Solidarity with immigrants in NYC

Photo: Roberto Mercado

Because of her record of hostility to immigrants, Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand’s appointment to replace Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in the U.S. Senate has drawn opposition. Many prominent Black and Latin@ community leaders joined City Councilmember Charles Barron on Feb. 5 in New York City for a news conference to criticize her appointment. Among them were representatives from 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement and Brenda Stokely of the Million Worker March. Leaders of the Latin@ community included members of the May 1 Coalition and Ydanis Rodriguez, a community leader from Washington Heights. The speakers voiced their solidarity with the immigrant community and called Gillibrand’s selection for Senator “an attack on immigrants.”