Three days of protests culminated outside the Watson Hotel in Manhattan. This Thursday, families and women with children were already sleeping in the rooms of the hotel converted into a shelter. The last group of protesters, single men, refusing to be transferred to the cruise terminal in Brooklyn after living in this hotel for about two months, packed their bags and were taken on buses.
The code blue activated by the intense cold prohibits people from sleeping on the streets in dangerous temperatures, which made the job of the New York police easier. Although the mayor’s office said no arrests were reported, one or the other left in handcuffs, according to reports. The Department of Health was in charge of cleaning the streets and sidewalks and a group of police officers were assigned to guard the hotel. Despite the fact that they have already been transferred, the discontent will not stop.
“First of all, the place is not suitable for living, firstly because there is no heating, it is a shed where they put everyone together, all in one space, the bathrooms are too far away, there is no transportation to get us out, the truth is that it is too far away” says Freddy Rodríguez, a Venezuelan migrant.
Mayor Eric Adams said he was deeply frustrated with the situation and his office criticized some of the agitators at these protests. The mayor insists that he needs the help of the federal government to face the immigration crisis.
Activists advocate for permanent housing for the homeless and have asked local government to drop temporary plans to create shelters in tents or as in the case of the Brooklyn cruise terminal, which will only be open until spring.
