State Sen. Peralta
Feb. 2, 2017 By Hannah Wulkan
Several Jackson Heights residents are upset by State Senator Jose Peralta’s decision to leave the Democratic Party and have started to organize a protest.
Peralta announced his move to join the Independent Democratic Conference last week, leaving some constituents stunned. Several are planning to protest the move tomorrow night, during a public meeting with Peralta at 6 p.m. at the Jewish Center of Jackson Heights at 37-06 77th Street, during which time the senator intends to explain his decision.
“‘Independent Democratic Conference’ is a bunch of fancy bait-&-switch words to make you think you’re electing a Democrat, but you’re really electing a con-man who is siding with the anti-immigrant, anti-LGBT, un-American GOP Trump supporters!” reads the Facebook description, posted by the organizers of the protest.
The IDC is a group comprised of breakaway Democrats who have been elected to the State Senate. With Peralta joining its ranks, the IDC now has a total of eight members in the 63-member chamber.
The IDC has joined forces with the GOP and have formed a majority coalition.
Peralta explained that he believes he can “better affect change” by joining the group.
“I want to make clear that I am not a Republican, that I am not siding with the Republicans. I continue to be a progressive Democrat, like I have been for my whole political career. In this new era of Trumpism, I cannot sit on the sidelines any longer, I need to bring real results for my community,” Peralta explained in a statement yesterday.
The organizers of the protest, however, feel a sense of betrayal and are looking to remove Peralta from office.
“Do not tolerate your intelligence being insulted by this sleazy political shell game. Stand Up. Sit-In. Speak Out,” reads the event description on Facebook. “Jackson Heights is the melting pot of NYC and everyone is welcome here with open arms. Demand a ‘special election’ to remove Peralta from office and elect a new, real Democrat to represent us!”
Neither organizers of the event nor Democratic Conference Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris returned request for comment.
For more information on the protest visit https://www.facebook.com/events/397207860629527/.
