President Trump is expected to repeal the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy on Tuesday, ending deportation protections for hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants who arrived in the United States as children. Jeff Sessions is set to make the announcement at 11 a.m., and will reportedly lay out the president's plan to give Congress six months to enact a replacement of the Obama-era executive action.
It remains unclear what the administration's decision will mean for the country's 800,000 DREAMers, many of whom have lived in the United States nearly their entire lives. Throughout the week, New Yorkers will take to the streets to voice their opposition to the president, and to show their support for DACA recipients and undocumented immigrants. See below for our roundup of those demonstrations, along with some other activism opportunities happening throughout the city this week.
DACA Fights Back: Trump Tower Take Over
On Tuesday morning, thousands of protesters are expected to descend on Trump Tower as part of a "DACA Fight Back Midtown Shutdown." Organized by activist group Movimiento Cosecha, and promoted by the Women's March, the demonstration will involve school walkouts, attempts at street shutdowns and an occupation of Trump Tower, plus other forms of direct action protest taken by undocumented leaders. According to an event flyer, protesters will begin gathering outside the Fifth Avenue tower at 11 a.m., and will stay there all day and into the evening.
Tuesday, September 5th, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. // Trump Tower, 725 Fifth Avenue
CUNY Students Defend DACA At City Hall
On Tuesday afternoon, about four miles south of Trump Tower, a separate rally in support of DACA recipients has been planned by students at the Borough of Manhattan Community College—home to one of the largest student DACA populations in the city. Organizers are calling on "all CUNY students...to join us. Let us all stand united as one and show our support." Advocates will gather at Icarus Plaza in Tribeca (119 Chambers Street), before marching to City Hall for a rally featuring student speakers and more.
Tuesday, September 5th, 4 p.m. - 9 p.m. // 199 Chambers Street to City Hall
The New York Immigration Coalition will gather supporters in Foley Square at 5:30 p.m. "to remind this President that we will protect immigrant New York and that we are HERE TO STAY!" After rallying at the downtown square, the protesters plan to march to the Brooklyn Bridge, according to an event flyer.
Tuesday, September 5th, 5:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. // Foley Square 111 Worth Street to Brooklyn Bridge
The Fight For Healthcare For All
Healthcare workers and progressive activists will gather at Verso Books in Dumbo on Wednesday for a town hall meeting on the coming fight for universal health care. Speakers include Oliver Fein, chair of the New York Physicians for a National Health Program; Sean Petty, who serves on the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) Board of Directors; and Laura Bartkoviak, a health care analyst and member of the International Socialist Organization. A discussion period and reception will follow the town hall-style meeting.
Wednesday, September 6th, 7 p.m. - 11 p.m. // Verso Books, 20 Jay Street, Suite 1010
The NYC Labor Day Parade, hosted by the city's AFL-CIO Central Labor Council, comes to midtown this Saturday. A host of union and worker-supporting groups will participate, and some coalitions have specifically said they'll be marching in support of immigrant and low-wage workers. The full parade route can be found here.
Saturday, September 9th, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. // Fifth Avenue and 44th Street
Another rally in support of DACA, this one is planned for Saturday afternoon outside Trump Tower. Protesters here will demand that Trump not repeal the protections, and that Congress pass the DREAM act. The act, which would provide a legal path to citizenship for DREAMers, currently has bipartisan sponsors in both the House and Senate, but faces opposition from a majority of Republicans.
Saturday, September 9th, 2 p.m. // Trump Tower, 725, Fifth Avenue
