ADVOCATES RALLY AGAINST TRUMP & ICE’S ATTACKS ON POLITICAL DISSIDENTS

NEW YORK, NY — Today, the morning after Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was illegally arrested and detained for several hours, allies from NY and NJ stood unified to denounce and rally against the detainment and say we must “Stand Up and Fight Back” against Trump, Elon Musk and his deportation machine.

The New York Working Families Party, Make the Road Action (NY & NJ), New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice, NYIC Action, Comptroller Brad Lander, Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, Comptroller and Council Member Justin Brannan spoke uniformly in their commitment to protecting NYers and speaking truth to power. The message is clear: NYC stands with Mayor Baraka and with immigrant communities under attack. We will not cower, and we will not stop resisting Trump’s authoritarian regime.

See photos and videos from the rally and press conference here.

“Today is the day that we say – NYC is for all of us. We stand unequivocally with Ras Baraka. We stand unequivocally with elected officials at all levels who are demanding accountability from Trump and his allies. Trump is trying to divide us while they put our hands in our pocket, dismantle our safety nets, and hurt our loved ones–we are ready to fight, for each other and all NYers,” said Ana Maria Archila, Co-Director, NY Working Families Party

Sienna Fontaine of Make the Road Action said, “We stand with Ras Baraka and with all immigrants detained at Delaney Hall. The fight for immigrant rights in New York and New Jersey is because we are all connected. We reject Trump's authoritarian advances and send a clear message today that we need a New York City that rejects ICE and fights for all people.”

“Well it is now clear city hall is going to sell us out, but NYC council is never going to sell you out, and neither will all of us. This is Trump's Gestapo. The ICE cowboys are out there running rampant over our rights. Look, In a moment like this, we need to demand more of our elected officials at every level of government. Local politicians have a responsibility and obligation to stand in the breach between the federal government and our most vulnerable,” said NYC Councilmember Justin Brannan, Candidate for Comptroller.

“Everyone who stands online for food is a resident. Because ultimately, no matter what the modifier is in the sentence – the last word is the place you live. Whether that is Newark or NYC – we will protect you. If we are talking about queer New Yorkers or undocumented New Yorkers– we are ultimately still talking about New Yorkers – and every single New Yorker mattress,” said NY Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, Candidate for NYC Mayor.

“Then they came for Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and I did speak out because due process matters. Rule of law matters. Freedom matters. We are writing a different poem in New York City and it is going to end with the restoration of civil rights and due process for all New Yorkers,” said NYC Comptroller Brad Lander, Candidate for NYC Mayor.

“The President is trying to harm us. People are in danger right now. We need a Mayor who is willing to stand up. And if you can't – get the hell out of the way. Your capitulation will be remembered. We will be the better America. We will be the better New York” said NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams

“We are here today to rise up against the outrageous and absolute lawless actions of Trump’s deportation machine. Arresting citizens crossing all of the red lines. We’re here to say NO and that we will continue to raise our voices to uphold all of our constitutionally given rights of free speech, due process and freedom,” said a spokesperson for Indivisible Brooklyn.