After a night of devastation in Fordham, Bronx elected officials from all levels of government came together Tuesday afternoon with a strong message.

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. started his remarks this afternoon saying, “Last night was a rough night, a tough night” for the Bronx.  

Lawmakers are championing the right to peacefully protest, but say what happened Monday night was anything but peaceful.

“We are here to say that what happened here tonight was a direct assault on what we are trying to accomplish,” said Diaz Jr. 

He stood in solidarity with elected officials from across the boroughs and offered support to those protesting injustice while denouncing the destruction that ravaged the streets of Fordham. 

 

“This here on Fordham Road. This is a great story of urban revitalization. We’ve been working too hard, we’ve been working too long. We’ve all been working together,” said Diaz Jr. 

Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark says her office is in the process of evaluating cases stemming from arrests made Monday night. 

“I was around in 1977 when we had those looting and stuff from that blackout. If it took decades for the Bronx to come back, why would you want to set us back again?” said Clark.

Diaz Jr. says that while no one could’ve predicted what occurred Monday night, there will be more of a police presence on Fordham Road Tuesday night and in other areas of the Bronx.