On Saturday, February 11, a large immigrant-led coalition, led by ICE FREE-NYC and the Coalition to End Broken Windows, will hold a rally at Washington Square Park at 2pm to call out mayor Bill De Blasio and City Council members for their continued support of Broken Windows policing, arguing that while the Trump administration escalates the war on immigrants and expands police power, the city has yet to take any concrete action to live up to the city’s sanctuary status. The organizers further oppose civil summons as a solution, arguing that it will result in an increase in policing of immigrant communities in order to fill the city’s coffers.
“The start of a deportation begins with an NYPD officer on the block -- whether it happened 20 years ago or it happens tomorrow -- it starts with an NYPD officer ” said Marlene Ramos, a graduate student at Columbia University and a member of the coalition. “We want sanctuary for all New Yorkers! We want sanctuary for immigrants and sanctuary for people locked up upstate and at Rikers.”

Community members have long contended that Broken Windows policing and decades of a militarized police presence have transformed Black, Central American, and transgender immigrants, Muslim communities, and all of New York’s vulnerable populations into targets. The coalition further points out that New York City is not a sanctuary for immigrant New Yorkers due to the heavily militarized police presence in these communities.

The organizers call for the safety and protection of all immigrants—documented or undocumented, people with criminal convictions, workers, gender nonconforming folks, the poor, people with disabilities, Muslims, women, and all people of color. Immigrant New Yorkers and their allies will call for increased community power, divestment from the NYPD, an end to the city’s collaboration with ICE, a stop to criminalization and permanently abolishing Broken Windows policing.

Endorsers: * Coalition to End Broken Windows * ICE FREE NYC * Families For Freedom * Black Alliance for Just Immigration * Equality for Flatbush * El Grito de Sunset Park * Why Accountability * ANSWER Coalition * La Peña del Bronx * UnLocal Inc. * 5 Boro Defenders * War Resister's League * Mi Casa No Es Su Casa: Illumination Against Gentrification* New York State Youth Leadership Council * People’s Power Assemblies * DRUM * Party for Socialism and Liberation * Organization for a Free Society 

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