The administration is now taking aim at a faith-based New
York activist coalition. This morning ICE detained the New Sanctuary Coalition's executive
director, Ravi Ragbir, during his scheduled check-in at the federal building in
Manhattan. This followed the January 3 detention of another New Sanctuary
activist, Jean Montrevil. The message was clear: the Trump regime is cracking
down on the resistance.
At least 400 people gathered outside the federal building
starting at 9 am today to show support for Ragbir as he attended his
appointment inside. Supporters marched silently for more than an hour and then,
at 10:30 held hands for a few moments, forming a chain around the building.
When word came out that the activist was being detained and removed from the
ICE office, the crowd rushed to the driveway leading into the building’s
garage. A number of protesters attempted to block the vehicle carrying Ragbir
out; the first attempts were beside the building on Duane Street and then
continued for several blocks down Broadway, trying up traffic for about twenty
minutes.
 |
| Duane Street: protesters surround vehicle carrying Ravi Ragbir |
New York City police arrested a total of 18 demonstrators,
mostly on Broadway in full view of City Hall; New York claims to be a
“sanctuary city,” but its police persist in helping ICE agents carry out their
detentions. Arrestees included two City Council members, Ydanis Rodriguez and
Jumaane Williams, along with Rev. Micah Bucey, Rev. Juan Carlos Ruiz, and other
faith leaders. BuzzFeed News posted footage of the
protests; among other police violations, the tape shows Jumaane Williams
wincing in pain from tight wrist restraints.
As activists protested in Lower Manhattan, Trump was meeting
with lawmakers in the White House to discuss immigration issues. During the
gathering, the president reportedly described immigrants from Haiti, El
Salvador and Africa as “people
from shithole countries.” According to sources familiar with the meeting,
Trump added: ““Why do we need more Haitians? Take them out.” As Jonathan Katz,
formerly the AP correspondent in Haiti, pointed out,
Trump’s remark came one day before the eighth anniversary of the 2010
earthquake that killed tens or even hundreds of thousands of people, including
Haitian-American citizens, in southern Haiti.
ICE detains immigrant rights leader Ravi Ragbir, prompting
Manhattan protests
 |
| Ragbir displays his handcuffs |
By Nicole Brown and Lauren Cook, AM New York
January 11, 2018
Hundreds of protesters gathered outside of an Immigration
and Customs Enforcement detention center on the Lower West Side Thursday,
chanting "ICE out now" and demanding to know the whereabouts of a
prominent immigrant rights leader, just hours after two city councilmen were
arrested during a similar protest in Foley Square.
City councilmen Ydanis Rodriguez and Jumaane Williams were
among 18 people who were arrested during the Foley Square protest sparked by
the arrest of Ravi Ragbir, the executive director of faith-based immigrant
rights group New Sanctuary Coalition of New York City. Ragbir was detained when
he showed up for a check-in with Immigration and Customs Enforcement,
organizers of the rally said.[…]
Read the full article:
Immigration activist Jean Montrevil
detained
By Tequila Minsky, Caribbean Life
January 11, 2018
With the piercing sounds of sirens and traffic, immigration
activists, local politicians, and clergy braved bitter weather at the prayer
vigil and rally protesting the detention of Jean Montrevil.
Montrevil was picked up during his lunch break — van
transport entrepreneur — outside his home near Far Rockaway. He was on a
deportation order.
Demonstrators prayed and then spoke. They held placards that
read: “Free Jean Montrevil Now and Let Haitians Stay.”[...]
Read the full article:
https://www.caribbeanlifenews.com/stories/2018/1/2018-01-12-tm-jean-montrevil-detained-cl.html
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