The swearing-in of Jumaane Williams as New York City’s public advocate was billed as an opening act for Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s inauguration speech.
But Mr. Williams riveted the crowd when he broke into tears after taking the oath for a third term. He addressed his childhood self with a message affirming his worth, and the worth of all the underdogs he has championed in his time in public office.
“Little Black boy, you are worth it, and you always were,” Mr. Williams said. “And without any titles, you were enough. You were always enough and you deserve to accept love and you deserve to be protected and I’m honored to be here, to help create a city that’s worthy of that for you.”
As he spoke, the crowd of dignitaries and allies behind him stood on their feet to celebrate him. He then asked everyone present to hold each other’s hands, and to take an oath not to let go — physically or figuratively.
“If we are all connected, we can’t lose anyone,” he said. “So we hold onto the hand of our neighbor, and we reach out with our other hand to grasp someone who may fall through the cracks and we bring them along.”
Mr. Williams, 49, had just been sworn in by several immigrants, including one whose journey to American citizenship was covered by The Times nearly 20 years ago.
Mr. Williams noted his own background as the son of immigrants from the tiny Caribbean island of Grenada. As he looked out into the crowd, he spoke of the steep challenges the city faced and the optimism that his role gave him about fighting them.
“Even as the federal government drives us to despair, local leadership can invite inspiration,” he said before noting City Hall’s proximity to 26 Federal Plaza and the immigration proceedings that have separated families there.
The public advocate serves as a watchdog to city government and, after the mayor, is next in line to lead City Hall. Mr. Williams has long described himself as an “activist elected official.”
He has been arrested numerous times while in office for interrupting immigration proceedings or protesting policies of President Trump’s administration. Throughout the mayoral campaign, he was a staunch supporter of Mr. Mamdani and helped him form connections with the city’s Black faith and union leaders.
He is expected to be an ally of Mr. Mamdani’s, especially as the city contends with the looming threat of immigration enforcement activities and rising housing prices that have pushed hundreds of thousands of people out of the city.
But it was in the final moments of his speech that Mr. Williams laid bare his core ideals, as he addressed his remarks to his daughters, his younger self, the immigrants who helped swear him in and those in the city who have felt unseen or unheard.
Asking the crowd to repeat after him, he implored them to stand up for another and not to lose hope.
“Anything can happen so anything can happen,” he said before the crowd repeated after him. “And as we march forward, no one let go of anyone’s hands.”
Maya King is a Times reporter covering New York politics.
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