By Erik Bottcher
The November 8th election results have spurred New Yorkers to action like no event in recent memory. On Sunday, November 20th, hundreds of angry, but energized, New Yorkers packed into The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center (The Center) on West 13th Street for a community meeting about resisting Donald J. Trump and his extreme agenda. The meeting was organized by a coalition of activists, including: Council Member Corey Johnson, R.J. Jordan, Kate Linker, and others.
Council Member Corey Johnson opened the meeting with a ‘call to action’ and a moment of silence in recognition of Trans Day of Remembrance, which takes place every year on November 20th. Veteran activist Ken Kidd served as the moderator for this event. He facilitated a discussion with attendees in which suggested goals and actions were solicited from the standing-room only crowd. Suggested goals included: blocking Trump’s extremist appointees, preventing the dismantling of the Affordable Care Act, and taking back Congress in 2018. Suggested actions included: conducting voter registration drives, pressuring Congressional Democrats to stand up to Trump, and becoming involved with some of the great local nonprofit organizations that embody progressive values.
Mayor Bill de Blasio, during a surprise appearance, vowed to protect New Yorkers from Trump’s policies and spoke passionately about New York City’s role in resisting his agenda. Other elected officials who attended included: Congressman Jerrold Nadler, Senator Brad Hoylman, and Assembly Member Deborah Glick.
Before and after the program, attendees browsed tables featuring literature and sign-up sheets from organizations including: the Village Independent Democrats, Planned Parenthood, the Anti-Defamation League, and others.
Attendees left the meeting with six steps that can be taken right now:
- Register to vote OR register a friend to vote.
- Call Senator Chuck Schumer at (212) 486-4430 and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand at (202) 224-4451, and urge them to obstruct, oppose, and filibuster extremist nominees and legislation.
- Attend an upcoming action. Email upcomingaction@gmail.com to get a list of upcoming protests, actions, and events.
- Read Congressman Jerrold Nadler’s article about effectively resisting the Trump Agenda (at www.jerrynadler.com).
- Join your local Democratic club.
- Attend the next meeting.
This was the first of many meetings to help plan an organized resistance to Trump’s agenda. Video of the November 20th event can be viewed on Council Member Johnson’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/coreyinnyc. The next meeting of this group (which has yet to be named) will take place on the evening of Sunday, December 5th. For details on future meetings, email upcomingaction@gmail.com.
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