((OP-ED) Unveiling The Hypocrisy: Media’s Double Standards in Calling for NYC Mayor to Resign

Mayor Eric Adams of New York should not be prematurely punished nor forced to resign by politicians, government officials, media operatives, or anyone else until due process is served and the said process proves guilt in a court of law. 

Meanwhile, per the U.S. Constitution, Adams is to be presumed innocent until fair and impartial due process proves otherwise, per the 5th and 14th Amendments. 

Why should the Mayor of New York be asked to resign based on one indictment when the former U.S. President and 2024 candidate for U.S. President – Donald J. Trump has nearly 100 indictments?  

The New York Times calls for the mayor to step down, which is unconstitutional and adds to the challenges these allegations and the subsequent investigation will necessitate. It is not the fault of the Respondent (Mayor) if allegations or pending charges that have not been tried in a court of law add difficulties to the job at hand and thus should not be made a reason to resign until the said charges are proven.   

Now, even if convicted, the handling of Trump’s convictions has set a new precedent for those who hold an elected office.

Why should the Mayor of New York resign based upon allegations of fraud and charges that are pending without a verdict when Trump is, in fact, a fraud and has been CONVICTED 34 times subsequently – all FELONY CONVICTIONS?

Additionally, Trump was IMPEACHED TWICE from the office where he was allowed to continue serving and seeking the nation’s highest political office – the U.S. Presidency, as we speak.

This begs the question, Why do Americans and mainstream media keep acting as if Trump should be able to get away with murder? At the same time, all Black and certain other elected officials are being held to a different standard in the same country, under the same constitution? 

Therefore, this is a call for the nation and investigative media to stop accepting and being complicit in these blatant double standards NOW.  

In short, if Trump is not systematically forced to resign, no one else should be made to resign from a political office.  Until Trump, who has been multiple times convicted for fraud, goes to jail, no Black man on American soil should be sent to prison for alleged fraud.  

In fact, I see no media or pundits questioning whether Trump, who was impeached twice (one which included the incitement of a violent insurrection that ultimately caused multiple deaths, $2.7 billion in damages, and a direct attack on voting and democracy) and later convicted by 34 felonies while not serving as president, should even be eligible for reelection,  presidential benefits, and immunity.

If Trump could continue carrying out his countless duties and serving in the nation’s highest and most demanding office while having nearly 100 indictments, almost 30 pending complaints of sexual misconduct, two impeachments, and then running for reelection in 2024 with an additional 34 felony convictions, and a $5 million lawsuit for sexual assault where he was held libel – why do we think the Mayor is incapable of dealing with his need to address his far fewer (than Trump’s) charges and indictment, while simultaneously maintaining his position and duties? The position of New York Mayor has far fewer responsibilities than the office of U.S. President, who also serves as Commander-In-Chief over the most extensive military and employment base in the world.

Where are the mainstream media’s calls on Donald Trump to resign or to cease his reelection bid?  

All entities of power that operate legally under the law and the U.S. Constitution in these United States must recommit to the constitutional and moral principle of fair and impartial due process before any possible form of punishment, character assassination, demotion, degradation, and other irreparable harm toward the alleged suspect.

It is time to stop these blatant double standards and refrain from these systematic calls for punishment without due process. 

Submitted by:

Rev. Curtis E. Gatewood

Civil Rights Activist

Photos via Facebook