New York City Mayor Eric Adams faced social media backlash on Wednesday for drawing a comparison between New York City and Port-Au-Prince, Haiti.
In a tweet amidst political unrest in Haiti, Adams stated, We call New York City the Port-Au-Prince of America. We feel the pain our Haitian neighbors feel as the situation grows dire. He added, To the people of Haiti and our own Haitian community here in New York City, know that we stand with you today and always.
Criticism swiftly followed, with one community member noting, Not one person has ever said this before Eric Adams.
Responding to the backlash, City Hall emphasized the mayor's intent to show solidarity with the Haitian community during their crisis, rather than focusing on the metaphor itself.
A city hall spokesperson, as reported by the New York Post, expressed disappointment in the media's emphasis on trivial details, stating, Its a shame that the Post is focused on a link to a Wikipedia page instead of Mayor Adams efforts to support those in Haiti and New York who are struggling.
New York City is home to a substantial Haitian population, with over 82,000 residents born in Haiti, according to the New York Post.
As chaos escalates in Haiti, the U.S. is deploying Marine Corps anti-terrorism units to safeguard its embassy. Former Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry's unsuccessful attempt to establish a transitional government culminated in his resignation.
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