August 30, 2019
A large group of immigration activists converged on Grand Central during yesterday’s evening rush hour. Estimates ranged from 150 to 300 people according to several sources, including the police. Beginning at 5:30 the protesters gathered silently on the Vanderbilt Avenue side of the information kiosk as commuters rushed past. Metro North Police deployed bike rack style metal barriers to corral the activists and facilitate commuter foot traffic.
The gathering was called by Rise and Resist and was the latest in a series of semi-monthly actions designed to draw attention to conditions in which refugees are being held, mainly on our southern border. Spokesperson Stu Waldman explained to the Gazette that these actions have been growing steadily larger since they began last November. There were initially about 20 participants, he said.
“People are disgusted by what’s going on” both on the borders and in cities throughout the USA. “Because of the 24 hour news cycle when a child dies it’s off the next day. We want to keep it out there all the time.”
