A park in Brooklyn Heights named after Beastie Boys band member Adam Yach was vandalized with Nazi swastikas and pro-Donald Trump graffiti late last week. Local city officials took it into their own hands to organize an anti-hate protest on Sunday morning at the park where a dedicated guest showed up to help the cause.
“We’re all here today because we’re thinking the same thing” said Beastie Boys’ Adam Rock. “Spray-painting swastikas on a children’s playground is a messed-up thing to do. And for many of us, it has special meaning, because this park is named for Adam Yauch, who was my friend and bandmate for over 30 years, but he was also someone who taught nonviolence in his music, in his life, to all of us and to me.”
Rock continued with his emotional speech encouraging the folks who attended the protest to unify together and reject Trump’s hateful rhetoric.
“Keep your eyes open, stand up for each other,” he continued. This is homegrown terrorism for real. I reject Donald Trump’s vision for America. New York City, I’m asking you to do the same.”
In an incredibly relevent reference, the Beastie Boys member finished his speech with a quote from the band’s song “An Open Letter to New York” saying:
“Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten/ From the Battery to the Top of Manhattan/ Asian, Middle-Eastern and Latin/ Black, White, New York you make it happen.”
Those who were protesting left their mark on the park as well, by covering the hateful graffiti with colorful heart cut-outs.
Check below to watch Adam Rock’s entire speech.
In 2014 the band announced they wouldnt be going forward with making new music after the death of band member Adam “MCA” Yach’s unfortunate passing. A couple months later, they released a “Too Many Rappers” collaboration featuring Nas.
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