By Patrick Donachie
A crowd of hundreds gathered in the cold Sunday afternoon for a “Unity in Diversity” rally sponsored by Borough President Melinda Katz, part of a concerted effort to keep public pressure and attention on opposition to President Donald Trump’s policies on immigration.
“What affects one community affects all communities,” Katz said in her introduction to the rally, which featured dozens of different speakers. “We have people being attacked, and we want them to know that Queens stands in solidarity with them.”
Katz also held the rally to condemn instances of bias, hate crimes and anti-Semitism. and she was joined by U.S. Reps. Gregory Meeks (D-Jamaica) and Tom Suozzi (D-Huntington), numerous faith leaders, state and local representatives as well as Public Advocate Letitia James, who said the six weeks since Trump’s inauguration had “felt a lot longer.”
The rally followed a week that included the president’s first speech to Congress, the recusal of Attorney General Jeff Sessions from any investigations the Justice Department may make into the Russian government’s influence on the 2016 presidential election, and the president’s accusation via Twitter that former President Barack Obama had ordered his phone bugged during the general election campaign.
Several legal organizations set up shop near the rally to offer pro bono legal assistance to immigrants under threat of deportation. Jose Torres, a representative for Legal Hand Jamaica, said the organization was trying to help individuals find ways to proactively protect themselves from the impact of Trump’s immigration orders.
“Everything right now seems like a more reactive action,” he said. “When you’re on the defensive, it’s hard to quell people’s fears and help give them a way forward.”
Jessica Marroquin was on hand representing the New York Legal Assistance Group. She said NYLAG was making inroads in Queens communities, aware that the immigration population in the borough was substantial and anxiety was high. She said the office had received numerous inquiries since Trump’s inauguration, including many questions from undocumented parents about how to legally ensure their child’s well-being if the parents are apprehended by Immigration and Custom Enforcement agents.
“Now the question is ‘what might happen to my child?’” she said. “It’s crazy to have that mindset.”
Numerous organizations were also on hand to show their support, including representatives from NYC Health + Hospitals, who stressed that New Yorkers should not be afraid to seek medical service at a H+H establishment, regardless of immigration status.
Denny Meyer was on hand representing the New York chapter of the American Veterans for Equal Rights. Meyer, who served for 10 years, said he was a veteran of the Vietnam War, a gay man and the child of an illegal immigrant. Meyer said his mother came to America illegally from Germany in 1938 to escape the Nazi regime.
“She raised me to believe there’s nothing more important than American freedom,” he said. “It makes me sick to tears that the president is turning away people just like my mother, who just want to live in peace, raise families and work.”
Reach reporter Patrick Donachie by e-mail at pdona
