Transcript: Mayor Adams Delivers Remarks At Flag-Raising Ceremony For Republic Of Guinea

October 16, 2023

Mayor Eric Adams: Thank you so much. Thank you. And really appreciate, this is such a historical day and moment, 109 mayors have come about and we finally get to the 110th and we watch the Guinean flag being raised today as we continue to incorporate the diversity of this amazing city. Right from this spot and location you witness throughout the entire global experience the various flags for the first time raised in this location.

People feeling as though the inclusiveness of being part of not only the New York experience but the American experience. And there's something significant about this country I like to remind ourselves all the time. You know, one is not considered an American Chinese, an American Italian, an American Polish, an American African. America calls you to put your country first.

You're an African American, a Chinese American, a Polish American, a Guinean America — because we want you to bring your culture to the underlying denominator of this great country. That's this amazing product that we have of the American dream, and you participate in it every day.

Not only do we see my amazing physical and intellectual giant in Assemblyman Fall that's here with his parents that are here and present and my sister Aissata who has traveled with me to South America, who has managed our international relationship. But you need to look close to your power in this city. We have that's here with us also, the incoming Councilman Salaam who's also, his mother's here joining us.

You know, c'mon, stand up. Yusef, Yusef Salaam is the new councilman that's coming in. So, your representation is all in government, is all in to see the power, you're going to decide policies. So, 65 years of your independence is bringing you here to this spot, this location, where your flag is going to be raised in the symbol of not only strength in America power, our economic strength is right here in Bowling Green, but New York City is the strength of the power of the entire country.

So, it's more than just New York. All the people who are on the line to take pictures by the bull, they got it right, this is where the power is. And when you tell them as long as they're here we just want them to spend a lot of money in our city so we can continue to prosper at the level that we do.

I am so proud to be here, to be the mayor — the 110th mayor — an African American mayor who is raising the flags of all of the countries in general, but specifically those countries from the continent of Africa that have historically not raised their flags here.

And this is such a moment of significance, because being the mayor is both substantive — I must make sure we're safe, I must make sure we have economic development, I must make sure we educate our children, that we provide prosperity. But being the mayor also means the symbolism of stating that you matter, that you count, that you are part of this great city and this great country.

And that is what this flag raising is about, and that is why we hold these flag raisings, because you come with your culture, your food, your business acumen, your belief in public safety, your belief in family, your belief in faith. That is what makes us the great city that we are.

So, I thank you for coming here today and allowing us to raise the flag here in Bowling Green, a place where we arrived here enslaved and now we are standing here as true rulers of a great city. Thank you very much. Let's raise our flag.