12 MAY 11 - MAY 17, 2018 BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP
Menchaca, Nixon join immigrants
marching in Sunset on Cinco de Mayo
BY JAIME DEJESUS
JDEJESUS@BROOKLYNREPORTER.COM
Celebrating Cinco de Mayo and
fighting against current immigration
policies, Sunset Park
residents of all ethnicities joined
Councilmember Carlos Menchaca, gubernatorial
candidate Cynthia Nixon
and organizations such as New York
Communities for Change (NYCC) to
walk the streets of the neighborhood
on Saturday, May 5.
Myriam Hernandez of NYCC, a
community-based membership organization
committed to organizing low
and moderate-income families in New
York’s lowest-income neighborhoods,
explained the importance of hosting
such an event.
"We just listened to the problems
that the community has and they
shared with us that ICE (Immigration
and Customs Enforcement) is around
Sunset Park," she said. "So they're very
scared. Kids are scared that they’ll be
separated from their parents if they
just take their kids to the park. This
immigration issue has completely
changed life for them. We are told
ICE is just looking for those who have
criminal records. But that’s not the
true situation. I feel they’re just looking
for brown or black color."
For Menchaca, the day was important
both to celebrate his heritage and
protect the rights of all immigrants.
"I joined them because they’re my
neighbors organizing around issues
that I believe in and lifting up their
voices on a special day for me and
Mexican community members," he explained.
"It’s really about reconnecting
to our commitment to fighting against
injustice. As small as we are as a group
of people, we have power and that’s
what Saturday was all about."
The walk was both comforting and
fiery, according to Menchaca and
Hernandez.
"It was defiant," said Menchaca. "We
want to defy the hate that’s coming
down from Washington, call out
backers of hate here in New York. The
president hads just removed TPS officially
for Honduran families in the city
and country so this is about solidarity
for all immigrants being affected right
now," he said.
"It was great because the people who
marched feel like they have the support
of the politicians and they are not
alone and could live a normal life and
be together with the community and
unite," added Hernandez. "I'm happy
people came out and let them know
they're here and not scared."
People with roots in many countries
attended, adding to the importance of
the day.
"Ecuadorians, Chinese people, Mexicans,
Salvadorans, Dominicans, Puerto
Ricans were there talking about their
issues," Menchaca said, adding that
he's supporting Nixon because she has
their backs. "The political arms of these
groups are supporting her because
she's lifting everyone’s story up as we
look to government for change, for
response, for action. And that’s what
we need more and more. The inability
of government to respond right now
is incredibly dangerous for families
living in fear in our neighborhood and
that’s why we’re out and proud."
According to NYCC's Twitter account,
during the rally, Nixon said,
"President Donald Trump has specifically
gone after Mexicans. We need
to fight back and protect immigrant
families from his attacks."
She also said, "We should remember
what Cinco de Mayo is about. It’s about
when Mexican peasants and farmers
stood up to the French and drove them
out!”
"I'm proud to stand with @cmenchaca,
@MakeTheRoadAct and @
nychange in Sunset Park to fight for
New York’s immigrant communities
on #CincoDeMayo. We must protect
immigrants from ICE harassment and
Donald Trump’s racist administration,"
Nixon tweeted.
The sizable group started in Sunset
Park, marched down Fifth Avenue,
came back up Fourth Avenue and
ended up back at the park.
"We made noise and we got a lot
of support from folks," Menchaca
said. "There are a lot of folks in the
neighborhood that work on Saturday
and they saw us on their way to work.
They couldn't be there, but they knew
we were out there for them and we’re
speaking for them in an immigrant
working family neighborhood. We’re
out there for everybody."
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Photo via New York Communities for Change Twitter
Councilmember Carlos Menchaca and gubernatorial candidate Cynthia Nixon joined immigrants
marching in Sunset Park on Cinco de Mayo.