State Senator Gustavo Rivera on the Violent NYPD Response at 26 Federal Plaza and the Military Deployment in California Against Demonstrators

"In light of the disturbing but unsurprising events that took place at the “ICE out of NYC” protests last night at 26 Federal Plaza, I want my community to know that we deserve to feel safe exercising our right to free speech and to be protected by our laws and the public servants charged with enforcing them. Over the years, we’ve seen the NYPD’s response to public demonstrations show a disturbing pattern of excessive use of force, which suppresses the right to protest and places the safety and well-being of New Yorkers at risk. We need City Hall to hold the NYPD accountable to protecting civilians, not escalating tensions, and to help us resist this fascist federal government overreach. 

"In New York, we must do everything within our power to protect our communities. That includes passing the New York for All Act, which reinforces that the job of our local police is to keep us safe, not to carry out the work of immigration authorities.

"The federal government is deploying military forces in California against civilian demonstrators— this is an unwarranted and alarming abuse of power. The Trump administration will attempt to bring military forces to New York and we must prepare to defend each other and our City. We need the NYPD to hold the line against ICE’s lawless kidnapping of New Yorkers and to reject National Guard or other military deployment against civilians. 

"A government that fears diversity, silences dissent, and disregards legal due process cannot claim to be a democracy—this is authoritarianism.

"The United States of America does not have kings."

Join me this Saturday, June 14 at the No Kings March. This national day of action and mass mobilization is a response to increasing authoritarian power grabs and corruption from Trump and his cronies. We cannot stand idly by as the federal government flouts the rule of law, disappears our neighbors, rips families apart, and threatens to deport American citizens and anyone who defies them. 

You can link up with one of these groups:

• NYCLU marchers will meet at 1PM the intersection of Park Avenue and 42nd Street at the entrance of Pershing Square, just across the street from the Grand Central-42nd St Terminal. We will head to Bryant Park to get in marching formation promptly at 1:15 PM.

• The Healthcare Contingent, including the Campaign for NY Health and PNHP NY Metro, will meet at 1:45 PM in front of 1 East 38th Street, between 5th Avenue & Madison Avenue, closer to 5th. The march steps off at 2 PM. 

Healthcare workers, wear your scrubs & white coats! Union members, wear your union swag! Your own banners & signs are welcome!

If you can’t make it downtown, head to Fordham Plaza to join Bronxites at 12:30 PM for a local No Kings Rally.

Check out nokings.org for more information.