STATEMENT BY COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIAMS
"Last night, progressive grassroots energy led to sweeping change in the New York State Senate, and the House of Representatives. History was also made in electing New York's first black woman Attorney General. And while not every battle was won, this repudiation of the bigotry of Trump and his allies will reverberate for years, so I thank the countless individuals who made it possible. I also thank voters for persevering through the long lines and faulty equipment of a broken electoral system in New York City. Elections reform and major changes at the Board of Elections must be among our top priorities in the city coming out of last night.
A glimpse of hope has broken through the dark cloud of hatred that Trump and others have cast over this country. Inspiring individuals and communities with a shared vision for a better country showed that last night. But there are, in many ways, two Americas, and last night's results also showed that bigotry and fear still have a hold on many areas and populations in our nation. There has always been this divide, and just as there has always been hatred, there have been people pushing back, moving us on that moral arc toward justice.
We can't slow down now. As a nation, it's time for us to push our newly elected governing bodies to fulfill their promises. It's time for us to reform our election laws to prevent yesterday's disastrous voter suppression efforts. And it's time to bring transformational change to our city, state and country. With ongoing activist energy from individuals across the nation, we can achieve these goals."
