Mayor Bill de Blasio on Wednesday ripped protesters who vandalized buildings in Lower Manhattan — including one named after the city’s first and only black mayor, David Dinkins — saying they’re “degrading their own movement.”
“A protester who says vile, nasty things to a police officer is degrading their own movement,” said de Blasio, who worked in the Dinkins administration.
“A protester who writes nasty, violent phrases on a public building is degrading their own movement — especially a public building named after our first African American mayor.
“I mean, get it together, people. If you want to protest for change, do it in a peaceful, respectful manner.”
Vandals have scrawled anti-cop graffiti on several city buildings — including 31 Chambers St., which houses Manhattan Surrogate’s Court and other city agencies, and 1 Centre St., a massive, 40-foot structure also known as the David N. Dinkins Municipal Building.
Anti-cop vitriol, including “F–k 12” and “ACAB,” short for “All cops are bastards,” was spray-painted in black at 1 Centre around a plaque bearing Dinkins’ name.
Dinkins, 92, remains the city’s first and only black mayor, serving one term from 1990 to 1993.
De Blasio renamed 1 Centre St. after his former boss in 2015.
Additional reporting by Joe Marino


