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Protests In NYC This Week: Rallies, Dance Parties, Radical Gardening
By
Jake Offenhartz
Published May 22, 2017
Modified May 22, 2017
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By
Jake Offenhartz
Published May 22, 2017
Modified May 22, 2017
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This week, President Trump continues his nine-day, five-country trip through the Middle East, where, beguiling orbs aside, things are going about how you might expect. Here in New York, we've got a rainy work week ahead of us, chock full of resistance events, both indoors and not. As always, we've rounded up the coming day's most notable protests, rallies, and solidarity-themed dance parties.
Tell the NYC Banking Commission: Drop Wells Fargo & #DefundDAPL
Environmental activists will gather outside the New York City Banking Commission's annual meeting on Tuesday to demand that the city drop its relationship with Wells Fargo and any other banks helping to fund the Dakota Access Pipeline. The #DefundDAPL activists have circulated a petition, which they will distribute during the meeting. They're also urging supporters to call the mayor and comptroller.
Tuesday, May 23, 3:30 p.m. | Brooklyn Municipal Building, 5th Floor Conference Room 210 Joralemon Street
Rise Up For Fast Food Workers' Rights
Fast food employees and their allies will gather outside City Hall on Wednesday to demand the City Council pass the Fair Work Week bill, which would end on-call scheduling practices, and the Fast Food Worker Empowerment Bill, which would allow employees to forward automatic paycheck deductions to a non profit organization tasked with advocating for better working conditions. The two bills, introduced in December, would have far reaching impacts for the city's approximately 50,000 fast food employees. Those joining the demonstration are encouraged to meet an hour beforehand at McDonald's, on the day of their annual shareholder's meeting, to protest corporate greed.
Wednesday, May 24th, 12 p.m. | City Hall
Bushwick's radical political center the Base will open up to the public on Wednesday for an afternoon of gardening, seed sharing, and storytelling. Those attending the "anticapitalist garden network" can sample free seeds, building materials, tea and snacks—in exchange, a portion of all produce will be harvested for the Base's revolutionary food sharing programs.
Wednesday, May 24th, 1 p.m. | 1302 Myrtle Avenue
Protest Trump's Global Gag Rule
The Trump administration announced plans last week to greatly expand the "global gag rule," effectively cutting off American support to any organization abroad that offers information to women about abortion. On Thursday, advocates will gather outside one of Trump's hotels to protest the policy that, according to the ACLU, "will have a devastating impact on global health — particularly for women and families — as well as on free speech." Rise and Resist and the Health Global Access Project are organizing the demonstration, and they're currently seeking co-sponsors—sign up here.
Thursday, May 25th, 12 p.m. | Trump International Hotel & Tower, One Central Park West
Organized by Queens nonprofit Flux Factory, this panel will explore the challenges faced by non-commercial art and cultural organizations in the city, with a focus on the ways in which arts supporters can help dismantle the hierarchies that "limit the ability of marginalized groups to define what New York City's culture will look like." Speakers include a mix of artists, organizers and educators, including Taja Cheek, Noe Gaytan, and Ali Rosa-Salas. The event is free, and seating is first come, first serve.
Thursday, May 25th, 7 p.m. | Flux Factory 39-31, Long Island City
Solidarity Rally: Stand With B&H Workers
Following a well-attended May Day workers strike, the employees of B&H are now in the midst of negotiating their first union contract as management threatens to move their jobs to a New Jersey warehouse 75 miles away. Hoping to apply pressure on the bosses, the NYC chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America has organized another solidarity rally, this one taking place on Friday outside the Hell's Kitchen location.
Friday, May 26th, 12 p.m. | 420 9th Avenue at 34th Street
Center for Community Alternatives Fundraiser
The Silent Barn hosts this fundraiser for the Center for Community Alternatives, a Brooklyn-based nonprofit promoting community-based alternatives to incarceration. The event features music from Alice Irene, Stuttering, Stay Champion, and A Bunch Of Dead People. Tickets are $8, with all proceeds going toward the nonprofit.
Friday, May 26th, 7 p.m. | The Silent Barn, 603 Bushwick Avenue, Brooklyn
Tagged
protests
rallies
trump
Jake Offenhartz
Jake Offenhartz is a former Gothamist reporter.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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