New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio referenced the John Lennon song “Imagine” while explaining why he would not be decreasing funding for the city’s police department.
Protesters throughout the nation have been calling for reforms to policing to end racial injustice, and some believe that defunding the police could be a way to overhaul the system. During a press conference on Wednesday, de Blasio was asked about the policy.
“I don’t mean to make light of this, but I am reminded of the song ‘Imagine’ by John Legend. We played it at my inauguration. I think that everyone who hears the song in its fullness thinks about — what about a world where people get along differently? What about a world where we didn’t live with a lot of the restrictions that we have right now?” the mayor asked.
“But we are not there yet,” he said. “We are making progress, I truly believe. I believe the protest movements themselves, the peaceful protest is the essence of how we make progress. The reforms made within the NYPD are progress, deep progress. But for folks who say defund the police? I would say that that is not the way forward. At some point in our history, we may be in a different situation.”
De Blasio noted that previous overhauls of policing in New York City required more funding, not less. He argued that an emphasis on building relationships with the youth is the best way for the police to improve relations with citizens.
“All of these [reforms], I think, can be brought together in a very, very positive manner if we have some resources to work with. If we don’t, Gloria, it’s a very, very difficult situation. I am going to keep believing in New York City, believing in our people, believing the NYPD,” he said.
Many people mocked de Blasio for invoking the song “Imagine.” Some feel the song has been overused by politicians and celebrities, including a cringeworthy video from the early days of the coronavirus pandemic that featured celebrities such as actress Gal Gadot singing the song.
Gal Gadot right now https://t.co/K08WQatMR9 pic.twitter.com/xNwIoTA81W
— Steadman™ (@AsteadWesley) June 3, 2020
We are reaching parody territory here folks https://t.co/Mgk0D631x6
— Lis Smith (@Lis_Smith) June 3, 2020
I am continually staggered by how embarrassing it is to have Bill de Blasio as the mayor of New York City https://t.co/tihoRdX0ZN
— Pablo S. Torre (@PabloTorre) June 3, 2020
De Blasio has been criticized by many for his response to the protests in New York City. Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo said that the mayor and the police were “not doing their jobs” during the riots.
Protesters throughout the United States have been gathering to call for racial justice and policing reforms since the death of George Floyd. Floyd, an unarmed black man, died after being arrested by a white Minneapolis police officer who knelt on his neck.
