New York City mayor Bill de Blasio planned a rally in Manhattan to denounce rising hate crimes in the city.
The rally began at 11 a.m. in the East Village, NBC News reports.
NYPD Commissioner James O'Neill said hate crimes are up 31 percent since 2015. Nationwide, the FBI reported a six percent increase in hate crimes in 2015, with hate crimes against Muslims up 67 percent.
Rally in Brooklyn Park Condemns Swastikas and ‘Go Trump’ Graffiti https://t.co/FJglWjx945
— Ori (@ecofinNYC) November 21, 2016
For example, swastikas and "Go Trump" graffiti were found in Adam Yauch Park on Friday.
#AlwaysNewYork pic.twitter.com/x5Rm0sFzLr
— NYC Mayor's Office (@NYCMayorsOffice) November 21, 2016
Excerpts of De Blasio's speech trended under the hashtag #AlwaysNewYork.
"Governments derive their power from the consent of the governed and we will not consent to hate." @NYCMayor @nycgov #AlwaysNewYork
— Deborah Marton (@DeborahMarton) November 21, 2016
De Blasio implied he would defy orders from Donald Trump.
Not a fan of DeBlasio, but he is NAILING this speech today.
— Carolyn Lanzetta (@CarolynLanzetta) November 21, 2016
He seemed to be winning over the crowd.
WATCH | Hundreds of protesters showed up at a similar rally on Sunday. The park was named for the Beastie Boys rapper who died in 2012; fellow Beastie Boy Ad-Rock spoke at the rally, calling the vandals' actions "messed up." (Video: Lety Flores/AP)
Gov. Andrew Cuomo has repeatedly insisted New York will protect minorities.
De Blasio met with Donald Trump last week to discuss human rights concerns and urged him to send a symbol of unity to the pro-Clinton city.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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