drunk racist lynch mob storming city hall and coming in here to get themselves an n word, end quote.
2:29:19
Mister Giuliani's pivotal role in this racist riot was widely reported at the time, and I'll include in the record for this hearing those articles.
2:29:28
Mister Mastro, you served as Mister Giuliani's counsel for that campaign.
2:29:32
What role did you play in his participation in that riot?
2:29:36
And did you condemn these remarks and racist rhetoric then, and do you now?
Randy Mastro
2:29:44
None.
2:29:45
I wasn't involved in his campaign until 1993, and that does not reflect my values or anything I ever would have done or said.