New York, NY – On the occasion of World Refugee Day, a global day in honor of refugees, African Communities Together, the City of Refuge Coalition, partners, and allies organized the third annual World Refugee Day Rally and March on June 20, 2019; the only public protest in New York City planned in observance of World Refugee Day.
Hundreds of New Yorkers from dozens of refugee, immigrant, religious, and community organizations staged a march from the New York Public Library and rally in front of Trump World Tower and the United Nations. Last year, over 1,500 protestors joined the march.
This year, marchers calling on members of Congress to reject the criminalization of refugees and asylum seekers and support the expansion of humanitarian immigration policies, like H.R.6, the Dream and Promise Act.
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The protest, organized by the City of Refuge Coalition, is calling attention to the prolonged detention of asylum seekers and condemned the deaths of six migrant children that have died in the custody of U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) since September 2018, as well as the detention and caging of refugees and asylum seekers and calling for a truly humanitarian immigration policy.
Marchers wheeled a cage containing children’s stuffed animals wearing emergency blankets symbolizing detained children and those who have died in custody. Speakers denounced conditions at detention facilities that some advocates and historians have compared to concentration camps.
Since September 2018, six migrant children have died in the custody of U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP). Their deaths and the continued separation of immigrant families represent an ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Our demands are as follows:
- Defend TPS & DED
- Protect Refugees
- Keep Families Together
- Stop Locking Up Asylum Seekers
On the occasion of World Refugee Day, a global observance of refugee issues, the City of Refuge Coalition is mobilizing New Yorkers to reject the criminalization of refugees and asylum seekers and support the expansion of humanitarian immigration policies.
In addition to calling on members of Congress to address this humanitarian crisis, marchers will be calling on New York State legislators to reform New York’s immigration bail bond system and stop the prolonged detention of asylum seekers.
The City of Refuge Coalition is announcing the introduction of S6521 (Bailey)/Axxx (Epstein), which would cap the fees that asylum seekers and other detained immigrants pay immigration bail bond companies.
Organizers called on New York State legislators to reform New York’s immigration bail bond system and enable asylum seekers by passing the bill into law.
© Erik McGregor – erikrivas@hotmail.com – 917-225-8963