More than a hundred people lined the streets of downtown Nyack on Saturday for a student-led rally and against what protesters called the “slide toward tyranny,” following the recent death of activists in Minnesota and what they say is the federal government’s excessive, brutal and unnecessary “surge” of Immigration and Custom Enforcement agents throughout the country.
The crowds came out despite frigid temperatures as the sun went down on a Saturday evening.
Zeina Ayyob, one of the demonstrators and organizers, told News 12 she was encouraged by a turnout “this big,” after the project started from humble beginnings with the making of anti-ICE shirts.
Another organizer, who identified himself as Silas, told News 12, “It’s great to see people show up for something they believe in.”
“Are you angry?” Silas asked into a megaphone at the rally. The crowd responded with resounding affirmation.
“Take that anger and use it,” Silas told demonstrators. “Force them to listen and do not be silent.”
In a written statement to nyacknewsandviews.com, student organizer Alex Galdamez reflected on his pride that “everyone had the courage to show up and speak upon the issues ICE is causing in the community. Yesterday was an empowering demonstration that will go down in history from the freedom of our nation. I want people to continue fighting for whats right, thats what makes us American.”
The rally set the stage for a contentious meeting of the Rockland County Legislature on Tuesday evening, as legislators are expected to introduce the Safety and Dignity for All Act to restrict some Immigration and Custom Enforcement activity in Rockland.
While the bill hasn’t been introduced yet, County Legislator Beth Davidson told LoHud it would draw inspiration from a similar bill passed in Westchester in 2016, and would “protect all Rockland residents from Trump’s rogue ICE agents while complying with judicial warrants and following the law.”
Read more on the expected bill in the Journal News and the NY Post.