A key moment emerged at the Brooklyn memorial service for Mr. Floyd last week, when Mr. Williams criticized the governor and mayor for prioritizing the safeguarding of property over protecting black New Yorkers. As a New York City councilman, Mr. Williams co-sponsored legislation that helped create an inspector general for the New York Police Department. He then ran a spirited primary campaign for lieutenant governor in 2018, losing to the incumbent, Kathy Hochul, by less than seven percentage points. Mr. Williams’s rise comes at a peculiar time in the mayoral race: For months, the city was locked down because of the coronavirus pandemic. Then protests erupted, sending thousands of New Yorkers into the streets, filled with pent-up energy and a desire for change.

Source: New York Times June 11, 2020 19:52 UTC