A week of rallies, speak outs, and press conferences
The Interfaith Center of New York joins faith leaders, activists, and partner organization to reaffirm our advocacy priorities ahead of State of the City Address
As the well-anticipated State of the City address neared, faith leaders and activists across the city reaffirmed their demands to build a more just city. The Interfaith Center of New York is proud to join its partners in various actions this week to demonstrate our support for migrants, increased police transparency, and the closure of Rikers Island.
Speak Out Against the 60-Day Rule
Monday, Executive Director Rev. Dr. Chloe Breyer joined other faith leaders, elected officials, and organizations in a Speak Out at Metro Baptist Church against the 60-day rule. The rule, which went into effect on January 9, requires migrant families staying in shelters to reapply for temporary shelter or find alternative housing after sixty days. Its implementation threatens to disrupt the lives of migrant families, especially those with children enrolled in school. Advocates are concerned that migrant students enrolled in public schools in the Fall could be forced to relocate in the middle of the school year, severing friendships and upending educational progress. ICNY Board Member Ruth Messinger reminded attendees that the children of today will be the Council Members, policymakers, and leaders of the City tomorrow and it is in our best interest to treat them fairly and compassionately. “This is an immigrant city and the immigrants have been forever a source of our strength.”
“This is an immigrant city and the immigrants have been forever a source of our strength.”
Faith Leaders for Police Transparency Press Conference
Tuesday, our Director of Community Partnerships Hanadi Doleh and Racial Justice Advocacy Fellow Shanaz Deen attended Speaker Adrienne Adams’ press conference for the “How Many Stops Police Accountability Bill.” The bill intends to increase transparency between the NYPD and community by requiring police officers to document encounters they have with civilians, including details such as race, ethnicity, and age. Council members explained that NYPD encounters with civilians can be categorized as level 1, level 2, or level 3, but at the moment, officers are only required to document level 3. Recently, there has been a back-and-forth between the Mayor and the City Council around this act; Mayor Adams vetoed the bill last week, but the City Council is expected to override his decision.
Care Not Criminalization
Wednesday, the Interfaith Center of New York joined its longstanding partners in the Campaign to Close Rikers for the Care Not Criminalization rally. The rally was strategically planned hours before Mayor Adams’ State of the City address, which was held at Hostos Community College in the Bronx. Various organizations involved in criminal and racial justice reform gathered to remind the Mayor of the law requiring Rikers Island to be closed by 2027.
While more corrections officers are now showing up for work than they did directly following the pandemic, benchmarks leading up to the deadline to close Rikers have been missed repeatedly. Since 2022, thirty individuals have died under the care of the DOC, two deaths occurring in this month alone. This harrowing statistic only reemphasizes the urgency of the infamous jail’s closure.
Fortunately, members of the Campaign to Close Rikers, particularly the Freedom Agenda, have been passionately mobilizing nonprofits, activists, and government officials to generate pressure. As activists call for Rikers’ closure, they also call upon the city to redistribute funds into education and housing. One speaker chanted, “Education in Public Safety,” and “Housing is Public Safety.” Investments into areas such as education, public libraries, affordable housing will ultimately lead to stronger community ties and decreased risk for crime. With these chants, demonstrators reminded that the city’s budget is a moral document, revealing its priorities for the care of New Yorkers.
This week’s rallies created critical spaces for community members to express their own concerns about the State of the City. Other asks included mitigating cuts to the CUNY system, an expansion of affordable housing, and increased support for migrants. Most importantly, these faith leaders and activists demonstrated the connection between different advocacy campaigns with the shared purpose of striving for a more just city.
What would you like to see prioritized in the Mayor’s 2024 administration? Comment below!