For Immediate Release: January 24, 2017 Contact: Rebecca John, DRUM -Desis Rising Up & Moving, rebecca@drumnyc.org, 214-724-6608
Post-Inauguration, Diverse Communities in Brooklyn Hold Press Conference to Launch A Hate-Free Zone
January 24, 2017 – On Wednesday, January 25 at 5:00PM EST, immigrant communities are rallying to launch a community defense and “hate-free zone” in Kensington, Brooklyn, New York City. Neighborhood-based groups, community members, local businesses, faith institutions, elected officials will come together to publicly take a stand against hate, marginalization, criminalization and violence by individuals and government policies. Groups will hold a press conference and march through Kensington, Brooklyn to show that our own communities can defend and protect ourselves. As frontline communities who are looking for ways to come together to defend ourselves and gain mutual support in light of increased racism, xenophobia, and bigotry ushered in by Trump’s inauguration and the executive orders issued in last few days, this action is part of a national movement and modeled after the “Hate-Free Zone” declared in Queens, New York City on December 2nd, 2016, and another in Mid-Hudson Valley on January 14, 2017.
WHAT: Launch of Community Defense and Hate-Free Zone through a press conference and community march through Kensington, Brooklyn.
WHO: Immigrant, Muslim, LGBTQ, Latino, Jewish communities based in and around Kensington, Brooklyn
WHEN: Wednesday, January 25 at 5:00PM EST
Where: Press Conference and Rally at Avenue C Plaza, Kensington, Brooklyn
Visuals & Messaging: Ants holding up a heart, representing the collective power of our communities to create a hate-free zone of protection and defense.
#HateFreeZone #LoveAndProtectEachOther #Here2Stay #Here2Fight
Co-Sponsors:
| African Communities Together |
| API Rainbow Parents of PFLAG NYC |
| BAJI – Black Alliance for Just Immigration |
| Bangladesh Society |
| BIPA – Bangladeshi Institute for Performing Arts |
| Brooklyn Movement Center |
| Caribbean Equality Project |
| Catholic Migration Services |
| Chhaya CDC |
| Community Development Project |
| Council on American Islamic Relations – New York |
| Councilmember Brad Lander |
| Councilmember Daniel Dromm |
| Damayan Migrant Workers Association |
| DJ Rekha, Basement Bhangra |
| DRUM – Desis Rising Up & Moving |
| El Centro del Inmigrante |
| Global Action Project |
| Greater New York Labor-Religion Coalition |
| IMI-Corona: Immigrant Movement International |
| India Home |
| Interfaith Center |
| International Socialist Organization – Queens |
| Jahajee Sisters |
| Japanese American Citizens League NY |
| Jewish Voice for Peace-New York |
| Jews for Racial & Economic Justice |
| Judson Memorial Church |
| Justice Committee |
| Laura Flanders Show |
| Long Island Wins |
| Make the Road New York |
| Malkhut- Progressive Jewish Queens |
| MAS-NY (Muslim American Society, NY) |
| MinKwon Center for Community Action |
| Muslim Community Network |
| New Sanctuary Movement NYC |
| New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project |
| New York Immigration Coalition |
| NICE – New Immigrant Community Empowerment |
| Parents in Action |
| Queens Neighborhoods United |
| Queens Pride House (The LGBT Center of Queens) |
| Queer Detainee Empowerment Project |
| RIF Asylum Support |
| Sadhana: Coalition of Progressive Hindus |
| SAFEST – South Asian Fund for Education Scholarship Training |
| SALGA – South Asian Lesbian & Gay Alliance |
| Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) NYC |
| Teachers Unite |
| The Bronx Defenders |
| Ugnayan Youth for Justice and Social Change |
| United We Dream |
| UnLocal |
| VOCAL-NY |
| Women for Afghan Women |
Endorsers:
| AAANY – Arab American Association of New York |
| Adhikaar |
| Advocates for Children of New York |
| AF3IRM – NY |
| American Bangladeshi Friends Society |
| Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund |
| CAAAV – Organizing Asian Communities |
| Chittagong Association USA |
| CMBB-Church Mcdonald Bangladeshi Business Association |
| Communities united for Police Reform |
| Companigonj Welfare Association USA |
| Critical Resistance – NYC |
| Dominican Women’s Development Center |
| Enlace |
| Faith In New York |
| Families for Freedom |
| Flux Factory |
| Friends of Diversity Plaza |
| FUREE |
| Girls for Gender Equity |
| Greater Noakhali Society USA INC |
| Haitian-American United for Progress, Inc (HAUP) |
| Hand in Hand: The Domestic Employer Network |
| Heightening Stories |
| HIAS |
| Immigrant and Non-Citizen Rights Clinic – CUNY School of Law |
| Immigration Equality |
| Indo-Caribbean Alliance |
| International Action Center |
| International Alliance Against Mandatory Detention |
| Jackson Heights Bangladeshi Business Association |
| Jews Against Islamophobia |
| Khan Tutorial |
| Kichwa Hatari |
| Korean Community Services of Metropolitan New York |
| Law@theMargins |
| Lesbian and Gay Democratic Club of Queens |
| Masjid Sabur |
| MFY Legal Services, Inc. |
| Muslim Democratic Club of NY |
| NESRI – National Economic and Social Rights Initiative |
| New York State Youth Leadership Council |
| NYS Interfaith Network for Immigration Reform |
| OCA-NY |
| Picture the Homeless |
| Queens Community House |
| Queens Creative Solidarity |
| Raha Iranian Feminist Collective |
| RAISE: Revolutionizing Asian American Immigrant Stories on the East Coast |
| Rep. Joseph Crowley |
| SABANY – South Asian Bar Association of New York |
| Sandwip Education and Cultural Society USA |
| Sandwip Society USA |
| SEVA NYC |
| Sosa Law |
| Stop Mass Incarceration |
| Street Vendor Project |
| Sukhi NY |
| Terraza 7 |
| Trade Unionists in Solidarity with Colombia |
| Turning Point for Women and Families |
| UYC – Urban Youth Collaborative |
| Veterans For Peace-NYC Chapter 34 |
| War Resisters League |
| Westchester Coalition against Islamophobia |