Walter "Hawk" Newsome is an American law school graduate who co-founded Black Lives Matter of Greater New York alongside his sister Chivona Newsome.[1][2][3][4]

Biography

Newsome worked as a paralegal for the Bronx District Attorney's Office and also worked as a project manager at the law firm Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker. He unsuccessfully ran for a seat on the New York City Council from The Bronx, garnering around 3% of the vote on a platform Newsome said was "too radical". He subsequently co-founded Black Lives Matter of Greater New York with Chivona Newsome. Chivona later stepped down from the group to run for a U.S. House seat in The Bronx.[4]

In September 2021, Newsome called COVID-19 vaccine mandates "racist" and "discrimination."[5]

In November 2021, Newsome threatened "riots", "fire", and "bloodshed" in the streets if New York City mayor-elect Eric Adams reinstated the New York City Police Department's (NYPD) controversial anti-crime units.[3][6] Later, when asked whether he condemned riots and burning down buildings after a police use-of-force incident he did not approve of he said, "I’m not going to condemn, nor am I going to condone it."[7]

Newsome has filed two ongoing civil lawsuits against the NYPD, alleging that he was assaulted by police officers and falsely arrested during two separate protests in 2017 and 2018. A video posted by the New York Daily News shows a police officer punching Newsome before several police officers tackled him to the ground. Newsome was holding a sign that read: "Blue Klux Klan".[4]

Relationship with BLM

In June 2020, then-U.S. President Donald Trump described Newsome in a tweet as a "Black Lives Matter leader."[1] This description of Newsome prompted a response from managing director of the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation Kailee Scales, who stated that Newsome "has no relation to the Black Lives Matter Global Network", "is not the 'president' of BLM or any of its chapters.", and that his group "is not a chapter of BLM and has not entered into any agreement with BLM agreeing to adhere to BLM's core principles.", adding "The only official chapter of BLM in New York is Black Lives Matter NYC."[8][9]

Personal life

Newsome lives in The Bronx in New York City. He regularly attends Baptist service and smokes cigars. Newsome often wears a bulletproof vest and drives a rotation of rented vehicles for security and safety purposes.[10]

References

  1. 1 2 Wilkie, Christina (June 25, 2020). "Trump cranks up attacks on the Black Lives Matter movement for racial justice". CNBC. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  2. ↑ Pleat, Zachary (November 11, 2021). "Media mislabel an activist who spoke of "bloodshed" in NYC as a founder of Black Lives Matter". Media Matters for America. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  3. 1 2 Sommerfeldt, Chris (November 10, 2021). "Black Lives Matter activists threaten 'riots' if Mayor-elect Eric Adams reinstates controversial NYPD anti-crime units". New York Daily News. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 "N.Y. Black Lives Matter Leader's Law Degree Helps Him 'Cop Watch'". Bloomberg Law. June 13, 2020. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  5. ↑ Nerozzi, Timothy (September 22, 2021). "Black Lives Matter of Greater New York leader blasts vaccine mandates as racist and disrespectful". Yahoo! News. Washington Examiner. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  6. ↑ Anuta, Joe; Garcia, Deanna (November 11, 2021). "Eric Adams looks to quash spat with Black Lives Matter leaders". Politico PRO. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Dan Bongino interviews BLM activist who threatened 'bloodshed' clash over rioting: 'Answer the question!'". Fox News. November 14, 2021.
  8. ↑ Scales, Kailee (June 25, 2020). "For Immediate Release, Statement by Kailee Scales, Managing Director of BLM Global Network". Black Lives Matter.
  9. ↑ Place, Nathan (November 12, 2021). "'That's silly': NYC mayor-elect responds after Black rights activist threatens 'riots' and 'bloodshed'". The Independent. Archived from the original on May 9, 2022. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  10. ↑ Norman, Derek M. (October 2, 2020). "How a #BlackLivesMatter Leader Spends His Sundays". The New York Times.
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