Politics & Government
De Blasio Adviser Will Not Be Fired Over Protest Sign Dissing White People
Lincoln Restler has, however, "been spoken to by his supervisor," the Mayor's Office says.
DOWNTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — One of Mayor Bill de Blasio's senior advisors has deleted his Twitter account and gone into internet hiding amid outrage to a Facebook photo he posted Nov. 14 (but has since taken down), showing his sister holding an anti-Trump protest sign saying "F*** WHITENESS."
Lincoln Restler reportedly signed on as a senior de Blasio adviser in 2014. He describes himself on his website as the managing director of the NYC Employment and Training Coalition. The photo Restler posted to Facebook showed his parents and his sister, the New York Daily News reported, smiling and holding up signs at what appeared to be one of NYC's recent anti-Trump political rallies.
"To celebrate my mama's birthday, we took to the streets to stand in solidarity with immigrant New Yorkers," Restler wrote beneath the photo, according to screenshots posted to social media.
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Photo of family posted by Lincoln Restler, a top aide to NYC mayor Bill DiBlasio. Isn't there something a tad inconsistent in the signage? pic.twitter.com/7UnFf3UMbx
— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) November 17, 2016
Mayoral spokesperson Aja Worthy-Davis told Patch the sign was not intended to be racist toward white people, but that it was "inappropriate."
"Though the intent was to protest white supremacy, it was obviously poorly expressed," Worthy-Davis said. Restler "has been spoken to by his supervisor, as this does not represent the view of this administration."
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As soon as the post started circulating on social media this week, many called for Restler to be fired.
The blatantly racist photo posted By @NYCMayor's aide Lincoln Restler has no place in public service. Should be fired IMMEDIATELY.
— Kevin J. Cooper (@REALKevinCooper) November 17, 2016
.@BilldeBlasio's sr policy advisor @LincolnRestler deletes his Twitter a/c & retreats to his safe space filled w/safety pins aka City Hall. pic.twitter.com/McJFrfHAyW
— I Yam What I Yam (@Nvr4Get91101) November 17, 2016
.@BilldeBlasio YOU & your Senior advisor #lincolnrestler need to be FIRED! .@realDonaldTrump these men are the real racists! #draintheswamp
— Regan Concepcion (@ReganConcepcion) November 17, 2016
Others, though, showed support for Restler and his family.
I've known Lincoln Restler and his family for over 30 years. They are lovely, open-minded people caught in a very dumb news cycle. https://t.co/d1Yh4hhR3m
— Thornton McEnery (@ThorntonMcEnery) November 17, 2016
In an interview with Hot 97 on Monday, de Blasio encouraged New Yorkers to keep coming out and protesting, as they have been, in the wake of Donald Trump's election to the White House.
In related news, Rutgers University lecturer Kevin Allred said he was forced by police to undergo a psychiatric evaluation at Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan after he made a social media post on November 10 asking whether or not the second amendment would "be as cool when I buy a gun and start shooting at random white people."
Restler did not immediately respond to a request for a comment.
Lead photo via the New York City Mayor's Office
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