AAFSC joined Council Member Avilés’ “NYC Know Your Rights” Act rally with so many of our partners on a sunny and hopeful morning. Watch remarks from AAFSC’s Executive Director Randy Ali.
Full transcript:
“Thank you, Council Member Avilés and our partners in the City Council. And a huge shoutout to the other incredible organizations here today who consistently show real leadership and stand up for immigrant New Yorkers. It is so uplifting to see people rise to this moment and do their part to help immigrant families feel safer, more informed, and more supported.
At the Arab-American Family Support Center, we serve more than 20,000 people each year across New York City, most of them immigrants. We see every day the enormous anxiety and fear that have taken root because of the inhumane immigration policies we are witnessing.
What could be worse than living with the fear that a loved one, your sibling, your spouse, your child, could be taken away and detained by authorities? And what could be worse than not knowing what to do or where to turn if that moment comes? We know that a major part of helping families stay safe at this moment is making sure they know their rights so that they can protect their loved ones. We are all doing everything we can to provide Know Your Rights training and share trusted information. But the needs are great, and we cannot do it alone. And that is why this bill is critical. Knowing your rights should never depend on luck, language, or access. In New York City, it should be a given.
New York City must do everything in its power to make sure all immigrant families understand how the law protects them. We need to support this bill and others that do just that. That is how we protect families. That is how we stand up for our neighbors. And that is how New York City must lead.”