CNY Protest Against Attacks on Immigrants and Minorities in Downtown Syracuse CNY Protest Against Recent Attacks on Immigrants and Minorities in Syracuse

By Gabrielle Riles, SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News)– Central New Yorkers held a protest rally in Downtown Syracuse on Tuesday.

Many community organizations, as well as residents, protested outside of 24th District Representative John Katko office at the Mackenzie Hughes Tower in Syracuse, New York.

The rally began at noon to hold Katko accountable for his inaction to speak out against recent attacks on immigrants and minorities.

Workers Center of Central New York organizer, Kayla Kelechian, distributed signs to attendees and led the schedule of speakers and chants at the rally. She believes that protesting is needed to encourage Katko to speak out.

“In a city like Syracuse where we’ve opened our doors to the immigrant community that we need to continue that and there should be no reason that somebody here that has political power not speak for us for what we really want and what our city represents,” said Kelechian.

The rally began with 15 minutes of silence in coordination with the Syracuse Immigrant and Refugee Defense Network who holds weekly silent vigils at Katko’s office.

These vigils are held because of Katko’s silence about the ICE detention facilities and potential raids ICE plans to have in New York.

“We wanna make sure that we end family separation and close those camps and we wanna hold Congressman Katko accountable,” said Kelechian. “If they detain anybody we’re showing up and he needs to know.”

Protesters also would like Katko to stand up against the racism that the Trump Administration is spewing out towards four minority and immigrant congresswomen. President Trump recently tweeted that the four women “can’t leave fast enough” which includes 14th District Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.

During the rally there was continuous chanting of “say it loud, say it clear, immigrants are welcomed here” by protestors.