State of the People Town Hall: Make Your Voice Heard

"The scenes of state violence and overreach in Los Angeles should alarm every American– but not for the reasons that right-wing media and leaders would have us believe. Donald Trump is again expanding his mass deportation machine, beyond 'gangs' or 'violent criminals' and into our neighborhoods. 

"We have a moral obligation to stand up in defense of our immigrant communities. We have a moral obligation to lead with love for our neighbors, to channel our fear and anger into love and action on behalf of the families the Trump administration is targeting. Trump’s deploying of the National Guard and Marines against protesters is a call to action for people of conscience. He wants chaos, and we do not have to give it to him – but we have to stand up. 

"I believe in Kingian strategies for advancing justice – primarily, for nonviolent demonstration, and yes, strategic civil disobedience. Nonviolent does not mean sedate – to be passive in this moment is to be complicit. People with power and privilege have an obligation to use it to protect the vulnerable, and Donald Trump’s assault on our immigrant communities has compounded into an assault on dissent. 

"We know that this is Donald Trump’s plan for our city as well – he’s already begun his crackdown on dissent, and it can only escalate. What I don’t know is whether Eric Adams will do anything at all to protect New Yorkers from detention and disappearance. The mayor has already shown that he is much more offended by the idea of protest than the harm those protests are trying to prevent. While he found his voice on immigration under President Biden, his absolute alliance to MAGA, his silence, and his capitulation to all things Trump are disgraceful. If he and his top deputies side with their golf buddy, Donald Trump, over the rights and safety of New Yorkers, it will be a dereliction of duty – but also par for the course."