BLM NYC Leader Hawk Newsome Surrenders on Assault Charges, Compares Self to MLK Jr.

Walter 'Hawk' Newsome, leader of the Black Lives Matter chapter in New York City, turned himself in to authorities following allegations that he assaulted Manhattan Democratic District Leader William Allen during a protest concerning the withdrawal of funding from a local nonprofit. During his surrender, Newsome compared his situation to that of Martin Luther King Jr., highlighting his belief that he was fighting against "black faces of systemic oppression" and systemic racism. Newsome and his supporters denied the assault claims, stating there was no video evidence despite multiple cameras at the scene, and characterized the charges as politically motivated. The protest took place outside Councilman Yusef Salaam’s office, where tensions escalated after activists demanded accountability for the funding cuts. Tiffany Fulton, executive director of Silent Voices United Inc., the nonprofit affected by the funding withdrawal, condemned the political weaponization surrounding the incident. The clash has drawn attention to ongoing disputes within the community over local political and social justice issues.