Q&A
Mastro's record on civil rights and public safety
1:05:13
·
3 min
Randy Mastro emphasizes his long-standing commitment to civil rights, constitutional rights, and racial justice throughout his career.
- Highlights his pro bono work, including standing up against federal authorities during racial justice protests in 2020
- Mentions his representation of Janet Morgan, a teacher fired for giving a class assignment on racism
- Stresses his dedication to public safety, including facing personal risks when standing up to organized crime
Randy Mastro
1:05:13
What should give you confidence and trust in me is that when I served in city government before, I put my life on the line for this city.
1:05:24
I face death threats from the mob, two and a half years of police protection, but it was the right thing to do to stand up to the mafia that had a stranglehold over the Fulton Fish Market and the private carding industry.
1:05:37
I personally lobbied a Republican Catholic mayor and a Democrat Catholic speaker to pass the most sweeping domestic partnership protections for same sex couples in the country.
1:05:50
You think that was easy, but it was the right thing to do, and we got it done.
1:05:56
And madam speaker, I I can only tell you this.
1:06:01
I have a long track record.
1:06:04
It's not a few years.
1:06:07
It's 30 plus years of standing up for civil rights constitutional rights, racial justice, when Donald Trump, Bill Barr, and other federal authorities tear gassed and rubber bulleted peaceful racial justice protesters in June 2020 in the wake of George Floyd's murder.
1:06:30
That was an atrocity.
1:06:31
I stood up for justice.
1:06:34
Pro bono.
1:06:36
Pro bono.
1:06:37
And we pushed back the administration and got the Biden administration to impose protocols so that something like that never happens again.
1:06:48
When Janet Morgan, who you'll hear from later, 30 plus years ago, got fired by the Malvern School District, forgiving her class an assignment on racism.
1:07:00
She'd been out of work for 2 years.
1:07:03
She had, you know, lost all of her money after mortgaging her home and her old lawyers were gonna withdraw.
1:07:09
I stepped in in 1990 to represent her Pro bono, we got her job back.
1:07:17
We got her back pay.
1:07:18
We got a ruling from the Commission of Education that teachers have a right of academic freedom on such subjects.
1:07:24
The 1st such ruling ever.
1:07:27
I've been doing this for 30 to 40 years, standing up for civil rights, constitutional rights, and racial justice.
1:07:35
I've been standing up for public safety to the point of literally putting my life on the line.
1:07:40
And my word is my bond.
1:07:42
And you were very wise to say before these hearings to the press that you should look at the overall view of my entire record, my entire career is standing up for those principles and the hundreds of hours a year that I've devoted to pro bono service and to community service like Citizens Union, the gold standard of good government, the legal aid society, matter speaker, I don't ask you to trust me.
1:08:10
I ask you to look at my entire record and ask yourself when you look at that entire record and decades of commitment to pro boner service and community service, And when you listen to the speakers who will be here today, people you know and trust who vouch for me, and I know you've spoken to them, people you wouldn't expect, people I've represented.
1:08:33
I represented Billy Thompson, Betsy got down, Bill De Blasio, Latisha James.
1:08:38
These are all people who respect and trust me so much over the course of my career that they entrusted their sensitive matters to me, and I handled them pro bono, and I got them results.
1:08:50
Madam speaker, I will be the best lawyer you've ever worked with.
1:08:53
Just give me that opportunity.
1:08:55
I implore you.
1:08:56
I pray you will.
1:08:57
I know and respect you, and I look forward to representing you have afforded this opportunity.
1:09:03
Thank you.
Adrienne E. Adams
1:09:04
Thank you, Mister Mastro.