Mayor Adams’ Staffer Suspended Indefinitely After Tearing Down Israeli Hostage Poster

Mayor Adams’ Staffer Suspended Indefinitely After Tearing Down Israeli Hostage Poster

Edited by:  Fern Sidman

In a sharp escalation of disciplinary action, an Adams administration employee, Nallah Sutherland, has been suspended without pay indefinitely following widespread outrage over her alleged removal of an Israeli hostage poster and an ensuing confrontation with an eyewitness. According to exclusive reporting by The New York Post, Sutherland, a 25-year-old special event coordinator in the Mayor’s Office of Special Projects and Community Events, is now the subject of a deeper investigation.

Here is the video of Nallah Sutherland—an employee of Mayor Eric Adams—tearing down posters of Jewish hostages and then physically assaulting a Jew who simply asked why.

And yet, she’s not getting fired.

What would you say to Nallah if you were a witness to this? pic.twitter.com/6Q8IUbHH0N

— Jews Fight Back 🇺🇸🇮🇱 (@JewsFightBack) November 30, 2024

The incident occurred on November 2nd on the Upper East Side, when Sutherland was reportedly caught on video tearing down a poster designed to raise awareness of Israeli and American hostages taken captive by Hamas terrorists from Gaza during its brutal October 7, 2023, attack on Israel in which 1200 people were brutally murdered, as was reported by The New York Post. The video, posted by social media platform “Jews of NY” and the nonprofit organization StopAntisemitism, shows Sutherland discarding the poster in a trash bin after shredding it. When confronted by an eyewitness who began recording the act, Sutherland allegedly responded aggressively, swiping at the man’s phone.

The original response from City Hall, which required Sutherland to undergo multicultural training and placed a disciplinary note in her permanent file, sparked immediate criticism. Bronx Representative Ritchie Torres and Jewish advocacy groups lambasted the light punishment, particularly given the poster’s poignant message about victims of terrorism.

Mayor Eric Adams, a staunch supporter of Israel, was reportedly not directly involved in the initial disciplinary decision. According to a source at The New York Post, Adams intervened after becoming aware of the controversy, acknowledging the severity of the situation and the public’s justified anger.

“This employee is suspended without pay indefinitely, pending further investigation,” a City Hall spokesperson confirmed in a statement to The New York Post.

Footage of the incident captures Sutherland being questioned by the eyewitness, who asks why she removed the posters. “Those were hostages. They were taken by terrorists,” the man explains in the 20-second clip. The New York Post report indicated that Sutherland’s reaction, which includes smirking and briefly knocking the phone out of focus, further fueled allegations of inappropriate and aggressive conduct.

The poster is part of a grassroots campaign aimed at keeping the plight of hostages in the public eye, following the litany of grotesque atrocities committed by Hamas on October 7^th.

Sutherland joined the Adams administration in 2023 and earned $61,135 annually in her role, which involves coordinating events to celebrate New York City’s diversity and bridge cultural divides, The New York Post report explained. The nature of her position has drawn further criticism, as her actions appear starkly at odds with her professional responsibilities.

The case shines a proverbial spotlight on the sensitivity surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the ripple effects of international issues on local governance. The report also noted that Mayor Adams’ decision to escalate disciplinary measures signals a commitment to addressing acts that contradict his administration’s ethos of unity and inclusivity.

While Sutherland’s indefinite suspension marks a more serious response, the investigation continues. The incident calls attention to the challenges city leaders face in navigating public perception, maintaining accountability, and ensuring staff conduct aligns with the administration’s values.

As the investigation unfolds, the incident serves as a reminder of the deep divisions and emotions tied to global conflicts.