Before anyone could vote, a state Supreme Court judge blocked plans for New York City’s legal residents before naturalizing US citizens to elect their mayor and other city officials.
The 1867 legislative proposal, known as Our City, Our Votepassed in the City Council in December and signed into law by Mayor Adams in January, was later challenged as unconstitutional by Republicans.
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Justice Ralph J. Porzio ruled that it conflicted with constitutional guidelines and said that giving non-citizens the right to vote would require a referendum.
Despite Monday’s rain, heat and humidity, a score of the more than 800,000 residents with legal status and Dreamers like Emili Prado went to the Mayor’s Office to meet with elected officials and lawyers who promise to continue fighting for this right.
The so-called ‘non-citizens’ protested at the Mayor’s Office.
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Which does not contemplate their participation in presidential elections, leaders in Congress or even state officials such as the head of the governorship, members of the New York Senate or the State Assembly; only from council members, county presidents, municipal comptroller, public defender and mayor.
“I am very disappointed but not surprised, because they are constantly excluding us, they are failing us but we continue, we are going to continue fighting without stopping until they give us this right,” said Prado, who is a DACA beneficiary.
While for Diana Rodríguez, who is also a DACA beneficiary: “It has been a 10-year fight and we know that many immigrants have been essential in the pandemic and we know that this would be an opportunity to participate in our local government.”
Queens Councilmember Shekar Krishnan was at the protest.
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At stake, they say, is not only their political participation but also the future of the new generations: “We could decide the future of our children, little brothers in schools, our community. It affects us directly,” says Prado.
And they are not alone, a broad coalition of organizations and politicians say that the court ruling is a setback but not the end of the fight.
As Queens Councilman Shekar Krishnan put it: “It’s undemocratic and we’re not going to accept it. This decision is a disaster and the truth is we have a court that is out of touch with our communities. It’s our immigrant communities that are pushing this city “.
The residents covered by this law and affected by today’s court decision are one-ninth of the more than 7 million New Yorkers who are of voting age.
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