Activists deliver thousands of petitions to Cuomo’s New York City office urging him to be a true climate leader

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NEW YORK, NY - A large crowd of New York climate leaders delivered thousands of petitions to Governor Cuomo, demanding he reject fossil fuel projects across the state.

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Sponsoring organizations including Sane Energy Project, Resist Spectra, Food & Water Watch, New York Communities for Change, The Climate Mobilization NYC, NYPIRG, United For Action, 350Brooklyn, 350NYC, People's Climate Movement - New York, Democratic Socialists of America - NYC chapter, organized a rally outside Cuomo's Manhattan office on August 16, 2018, calling on him to stop fossil fuel infrastructure and shift New York to 100 percent renewable energy and delivered thousands of petitions to Governor Cuomo, urging him to be a true climate leader.

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Following a months-long petition drive, a coalition of community, environmental, and social justice groups rallied outside the governor’s Midtown office. The rally featured multiple speakers, all urging Cuomo to reject fossil fuel projects. Following the rally, they delivered multiple boxes filled with over 40,000 petitions demanding an immediate halt the buildout of all oil and gas projects.

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”Governor Cuomo’s recent visits to Puerto Rico to experience the devastation from climate change must be a clear wake-up call that we need an immediate halt to fossil fuel infrastructure in New York,” said Kim Fraczek, director of Sane Energy Project. “Our state must set the paramount example for the nation. We cannot continue to kick the can down the road on community-owned renewables, like the current VDER policy that makes community solar impossible to develop, or slip in more fracked gas projects. Time’s up, and we demand he act with urgency.” 

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The petition delivery is part of a larger campaign to increase pressure on Governor Cuomo ahead of the Global Climate Action Summit and builds momentum ahead of a massive march and rally – over 70 groups announced the New York Rise for Climate, Jobs, and Justice mobilization on September 6 ahead of the Global Climate Action Summit, urging Governor Cuomo and elected officials at all levels to move off fossil fuels.

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“New Yorkers are demanding real climate leadership from Governor Cuomo. Today, we’re delivering thousands of petitions urging him to reject all fossil fuel projects. Voters know it’s time to move off fossil fuels. The question is whether Governor Cuomo will listen to his constituents” said Laura Shindell, organizer Food & Water Watch.

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“The voices of the people in New York State are loud and clear on climate. We recognize the devastation of climate chaos and the hope of climate action towards a greener, fairer future. It’s concerning that Governor Cuomo is not demonstrating the climate leadership that the people are calling for,” said Patrick Houston, Climate and Inequality Campaigns Organizer of New York Communities for Change.

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“A warming planet has dire consequences. Students like myself will be the generation to deal with climate damages from actions, or inactions, taken today.  We students are calling for a future powered 100% by renewable energy, and we call on Governor Cuomo to help New York break its addiction to fossil fuels today,” said Tom Wendol, NYPIRG Board of Directors member and Queens College student.

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“Governor Cuomo needs to step up now to take meaningful action on climate change and commit to signing the #NoFossilFuelMoney Pledge,” said Dee Aherne of 350NYC’s Steering Committee. “He must commit to making NYS a leader in combating climate chaos. The spotlight is on the corruption and double-talk coming out of the Cuomo administration and Cuomo’s failure to support climate legislation speaks volumes. Time is running out for the planet. New York needs to transition to 100% renewable energy now and stop all fossil fuel infrastructure. Voters will judge the governor’s legacy on climate by his actions not his slick TV ads.”

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“New Yorkers overwhelmingly support decisive action to decelerate climate change”, said Sara Gronim, Co-leader of 350Brooklyn. “We know how to do it. And we know time is running out. What we don’t have yet is bold, genuinely committed leadership.  We don’t need more talk from Governor Cuomo, more speeches, more press releases.  What we need is for Governor Cuomo to act right now: stop all new fossil fuel projects and build a new economy around renewable energy accessible to all.”

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“Governor Cuomo commissioned an Independent Risk Assessment, due to years of public outcry, that concluded what we have proved with years of studies and expert testimony -- Our community's public safety is threatened with Spectra’s dangerous high-pressure gas pipelines next to decaying Indian Point Nuclear Plant” said Tina Bongar, a resident of Peekskill, NY living just shy of the Spectra AIM Pipeline, and Coordinator of Resist Spectra, a local direct action group. “New York City is in the 50 mile evacuation radius of Indian Point, so this isn't just our community on the front lines. The people of New York are voters, and we demand Governor Cuomo fulfill our state's authority and tell the Department of Public Service to work with the Pipeline Safety and Hazardous Materials Administration (PHMSA) to shut off the gas.”Rally and Petition Delivery: Cuomo, Be a Climate Leader!

#Activism #ActOnClimate #ClimateChange #ClimateCrisis #climatejustice #CommunityOrganizations #CuomosPipelines #CuomoWalkTheTalk #divest #DivestNY #EnergyDemocracy #energyefficiency #EnergyIndependence #EnvironmentalJustice #FossilFree #GoFossilFree #GovernorCuomo #infrackstructure #KeepItIntheGround #MakePollutersPay #MakeREVreal #NewYork #NYC #OffFossilFuels #PecefulProtest #petitions #politics #RenewableEnergy #SaneSolutions #StopCPV #StopSpectra #WilliamsPipeline #YOUAREHERE

© Erik McGregor - erikrivas@hotmail.com - 917-225-8963

Immigrants Stand Up for Their First Amendment Rights As Federal Appeals Court Hears Arguments in Ragbir v. Homan

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New York, NY - The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit will hear oral arguments in Ragbir v. Homan, a First Amendment lawsuit filed against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for its use of deportation and enforcement measures to “disappear” or silence its critics, namely directly-affected immigrant leaders who speak out against the agency’s policies and the deportation machine. The lawsuit was filed by nationally recognized immigrant rights activist Ravi Ragbir, along with immigrant rights organizations New Sanctuary Coalition, CASA, Detention Watch Network, National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild, and the New York Immigration Coalition (the "plaintiffs").

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Ragbir v. Homan challenges the unlawful targeting of immigrant rights activists who have spoken out against the federal government’s immigration policies. As part of that lawsuit, plaintiffs sought a "stay of removal" for Ravi Ragbir, Executive Director of the New Sanctuary Coalition , who was abruptly targeted for deportation in January 2018 a decade after he was given an order of supervision to live and work in the U.S.  Mr. Ragbir is one of many outspoken immigrant rights leaders who has been similarly targeted nationwide. A district court denied the plaintiffs the initial protections they sought, including a stay for Mr. Ragbir, concluding that it did not have the power to review the government’s actions. The plaintiffs appealed and now seek a motion for a stay of Mr. Ragbir’s removal from the appellate court.

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Community members were invited to listen and observe the plaintiffs’ co-counsel, Arnold & Porter, argue before the Second Circuit why the Court should grant Mr. Ragbir a stay of deportation until ICE can prove that its attempt to deport Mr. Ragbir was not in retaliation for his free speech. 

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Following the hearing, immigrant rights leaders, activists, and prominent First Amendment lawyers held a press Conference and Rally at Foley Square, denouncing the federal government’s attempts to deny immigrants access to federal courts and their first amendment protections. Speakers included Ravi Ragbir, immigrant and reproductive rights activist Alejandra Pablos, the National Lawyers’ Guild National Immigration Project, the New York Immigration Coalition, and more. Under the U.S. Constitution, everyone in the United States--regardless of immigration status--is entitled to First Amendment rights. 

#Activism #CourtHearing #DefendDACA #demonstration #DeportICE #DirectAction #DreamAct #dreamers #FoleySquare #HereToStay #ICEfreeNY #immigration #IStandWithRavi #NewSanctuaryCity #NewSanctuaryCoalition #NewYork #NoBan #NoHumanIsIlegal #NoICEinNY #NoWall #NYC #OurNY #Protest #rally #RaviRagbir #RefugeesWelcome #ResistTrump #SanctuaryCity #SanctuaryHood #SaveTPS #SinDACASinMiedo #‎Solidarity #StopDeportations #StopICEraids #TakenFromUs  

© Erik McGregor - erikrivas@hotmail.com - 917-225-8963

Climate Activists to Cuomo: Fight for People, Not Polluters

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New York, NY - A coalition of community and climate groups including Food & Water Watch, New York Renews, Sane Energy Project, NY Communities for Change, JLUSA and HALT Solitary picketed outside a fundraiser hosted by Governor Cuomo at the Harvard Club of NYC, on August 8, 2018, demanding he stop all oil and gas projects, shift to 100 percent renewable energy, and make corporate polluters pay for their damage to our health and safety.   

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The action is part of an ongoing effort to the bring the “off fossil fuels” message to the Governor everywhere he goes. Over 70 organizations announced the New York Rise for Climate, Jobs, and Justice mobilization on September 6 ahead of the Global Climate Action Summit, urging Governor Cuomo and elected officials at all levels to move off fossil fuels. Nearly a dozen events are planned across New York State demanding Governor Cuomo take action to stop risky fossil fuel projects.

#Activism #ActOnClimate #ClimateChange #ClimateCrisis #climatejustice #CuomosPipelines #CuomoWalkTheTalk #DirectAction #EndMassIncarcerarion #EnergyDemocracy #energyefficiency #EnergyIndependence #environment #FossilFree #FreeNewYork #GovernorCuomo #HALTsolitary #HousingCrisis #HousingIsARight #infrackstructure #KeepItIntheGround #LetThemGo #MakePollutersPay #MakeREVreal #NewYork #NoMoCuomo #NYC #OffFossilFuels #ParoleJustice #PeacefulProtest #politics #PrisionsToPoison #RenewableEnergy #StopMassIncarceration 

© Erik McGregor - erikrivas@hotmail.com - 917-225-8963

Zephyr Teachout and Julia Salazar to Cross-Endorse

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Brooklyn, NY - Julia Salazar, candidate for NYS Senate, and Zephyr Teachout, candidate for NYS Attorney General, held together a press conference on August 6, 2018 to endorse one another in Salazar’s Bushwick neighborhood. Salazar is the insurgent candidate challenging 16-year incumbent Martin Dilan for the State Senate seat in district 18.

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“No one has done more to combat the toxic combination of money in politics in Albany than Zephyr Teachout, that's why I'm so proud to endorse her for Attorney General. I know she'll be the tough, honest Attorney General we need to clean up Albany, and I look forward to working with her next year to make sure New York State is governed by the people, for the people,” said Salazar.

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“Julia is bright, energetic, and unstoppable. Like so many New Yorkers, she’s tired of establishment politicians selling out our neighborhoods to the highest bidder. So she’s taken matters into her own hands, and demonstrated a strength and a vision that will undoubtedly make her an incredible State Senator. I’m very proud to stand alongside Julia in this battle to take on corruption in Albany, and create a more just New York,” said Teachout.

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Dilan has received contributions from the now-defunct Senate Independence Campaign Committee (SICC), a slush fund a judge deemed illegal. Two weeks ago the BOE counsel, Risa Sugarman, echoed Teachout’s call for the former IDC members to return those illegal funds. Dilan was the only mainline state senate Democrat to receive money from the SICC.

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Salazar’s endorsement is the latest in a wave of grassroots momentum for Teachout for Teachout’s campaign, which is racking up support everyday. Just last week, the New York Progressive Action Network (NYPAN) flipped its position to endorse Teachout after previously saying it would remain neutral. Citing Teachout’s independence NYPAN co-chair George Albro said:

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“At first, this was a difficult choice for NYPAN, especially for those of us who have a long relationship of support and collaboration with Tish James on many progressive initiatives. But in the end, we, along with many in the progressive movement, felt a deep bond to Zephyr, who has allied herself unconditionally and out of principle with a growing mass movement within the Democratic Party, led by fearless new leaders like Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, who has changed all the political rules and calculations for the better.  Tish, on the other hand, has staked her political fortunes on an alliance with the old guard, like Cuomo, who has enabled the party of Trump to block most progressive proposals. In the end, the choice was obvious.”

#Activism #AntiCorruption #AttorneyGeneral #Brooklyn #Bushwick #candidate #CorporateGreed #DefendDemocracy #DemocraticSocialist #elections #endorsement #JuliaSalazar #NewYork #NewYorkers #NewYorkState #NYC #NYCDSA #NYSAttorneyGeneral #politics #PressConference #primaries #SalazarforSenate #StateSenator #ZephyrForNY #ZephyrTeachout

© Erik McGregor - erikrivas@hotmail.com - 917-225-8963

Abolish ICE Everywhere: Protest at Wall Street calling out on businesses that profit from ICE

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New York, NY - Members of the activist group Rise and Resist organized a protest at Wall Street in the financial district on August 2, 2018 as part of the four days of protests targeting local politicians and business profiting from ICE. On their last day of actions, activists called out on big banks and businesses profiting from ICE.

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NYC Activists devoted four days to Abolish ICE protests, targeting NYC Mayor De Blasio, Governor Andrew Cuomo, Senator Chuck Schumer, and Wall Street businesses that profit from ICE

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ICE, formed in the panic after the 9/11 attacks, has itself become an instrument of terror, raiding courts, schools, and the homes of our neighbors. ICE targets productive, peaceful New Yorkers, almost all people of color, many of whom have lived and worked here for years.

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Rise and Resist expands the growing movement to Abolish ICE by calling on city and state government, along with banks and other corporations, to step up and protect immigrants from the arbitrary cruelty of ICE. Lacking responsible federal leadership, the rest of us must abolish ICE by defying it and limiting its powers. If you are not protecting immigrants with all the tools at your disposal, you are complicit. 

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Rise and Resist will demand that Mayor de Blasio (Day 1), Governor Cuomo (Day 2), and Senator Schumer (Day 3) follow the lead of other cities, states, and lawmakers by standing up to ICE. On Day 4, we call on individuals and businesses to stop funding the corporations that profit from the brutal imprisonment of our neighbors.

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At each action, we’ll present demands - concrete steps - that each person or entity can take to make this city, state, and country safer for all of its residents. Demands include:

* That Mayor de Blasio push the NYPD for transparency in classifying immigrant youth as gang members; this is often done falsely, without sufficient evidence, and puts those youth in ICE’s crosshairs.

* That Governor Cuomo sign an executive order to legalize drivers licenses for undocumented immigrants.

* That Senator Schumer join elected officials across the country, including Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Mayor Bill de Blasio, in calls to Abolish ICE.  

* That Wells Fargo, Bank of America, and JPMorgan Chase stop extending credit to The GEO Group and CoreCivic, the firms that profit the most from detaining immigrants.

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Rise and Resist is a direct action group committed to opposing, disrupting, and defeating any government act that threatens democracy, equality, and our civil liberties. Previous Rise and Resist actions include an Abolish I.C.E. banner drop at the Statue of Liberty, an occupation of the Trump-managed Central Park ice skating rink, dozens of demonstrations against the New York State Senate members of the IDC (Independent Democratic Conference), and protests against the MTA and Governor Cuomo for failing to include working elevators in the vast majority of NYC subway stations.

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Members have also participated in mass civil disobedience including the 6/28 protest of child separation at the Hart Senate Office building, at which over 600 women were arrested, and last summer’s wave of protests of the attempted repeal of the Affordable Care Act. 

#AbolishICE #Activism #chingalamigra #DefendDACA #DefendTPS #demonstration #DeportICE #DirectAction #DumpTrump #FamiliesBelongTogether #HereToStay #humanrights #ICEfreeNY #immigration #KeepFamiliesTogether #NewYorkCity #NoBorders #NoHumanIsIlegal #NoICEinNY #NoWall #NYC #politics #ProtectFamilies #Protest #RefugeesWelcome #ResistTrump #RiseAndResist #SanctuaryCity #‎Solidarity #StopDeportations #StopICEraids  

© Erik McGregor - erikrivas@hotmail.com - 917-225-8963

Abolish ICE Everywhere: Protest outside Senator Chuck Schumer's home in Brooklyn demanding Schumer to stand up to ICE

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New York, NY - Members of the activist group Rise and Resist organized a protest outside Senator Chuck Schumer's home in Brooklyn on August 1, 2018 as part of the four days of protests targeting local politicians and business profiting from ICE. Activists demand Schumer to follow the lead of other cities, states, and lawmakers by standing up to ICE.

>>CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE PHOTOS<<

NYC Activists devoted four days to Abolish ICE protests, targeting NYC Mayor De Blasio, Governor Andrew Cuomo, Senator Chuck Schumer, and Wall Street businesses that profit from ICE

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ICE, formed in the panic after the 9/11 attacks, has itself become an instrument of terror, raiding courts, schools, and the homes of our neighbors. ICE targets productive, peaceful New Yorkers, almost all people of color, many of whom have lived and worked here for years.

>>CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE PHOTOS<<

Rise and Resist expands the growing movement to Abolish ICE by calling on city and state government, along with banks and other corporations, to step up and protect immigrants from the arbitrary cruelty of ICE. Lacking responsible federal leadership, the rest of us must abolish ICE by defying it and limiting its powers. If you are not protecting immigrants with all the tools at your disposal, you are complicit. 

>>CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE PHOTOS<<

Rise and Resist will demand that Mayor de Blasio (Day 1), Governor Cuomo (Day 2), and Senator Schumer (Day 3) follow the lead of other cities, states, and lawmakers by standing up to ICE. On Day 4, we call on individuals and businesses to stop funding the corporations that profit from the brutal imprisonment of our neighbors.

>>CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE PHOTOS<<

At each action, we’ll present demands - concrete steps - that each person or entity can take to make this city, state, and country safer for all of its residents. Demands include:

* That Mayor de Blasio push the NYPD for transparency in classifying immigrant youth as gang members; this is often done falsely, without sufficient evidence, and puts those youth in ICE’s crosshairs.

* That Governor Cuomo sign an executive order to legalize drivers licenses for undocumented immigrants.

* That Senator Schumer join elected officials across the country, including Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Mayor Bill de Blasio, in calls to Abolish ICE.  

* That Wells Fargo, Bank of America, and JPMorgan Chase stop extending credit to The GEO Group and CoreCivic, the firms that profit the most from detaining immigrants.

>>CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE PHOTOS<<

Rise and Resist is a direct action group committed to opposing, disrupting, and defeating any government act that threatens democracy, equality, and our civil liberties. Previous Rise and Resist actions include an Abolish I.C.E. banner drop at the Statue of Liberty, an occupation of the Trump-managed Central Park ice skating rink, dozens of demonstrations against the New York State Senate members of the IDC (Independent Democratic Conference), and protests against the MTA and Governor Cuomo for failing to include working elevators in the vast majority of NYC subway stations.

>>CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE PHOTOS<<

Members have also participated in mass civil disobedience including the 6/28 protest of child separation at the Hart Senate Office building, at which over 600 women were arrested, and last summer’s wave of protests of the attempted repeal of the Affordable Care Act. 

#AbolishICE #Activism #chingalamigra #DefendDACA #DefendTPS #demonstration #DeportICE #DirectAction #DumpTrump #FamiliesBelongTogether #HereToStay #humanrights #ICEfreeNY #immigration #KeepFamiliesTogether #NewYorkCity #NoBorders #NoHumanIsIlegal #NoICEinNY #NoWall #NYC #politics #ProtectFamilies #Protest #RefugeesWelcome #ResistTrump #RiseAndResist #SanctuaryCity #‎Solidarity #StopDeportations #StopICEraids  

© Erik McGregor - erikrivas@hotmail.com - 917-225-8963