Nov. 11, 2016 By Hannah Wulkan
For all those looking to take action against hate following the election on Tuesday, Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer is hosting two events to facilitate community action and support.
Van Bramer is holding a Community Speak Out next Wednesday as a way for community members to learn how to get involved and support their minority neighbors, and is hosting a Day of Action the following Saturday, with various service projects around the community.
“I have already heard from too many who are afraid, legitimately afraid, of what will be. But while I understand that there is much to be concerned about, I don’t want to focus on fear. Instead I ask all of us to dig deep at this difficult moment and feel hope and be in touch with our undying thirst for freedom,” Van Bramer said in a statement on Facebook on Wednesday.
“We should take some time to feel this pain because it’s real. But we must quickly turn this around and organize and fight,” his statement continued.
Next Wednesday, the Community Speak Out will run from 6 to 8 p.m. at Sunnyside Community Services, where Van Bramer has invited dozens of organizations that support women, the LGBTQ community, immigrants, Muslims, and other minority groups to speak.
One of the biggest requests Van Bramer has been hearing since the election is how his constituents can get involved to support their neighbors and community, said a representative from his office. The Speak Out will facilitate conversations of fears surrounding the election results, and connect those who want to help with various organizations they can work with.
Van Bramer is also hosting a Day of Action the following Saturday Nov. 19, which will give people a chance to put their concerns in to action. It will consist of several volunteer opportunities throughout the community, though the exact details are not yet finalized.
“The same nightmare scenarios run through my brain that have run through so many of yours. But I also know that we are a good and strong lot. Women, African Americans, Latinos, all immigrants -including the undocumented, my LGBT brothers and sisters, people of all faiths including muslims, and the differently abled have come as far as we have because we know how to fight,” Van Bramer said in the Facebook statement.
“Yes, we lost a very important election. And too many of our fellow Americans see the world so very differently than us. But we will not be defeated as a people. We will rise. And we will do it together,” he added.
Both events are free and nonpartisan, and those looking to get involved can RSVP to Elana Ehrenberg at (718) 383-9566 ext. 5 or eehrenberg@council.nyc.gov.
