The Supreme Court denies an emergency appeal from a group of teachers to block New York City’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for public school teachers and other staff. The vaccine mandate takes effect as Mayor de Blasio announces that 95% of teachers and school staff have received at least one dose of the vaccine. Nine NYPD firefighters are suspended without pay in connection with racist messages and memes they shared on their phones, including ones that mocked the police killing of George Floyd. Bubba Wallace becomes the second Black driver to win at NASCAR’s top Cup Series level at Talladega Superspeedway. Northwell Health, New York state’s largest health care provider, announces that 1,400 employees have been terminated for refusing to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The U.S. Senate confirms Damian Williams as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, making him the first African American to lead the office. U.S. federal judge Robert L. Pitman blocks the Texas Heartbeat Act from becoming law. The FBI raids the offices of the New York Sergeants Benevolent Association and the Long Island home of its leader, Ed Mullins, in connection with an ongoing investigation. Mayor de Blasio misused city resources by taking his police security detail with him on trips around the U.S. during his ill-fated presidential run, at a cost of around $320,000, and by letting his adult son use the detail as a free taxi service, according to a report. The Fisk Jubilee Singers from Fisk University celebrate 150 years since their first tour. New York City officials announce it will phase out its program for gifted and talented students that critics say favors whites and Asian American students, while enrolling disproportionately few Black and Latino children. New Jersey U.S. Sen. Cory Booker sends a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland urging the Department of Justice to decriminalize cannabis by removing the drug from the federal controlled substances list. Harlem native and former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell dies at age 84 from complications of COVID-19. Democratic mayoral candidate Eric Adams and Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa have their first debate. Amsterdam News photographer Risasi Z. Dais dies at age 72. The NFL and lawyers for thousands of retired NFL players reach an agreement to end race-based adjustments in dementia testing in the $1 billion settlement of concussion claims. Jury selection begins in the Ahmaud Arbery killing case. R&B singer Tommy DeBarge of the family singing group DeBarge dies at age 64. Civil rights leader the Rev. Jesse Jackson celebrates his 80th birthday with the Rev. Al Sharpton at the National Action Network.
Early voting begins for the city’s general election. Students at Howard University protest against housing conditions at the school. City Council Members vote unanimously to remove a statue of Thomas Jefferson from Council chambers at City Hall due to Jefferson being a saveholder. The statue will be placed in a museum. Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving becomes ineligible to play or practice with the team, due to the COVID-19 vaccine mandate. The Police Benevolent Association files a lawsuit in state supreme court on Staten Island to halt the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for NYPD officers. Film producer Alec Baldwin fatally shoots Halyna Hutchins and wounds Joel Souza during the filming of “Rust,” when a prop firearm is discharged by accident. State Attorney General Letitia James announces she’s running for New York State governor.
Rapper Fetty Wap is arrested on federal drug charges at Citi Field at the Rolling Loud hip-hop music festival. New York native and Black Atlanta news anchor Jovita Moore dies at age 54 from brain cancer. The COVID-19 vaccine mandate for city workers takes effect. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorizes emergency use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children 5 through 11 years of age.