In the 60 years that the iconic New York Philharmonic has presented its summer concerts in city parks, 15 million people have reveled in “priceless music absolutely free” and the joy of community of sharing the lawn with 150,000 of your neighbors. The New York Philharmonic Concerts in the Parks Presented by Didi and Oscar Schaefer is an extraordinary gift to New Yorkers and visitors, presenting these free performances in parks in all five boroughs.
This tradition, which offers the official start of New York City’s summer cultural calendar, continued this year with the orchestra led by its incoming Artistic Director, Gaustavo Dudamel, who conducted the carefully curated program – the 17,196th concert on the Great Lawn – continues this week at Van Cortlandt Park, Bronx (June 5); Prospect Park, Brooklyn (June 6), and Cunningham Park, Queens, (June 7):
Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4 in F-minor, Op.36, composed in 1877 after his wedding, then abandonment of his bride, and dedicated to his patron, muse and “best friend,” Nadezbda von Meck, with its “complicated” first movement, as the composer himself wrote (the program notes are fascinating).
Arturo Sandoval’s “Allegro maestoso, from Concerto for Trumpet No. 2,” with the composer himself giving a thrilling performance on the trumpet. Sandoval, Marissa Silverman writes in the notes, was imprisoned in Cuba for illegally listening to jazz. He has since gone on to be a Kennedy Center honoree and 10-time Grammy Award winner.
The New York premier of Gonzalo Grau’s “Odisea: Concerto for Venezuelan Cuatro and Orchestra, with a virtuoso performance on cuatro (a four-stringed ukulele-like instrument) by Jorge Glem, a Latin Grammy Award winner also from Venezuela. Dudamel, a fellow Venezuelan, commissioned the piece in 2021 as artistic director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
The concert concluded with selections from Stravinsky’s “The Firebird Suite,” before fireworks, which have become the traditional end to the parks concerts.
There was also a “surprise” appearance by Bernie Williams, a former professional baseball player who is now a musician, composer, philanthropist, and crusader for arts and music education, born and raised in Puerto Rico.
Leaders of Long Island’s health care, social service organizations and environmental groups warned of the damaging impacts to lives “of neighbors, family, community” as a result of the funding cuts in the Republican budget bill (known as Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill”) that passed the House in the middle of the night by a single vote. The bill, while slashing Medicaid, SNAP, clean energy projects and raising costs, delivers the needless tax cuts to the wealthiest, and will explode the national debt by $3.3 trillion.
As the Democrats on the Ways and Means Committee reported, the “GOP Tax Scam” cuts nearly $1 trillion from the health care system – effectively chipping away if not repealing entirely the Affordable Care Act – eliminating health coverage for at least 13.7 million Americans including 1.5 million New Yorkers.
The largest cut to hospitals and healthcare providers in history, will raise costs for consumers, shift costs to states and cut payments to providers, and make it harder for people to get and keep affordable health coverage.. People who no longer have access to care early and in clinics, will be forced to go to emergency rooms when they are sicker, at much higher cost. Since New York and other states guarantee access to health care, that results in higher taxes and higher premiums on private insurance – so even if you thought that these historic cuts to Medicaid would not impact you, they will.
The bill cuts a historic $700 billion in Medicaid; $267 billion in SNAP benefits; triggers $490 billion in Medicare cuts; and would result in 10 million Americans losing health insurance, all to deliver an average tax break for the top 0.1 percent of $225,000, paid for by taking away the services from millions of the most vulnerable people who will suffer from the loss in services the most, while still resulting in exploding the national debt by $3.8 trillion.
The proposed healthcare cuts in the House-passed reconciliation package represent the largest cut to hospitals and healthcare providers in history. The bill eliminates health coverage for at least 13.7 million Americans, including 1.5 million New Yorkers. It raises costs for consumers, shifts costs to states and cuts payments to providers, and makes it harder for people to get and keep affordable health coverage.
Nearly 7 million New Yorkers benefit from Medicaid. New York State estimates these changes will cost New York $13.4B per year. NYS currently spends $35.5B per year in state dollars on Medicaid.
Hospital losses in NYS will exceed $1.3B annually due to an increase in uncompensated care and reduced reimbursements. According to the Fiscal Policy Institute, Long Island will lose almost 30,000 jobs as a result.
Congressmembers Tom Suozzi and Laura Gillen, Democrats of Nassau County, brought together community leaders at the YES Community Counseling Center in Levittown, Long Island, to address the impact of cuts to Medicaid, SNAP and other essential safety net programs.
“I have serious concerns about the reconciliation and budget plan for several reasons,” said Rep. Suozzi. “Most notably, the package includes callous cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and other vital programs that support hospitals, nursing homes, and children’s care centers. These cuts will significantly undermine the delivery of healthcare services, putting access and quality of care at risk for everyone.”
“Additionally, the reconciliation package expands tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans—those who need them the least,” Suozzi continued. “While implementing these deep and harmful cuts, the budget plan also adds significantly to the national deficit.”
“I’m all for making people’s lives better with the SALT deduction, but we don’t need to cut taxes for wealthiest while taking away health insurance and food assistance from people who need it most,” Suozzi said.
People making more than $1 million per year would have an average tax cut of almost $90,000. The top 5% would receive almost half of the total tax cuts
Rep. Gillen said, “Being factual, not fear mongering, there are real life impacts these cuts will have on neighbors, friends, our own wallets. When Medicaid cuts go through, it will increase premiums on private insurance. Cuts to SNAP, to Island Harvest, will have devastating impact. When health care costs go up, parents won’t eat to have money for child’s medication.
“Be honest: all this is cost shifting scheme to make it look like they are making cuts to be fiscally responsible, but they are increasing deficit, while shifting the burden to New York State to pick up bill for what federal government will no longer be spending in New York to feed hungry. If New York has to pick up the bill, our taxes will go up in one of most highly taxed places, because we [in New York] take care of our poor, our elderly.
“What kind of country do we want to be? One that cares about the vulnerable or only cares about those who pay to play?
”There is no greater champion for eliminating waste fraud abuse [than me], but this is about putting up roadblock to those who need assistance to get ahead.” Gillen said.
This budget bill, Northwell Health CEO Michael Dowling declared, “is undermining our commitment to public health and health overall – not just hospitals and ambulatory clinics, but everything. It is a curtailment of protecting people against pollution, against commitment to dealing with gun violence, undermining major commitment to research and science across the board – 50% reduction in funding for National Institutes of Health – [engendering] the idea that science is bad, that science doesn’t work. We’re all healthier because of commitment to science of last 50 years. What is happening is undermining of trust in government, trust in organizations.
“We also see an assault on international partnerships and alliances – eliminating the alliance with the World Health Organization which provides us across the board information on what happening around world healthwise, alerting us to what might happen here.
“It is a devaluation of past successes we’ve all had. Taken all together, it sends the message we don’t care much about health, wellbeing, people’s livelihoods, especially those not at top echelon, that we can’t trust anything unless we tell you what we want you to trust,” Dowling declared.
Turning to the specifics of the budget bill, Dowling noted “the implications are larger than you think.” It will reduce revenue by $370 million; cut Medicaid by $200 million; curtailing eligibility for Medicaid will render 1.5 million people in New York ineligible for Medicaid. The bill also cuts millions from Northwell’s research. (Northwell is the largest employer in New York State.)
“It’s about what we believe in – health, environment. This is the opposite. We should be going forward, not backward – help people more, not taking away for which people fought so many years to get, and assume it doesn’t matter – it’s about a philosophy of government, about caring, it’s what you believe in. Up here, we believe America is better than this. We have got to make sure this is curtailed and can be reversed as the bill goes into the Senate,” Dowling said.
Wendy Darwell, President and CEO of Suburban Hospital Alliance of New York State, noted, “The numbers here for health care are staggering – $1 trillion in health care cuts in all, means $13.5 billion in cuts to New York State; 1.5 million will lose insurance coverage; $150 million cut a year to Nassau and Suffolk hospitals. It is not possible for New York State to absorb $13.5 billion hit without cutting benefits, eligibility, providers.
“The numbers are hard to relate to. You may think the cuts may hit somebody else, but they hit everybody. People who need care will continue regardless of insurance or not, so will come to the ER without insurance, get care in the most expensive way, probably when they are much sicker. Instead of spending a little money on coverage, we will spend a lot on emergencies, and most will get charity care. That destabilizes the healthcare infrastructure – health systems will have to respond. It will be hard to retain the level of service, the kind of access as now.
“If don’t think this applies to you, you will likely face longer wait times at the ER, less access to service in community, it will be harder to get appointments to see doctor. It cuts across the health care system.”
Most people do not realize how expansive the state’s health insurance coverage options are now because of the funding system, but could include the adult child who aged off insurance at 26 (thanks Obamacare!); a parent in nursing home. In absence of a better option, Medicaid is long term care insurance for New Yorkers.
Cuts will have impact on commercial insurance, because costs will have to be offset – if you have private insurance, you won’t be immune either. From a hospital perspective: the median operating margin in New York State 0%, so any cuts put that margin into negative.Cuts this staggering can’t be absorbed and will fundamentally destabilize the state’s healthcare system.”
Congressman Suozzi noted,”I’’m in a relatively wealthy district, yet 29% of children in my district [40% nationally] rely on Medicaid for health insurance; two out of three senior citizens in nursing homes in America are covered by Medicaid, one out of 10 of vets in America are covered by Medicaid. Think of the children, the elderly, the disabled that will be impacted by this.”
Dr. Shetal Shah, Past President of American Academy of Pediatrics NY Chapter 2 (Long Island) said, the House bill jeopardizes health of 37 million children across country at risk.
“Medicaid is foundational to children’s health in New York State – 49% of all newborns are covered by Medicaid; 44% depend upon Medicaid for life saving asthma medication…Medicaid is for all of us -not just for people more socially vulnerable.” Even if you get insurance through your employer there are annual caps on coverage. “if you are unlucky to have a newborn with congenital heart lesion, you will surpass the limits in a matter of weeks; few could afford the tens of thousands a day to care.” Medicaid can be the difference between selling a home to pay for medical debt. “It is a safety net for all of us – sad fact is most don’t think about it until we need it.”
Also, hospitals rely on each other to provide high level care across Long Island and state – children’s hospitals across Long Island are shared resources, specialized resources. Medicaid helps keep them open, but drastic cuts are a threat that hospitals will close. Then we all lose community resources – pediatric ER , specialized burn and rehabilitation, pediatric dialysis and intensive care centers.
“Make no mistake: these cuts will cause all of us to pay more; will detach children from primary care; simple problems that could be addressed in clinic become bigger problems in ER; and private insurance will raise premiums to offset costs.”
Mental health services are also jeopardized, at a time when the state and Long Island are still struggling under a mental health crisis, with overdoses and suicides.
Dr. Jeffrey Reynolds, President and CEO, Family and Children’s Association, said his agency serves 36,000 children facing drug addiction, mental health crises, and suicidal ideation.
“It’s no secret this country, this state, and Long Island struggled under mental health crisis since covid – number of overdoses – over time – more than 1 in 4 adults have demonstrated symptoms of anxiety and depression; one in six kids contemplated suicide. The single largest payer of children’s mental healthcare is Medicaid
“Things are starting to get better in attempted suicides, suicides, involuntary placements, school avoidance. It’s undeniable – one of the ways we’ve made any progress has been through Medicaid programs that support mental health, that support facilities to support kids considering taking own life. We could take a victory lap in drop in opioid overdoses – decrease in fatalities is cause to celebrate but not for too long – 30,000 didn’t die. But 80,000 Americans did die – nothing to celebrate.”
“Now is not the time to rip the rug from out from under families, hospitals, communities, folks who spent 10 years looking for hope in midst of crisis – finally have glimmer of hope only for Washington to take away. Everyday average folks should understand that this could happen to any one’s family – make sure care and treatment available, speak up now.”
(Reminder: Republicans are constantly blaming the gun violence epidemic on mental health, rather than the unconscionable easy access to weapons of war, but do nothing to provide mental health services. Instead, as Suozzi pointed out, the budget bill repeals a $200 fee and requirement to register “unusual or dangerous firearm accessories like silencers that dates from 1934, and that brought $145 million in revenue on 710,000 silencers sold in the USA in 2024. “They gut the Affordable Care Act, but make it easier to buy silencer,” Suozzi said.]
The Republican “Big Beautiful Bill” cuts funding for Narcan that has saved thousands of people who would have died from overdoses, and for drug treatment. And Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman is sitting on $100 million in federal money to address opioid addiction, noted Larry Lamendola, Co-Chair of Levittown Community Action Coalition.
The House bill would also impact more than 7000 who depend on disability services – housing, employment services, transportation, day services, and direct support from meals to medication. In New York, medicaid funds 95% of services overseen by office of disability services to organizations like AHRC, said Nicole Zerillo, Director of Strategic Communications of AHRC.
Medicaid is a shared federal and state program. When the federal share shrinks, the state has to choose whether to reduce services, put people on wait list. More staff leave, smaller providers close and people with developmental disabilities lose the supports they need to live safely.
New York spends $850 million, “but continued investment relies on a sustainable federal match. We can’t afford to backslide. Forcing people to recertify Medicaid eligibility twice year won’t improve accuracy or root out fraud, it will just limit coverage,” she said.
“The Republican Budget bill “undoes 75 years of progress to help move from institutions to inclusion [note: that is the DEI that Trump has declared “illegal.”]
“The bill risks cutting critical supports – and pushing people back to margin: protect Medicaid, right to live in community and protect the future spent generations building.”
Randi Shubin Dresner, President and CEO of Island Harvest, noted that 2.8 million New Yorkers – 14% of the population – depend on SNAP dollars. It’s not just about giving people who are vulnerable money so they can buy food. That money is spent in local supermarkets, delis, bodegas, with an $11.5 billion impact on local businesses in New York State.
The cuts in SNAP will take 9.5 billion means off the table every year, across the country. Every meal supports a person. 9.5 billion meals are at risk for our neighbors, relatives most in need.
Cuts have already impacted Island Harvest – $1.7 million in cuts has taken a million meals off the table.
“Many Long Islanders don’t qualify for SNAP benefits because the cost of living is so high on Long Island. So why in one of the richest communities, richest zipcodes, is Island Harvest helping over 200,000 people each year? Because it is one ecosystem- so if there are cuts in others – housing, mental health, Medicaid – it always means people have to make decisions about where to cut in family budget. The easiest is food budget – we eat 3 meals a day, countless parents are giving up 1 or 2 meals in order to fed children, pay med gills and transportation to doctor. If there are more cuts , they will cut more meals at home. Young mothers have to water down formula for their infant to make it through the day.”
Besides the direct impacts on health care, Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” slashes funding for clean energy and climate action, in order to force people back to relying on fossil fuels that impact health and contribute to pollution, global warming, climate change and climate disasters.
“This big ugly bill takes us back to 1960s energy policy,” declared Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment. “Today, we are implementing 21st century energy policy for the 21st century, tomorrow, we will be taken back to the 1960s. This bill derails the clean energy sector, one of fastest growing job ;sectors in America.”
Since Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, over 2000 new industry, manufacturing companies have been created in the U.S.; $289 billion in private sector investment; 130,000 jobs in clean energy. This bill completely eliminates the tax credit for solar, for residential and commercial. Low income and working class Americans are using the tax credits, not to save the planet but because of affordability and stability to home energy gills.
It eliminates all tax credits for electric vehicles – workign class and mid-income residents were using to add affordability to their transportation, so they aren’t at the mercy of unpredictable and expensive gas prices.
It does away with all tax credits for energy efficiency – appliances, HVAC systems, changing windows that made homes warmer in winter, cooler in summer, and helped stretch dollars and save energy.
While removing incentives for clean energy, the bill promotes “Drill, baby, drill,” – going back to oil and natural gas that will increase air pollution – asthma, heart attacks, respiratory illness, premature deaths, water contamination, and increase and accelerate the impacts of climate change – which Long Island cares about. Overall, taking us back in energy policy is bad for health, It makes no sense, unless you are invested in the oil industry..
Suozzi and Gillen noted that House Democrats attempted to amend the budget bill – offering 500 different amendments over the marathon sessions in committees and on the floor – all of which were shot down by Republicans, who even shot down raising taxes on those earning $100 million a year.
A new report by Gender Equity Policy Institute (GEPI) released a new report, Maternal Mortality in the United States After Abortion Bans, which analyzes trends in maternal mortality, reveals that women living in states with abortion bans are twice as likely to die during pregnancy, childbirth, or shortly after giving birth, compared to those in states where abortion is legal and accessible. Currently, 62.7 million women and girls live in states with abortion bans.
Key Findings:
Mothers living in states that banned abortion are nearly 2x as likely to die during pregnancy, childbirth, or soon after giving birth, compared to mothers living in supportive states where abortion was legal and accessible.
Maternal mortality fell 21% in supportive states post Dobbs
Maternal mortality rose 56% in Texas in the first full year of the state’s abortion ban; up 95% among White women
Black mothers living in banned states were 3.3x as likely to die as White mothers in those states.
Women’s risk of maternal death in Texas was 155% higher than in California
Latina mothers in Texas faced nearly triple the risk of maternal mortality as those in California.
A stark example of the disparity between banned and supportive states is Texas, where mothers face significantly higher risks of maternal mortality compared to those in supportive states. In Texas, mothers are 1.7 times as likely to experience maternal mortality, with Latina and White mothers facing double the risk compared to their counterparts in states that provide abortion access. Additionally, Black women in Texas were 2.5 times as likely as White women in the state to suffer maternal death.
“Abortion bans are putting the lives of women—particularly Black and Latina mothers—at serious risk,” said Dr. Nancy L. Cohen, President of Gender Equity Policy Institute. “This data is a wake-up call: maternal mortality is preventable, yet we are failing to protect those most vulnerable. If we don’t change course, I fear more and more women could die.”
This report is the fourth publication in Gender Equity Policy Institute’s series on Reproductive Health in the United States, and presents GEPI’s analysis of 2019-2023 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data on maternal mortality to compare maternal health outcomes in the banned states, the supportive states, and the U.S. overall.
Meanwhile, Women’s March is sounding the alarm that” the Trump administration is floating a plan to reward women with cash and medals for having more children. Nazi Germany awarded the ‘Motherhood Cross’ to women who birthed for the regime. Mussolini paid women to have six or more kids—while banning abortion and birth control. This was never about supporting parents. It’s about controlling our bodies and turning us into tools of the state. “
Seems ironic since these same WhiteChristoFascists “reformed” welfare to force new mothers to immediately return to the workforce in order to get welfare, without the benefit of available, affordable childcare.
But if you think those two things contradict each other – sitting back as women die while forcing women to give birth – this how it all fits: the birthrate is falling, and despite having an actual worker shortage, they are deporting every immigrant they can get their hands on. So they will need more workers, but they want an overflow of cheap, ignorant labor for the new factories and mines and drilling rigs – people who will be too much under The Man’s thumb to complain about working conditions, just like in that Gilded Age that Trump loves so much.
So they will force women to give birth – even making contraception illegal – without having adequate health care, child care or whatever care, without providing vaccinations. Because at this point, people are mere cogs, expendable. They don’t want the sickly, the disabled, the special needs children or their mothers to survive. If they die – along with the elderly who will die waiting to get their Social Security and Medicare benefits and for lack of vaccinations for diseases that were largely eradicated – that’s okay – less burden on the nation’s tits (treasury); and they don’t vote. It’s survival of the fittest, baby.
32,000 cyclists from all over the USA and the world took over the streets of New York City for the TD Five Boro Bike Tour on May 4, 2025. It’s a celebration of community, empowerment and the sheer joy of being on two wheels – especially taking over the FDR Drive, the 59th Street Bridge, the BQE Highway, the Verrazano, a total of 40 miles from downtown Manhattan through all five boroughs, ending at Staten Island.
It is the largest bike ride in the United States, and the largest charity bike ride in the world, Ken Podziba, Bike New York’s President and CEO declared.
This year, the event was joined by a celebrity, Jens Voigt of Germany, an actual legend of pro cycling for two decades, competing in 17 Tours de France and winning two stages, gave encouragement to the 32,000 riders, saying, ”It’s my honor to be with you.”
The ride showcases Bike New York’s advocacy of safe cycling and the city’s commitment to promoting biking.
NYC Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodríguez, a former member of the city Council, cheered that NYC now has the largest network of protected bike lanes in the U.S.- 555 miles of protected bike lanes of its whopping 1,500 miles of cycling infrastructure. The city added 29 protected bike lanes – 85 miles – and saw a record 228 million bike trips this year. 99% of New Yorkers live within one mile of the bicycle network. “Biking is good for health, good for the economy, and good for the planet.”
The 40 miles through all five boroughs give riders a taste and perspective of neighborhoods, culture and quirks, with bands to represent each borough.
Along the route, bikers are helped by the 1,500 cheerful volunteers who keep the route safe, pleasant, man the many rest stops along the way and cheer the riders on.
Bike New York’s mission is to empower New Yorkers to transform their lives and their communities through bicycling. “Our vision is to increase ridership, to empower youth to lead healthy, productive lives, to remove barriers to cycling, and to advocate for and expand services to reach more New Yorkers.”
Bike New York operates the largest free bicycle education program of its kind in the world. The events that Bike New York organize, from small-scale local rides to the world’s biggest charitable bike ride, funds the free bike education programs.
In addition to the TD Five Boro Bike Tour, other popular programs include the Twin Lights Ride (Sept. 7, 2025), the Discover Hudson Valley Ride (October 12, 2025), and local rides (see: https://www.bike.nyc/events/)
Bike New York also offers an innovative Recycle-a-Bicycle program, averaging 1,800 salvaged bicycles a year, diverting 45,000 pounds of waste from NYC’s landfills. The bikes, that begin as donations, are sold fully refurbished, with proceeds from sales and full service repairs directly supporting its education programs.
Bike New York’s Bike Path Program trains previously justice-involved individuals to become certified Bike Mechanics for Motivate, the operator of Citi Bike, the nation’s most extensive bike-share program, with 33,000 bikes and over 1,800 stations across metro NYC. Bike Path is a 3-week training program where mechanics are trained to repair regular bikes and Citi Bike’s electric and traditional bicycle fleets. In 2024 the program trained and saw 45 people be hired as Bike Mechanics at Motivate. The Bike Path Bike Mechanic Training & Employment Program has a 98% job placement rate.
The 6,000 May Day protesters gathered at Foley Square in front of the Federal Courthouse and surrounded by federal buildings, were fired up by the surprise appearance of Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who had raced from an airport to give her energy to the labor movement amidst the unprecedented crackdown of civil and workers rights by the Trump Administration.
AOC called on them to keep the pressure on the MAGA Republican lawmakers, who have ceded their co-equal power to the dictator wannabe rather than face his ire or a primary challenge. The protests – collectively the largest in history -through the first 100 days of Trump’s presidency, have not been futile exercises. Just that day, Republicans pulled a vote to slash Medicaid by an unprecedented $888 billion. “They have stopped and suspended next week’s Medicaid cuts because they’re getting too scared,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “They see you, New York, they see the gathering.”
She urged continued vigilance, warning that they will vote again in the dead of night when they think no one is watching.
She energized the crowd, declaring that the Trump administration is much more prepared and planned this time around in terms of the kinds of chaos that they’re trying to unleash. More than legal programs, more than policy, they are trying to invokefear.
“That is how authoritarianism works. These are the tools to get us to sacrifice and surrender our civil liberties, more than they take them.” Indeed, Trump pardoned virtually all the January 6th insurrectionists, including those who had threatened her life. “I’m not going to give them my fear,” she has told supporters. “They’re relying on us giving up. Hell no.”
We’re going to keep standing with trans people. We’re going to keep standing with the LGBT community. We’re going to keep standing for the working class. We’re going to keep fighting for a better minimum wage. We’re going to keep fighting to guarantee healthcare.
The issues that have dominated the anti-Trump protests that have been virtually constant were present here too – Hands Off public education with huge contingents of protesters from colleges and teachers unions and immigrant rights.
And typical of May Day protests were the demands by workers, but the Tax the Rich and Down with Billionaires themes more vitriolic and urgent. You get the feeling that if Trump is not stopped in his march toward authoritarianism, there will be an equally strong backlash. One cannot but think that Trump is hoping for these protests to get even more animated and violent, so he can declare martial law under the Insurrection Act and snuff out the last vestige of opposition, after decimating the judicial system, the Congress, a free press (he just signed an order canceling federal spending for NPR and PBS).
The May Day protest, an annual rite in New York City, featured the city’s labor unions, students and educators, a huge contingent of pro-Palestinian protesters, and were joined by those standing against encroachment of power, rise of autocracy and Fascism, and standing up for due process, democracy, public education, healthcare, immigrant rights, social security and Medicaid and healthcare.
Many protesters exclaimed support for immigrants, for students whose visas were cancelled and arrested for exercising free speech, and for Khalil Abrego Garcia specifically, wrongly deported to an El Salvador gulag without due process, as the face of a victim of a tyranny.
Veronica Salama, the New York Civil Liberties Union staff attorney who is part of the legal team representing Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, condemned Trump for separating Khalil from his family and said Khalil’s arrest violated the first amendment.
The protesters marched down Broadway, ending at the Charging Bull, the iconic image of Wall Street, to emphasize the message on many of the signs: Send Billionaires to Mars, Tax the Rich, Fight Fascism.
New York City’s May Day protest was one of more than 1000 in more than 800 cities and towns across the country, and the second that day at Foley Square (some 3,000 lawyers came out in front of the federal court during Law Day, an annual affirmation of the Rule of Law), plus several others around the city, organized and promoted by multiple organizations. They have realized that only through solidarity can they fulfill their individual goals. The overarching message: “Together we win.”
Hallie Brenner Perles, co-leader of Show Up Long Island and an organizer of the Long Island protest, stated, “Authoritarians like Trump and Musk want to divide us and to appeal to the smallest, cruelest, and most selfish impulses of humanity. That’s the only way they can win. But we still live in a democracy. And right now we can choose to care, to stand up for each other, to seek truth and facts over lies, to know that an attack on any groups’ human rights is an attack on all. We can choose empathy and the courage to acknowledge these are not normal times so we won’t pretend that they are. We will continue to nonviolently protest all that is wrong with this administration as heroes have done before us. Then some day books will be written that tell our story: that when our country, our children and the world needed us, so many Americans in all 50 states stood together on the right side of history. “
“This was by far the largest, most widespread May Day action in the history of our country,” MayDayStrong.org reported. “The billionaires are waging a war on working people—and on May Day, international workers’ day, hundreds of thousands of us stood together and stood strong, fighting for public schools over private profits, healthcare over hedge funds, shared prosperity over free market politics. Working people built this nation and we know how to take care of each other. We won’t back down—we will never stop fighting for our families and the rights and freedoms that ensure access to opportunity and a better life for all Americans. Their time is up.”
Numerous protests are upcoming with another national day of protest slated for June 14th organized by 50501.org: They are looking to “amass in spectacular numbers for the “Anti-Regime Day of Protest” and counter the massive (6600 soldiers! 150 vehicles, 50 helicopters! 2,000 civilians!) and massively expensive ($92 million!) military parade Trump, in true dictator fashion, is organizing for his 79th birthday, even as he orders cuts to Medicaid resulting in hospitals laying off healthcare workers.
At its protest in suburban Long Island, Hallie Brenner Perles, co-leader Show Up Long Island, declared, “Authoritarians like Trump and Musk want to divide us and to appeal to the smallest, cruelest, and most selfish impulses of humanity. That’s the only way they can win. But we still live in a democracy. And right now we can choose to care, to stand up for each other, to seek truth and facts over lies, to know that an attack on any groups’ human rights is an attack on all. We can choose empathy and the courage to acknowledge these are not normal times so we won’t pretend that they are. We will continue to nonviolently protest all that is wrong with this administration as heroes have done before us. Then some day books will be written that tell our story: that when our country, our children and the world needed us , so many Americans in all 50 states stood together on the right side of history.”
Let the protesters speak for themselves. Here are highlights from the New York City May Day protest:
Governor Kathy Hochul today outlined the turmoil created under President Trump’s first 100 days in office, warning that his administration’s retaliatory policies, deep federal cuts and unilateral tariffs are poised to negatively impact New York’s economy, the environment and hard working families. Last week, New York State joined a multi-state lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of President Trump’s global tariffs. According to independent estimates, Trump’s tariffs will cost the State’s economy more than $7 billion, result in more than 280,000 jobs lost and hit New York families with an average cost increase of $6,400. New York has also led the fight to protect federal funding from cuts and disruptions that are impacting more than $1.3 billion in federal funding for New York and has successfully challenged in court the Trump Administration’s global funding freeze, as well as cuts to the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other critical federal agencies.
“The first 100 days of the Trump Administration have been rife with chaos and uncertainty, from on-again, off-again tariffs to cuts to vital programs, New Yorkers are paying the price,” Governor Hochul said. “President Trump promised relief from inflation and his policies are making life harder, chaotic and more expensive for working class New Yorkers while slashing the very services they rely on.”
Implications for New Yorkers during President Trump’s First 100 Days Include:
More than $1.3 billion in cuts to funding for State programs so far with more expected, in addition to the funding cuts to local governments, universities and other organizations delivering critical services to New Yorkers
Massive fluctuation in the stock market from ever changing tariff policies has shrunk 401(k)s and 529 college savings plans, and is expected to increase cost of living for New Yorkers by thousands of dollars
Manufacturers and small businesses are reeling from severe cost hikes on some products due to tariffs, leading them to leave shipments in customs or cancel orders
Canadian and European travel to New York has dropped and hotel stays and trips in regions such as the North Country and Western New York have been cancelled
The pause of construction of Empire Wind, which will have a profound impact on jobs and energy production
Cutting millions in funding that allows school districts and food banks to buy produce from local farmers who rely on their purchases
Three Social Security Administration offices closed in New York
Eliminated every person in the office that manages a program helping over 1 million New Yorkers pay their heating and cooling bills
Cuts to the NIH paused the critical research of a New York Scientist on Alzheimer’s treatments
Cut over $300 million in infrastructure funding for New York communities, threatening our public safety
Cutting the majority of federal AmeriCorps funding in New York, which supports approximately 1,500 AmeriCorps members working for non-profits and in low-income communities across the State
PUBLIC SAFETY AND IMMIGRATION
The Trump administration has revoked more than $325 million in vital resiliency funding from the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program and put $56 million more at risk, which will impact several critical infrastructure and community resilience projects in New York State.
Additionally, DOGE is planning to cut up to 84 percent of staff from their Office of Community Planning and Development, which helps pay to rebuild homes and other recovery efforts after the country’s worst disasters such as Superstorm Sandy and Tropical Storms Lee and Irene.
The Albany National Weather Service (NWS) Office was forced to suspend weather balloon launches due to staff shortages and budget constraints. This has impacted the ability of the NWS to provide twice-daily balloon launches, impacting the accuracy of weather forecasts.
After Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained a Sackets Harbor mom and her children, Governor Hochul took action, engaging with the White House, Border Czar Tom Homan and local officials in an effort to bring the family back home. After 11 days in detention, the family was returned to Sackets Harbor.
ECONOMY AND TOURISM
The stock market has been unstable due to President Trump’s on-again, off-again tariff policy. This has caused retirees’ 401(k)s and students’ 529 savings plans to shrink. Additionally, consumer confidence plunged, to 50.8 percent in April from 71.7 percent in January. The dollar has weakened, falling to a three month low in April.
The Governor has heard from small and mid-sized businesses across the State who are worried about rising costs and their future. A recent survey from the National Small Business Association found that the majority of small businesses are concerned about tariffs and one in three are very concerned. Examples include North Country manufacturer Alcoa, which took an estimated $20 million hit on imports from Canada, and North Country Golf Club which is facing declines in businesses due to the decline in tourism from Canada. In the Southern Tier, the Cortland Standard, which was in business for more than a century, has closed its doors, citing the expected 25 percent tariffs on paper as part of the decision.
The Trump administration is cancelling the successful Manufacturers Extension Partnership (MEP) in several states. In New York, NY MEP centers generated $1.25 billion in economic impact, supported the creation or retention of nearly 6,300 jobs and served over 700 companies during the 2023 calendar year. This decision has raised widespread concern across the entire national network of MEP Centers, prompting fears about whether these initial cancellations are the first step in a broader effort to dismantle the program and eliminate federal funding for all 51 centers.
Due to the tariff trade war with Canada, New York’s number one trade partner, and the rhetoric that Canada could be the “51st state,” impacts are widespread. Visitors from Canada are avoiding the U.S. and New York State. Overall, total bridge crossings between Eastern Ontario and New York State for March are down 23,000 compared to 2024, and at the lowest level since 2022. Additionally, Niagara River bridges traffic for February is down 14 percent and Thousand Islands Bridge crossings are down 19 percent.
A survey of local businesses in the North Country found that 66 percent have already experienced a slight to significant decrease in Canadian bookings for 2025, and that 26 percent have already adjusted staffing levels in response to the decline.
TRANSPORTATION
President Trump’s Department of Transportation vowed to kill congestion pricing from day one of his administration, despite clear evidence that the program is working. The MTA reported that in March, traffic is down 13 percent, travel times have improved in key corridors within the Central Business District and it has increased revenue for the MTA that will result in improvements in the system.
IMPACTS ON HARD WORKING FAMILIES
President Trump has reduced the federal workforce by more than 120,000 people nationwide according to data compiled from CNN. In New York more than 1,200 federal workers have been forced to file for unemployment.
The Trump administration has pledged to cancel the successful and free Direct File tax filing program. This program has already begun to make an impact in its first full year, with many New Yorkers saving nearly $300 per household in tax prep fees that could instead go toward groceries, gas, child care or rent.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture slashed hundreds of millions of dollars in funding that helped schools buy food from local farms. The program sought to bring local produce to schools and child care facilities, giving schools the opportunities to purchase fresh foods and use smaller producers rather than rely on large corporations.
The Trump Administration announced that half of all food shipments through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) would be canceled, resulting in a $500 million reduction in funding for food banks across the country. New York State could see a loss of around 16 million pounds of USDA foods in 2025 due to the TEFAP funding cuts, according to Feeding New York State.
SSA field offices are closing, wait times for deserving seniors are increasing and sensitive and private personal data is in danger of being insecure.
ENERGY
The Trump Administration stopped construction on Empire Wind, putting thousands of construction jobs at risk and threatening to dismantle a project that when complete, will generate enough electricity to power about 500,000 homes in New York State.
Funding has been suspended for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Funds. The NEVI program — passed as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law — provides funding directly to states for installing public electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, which, if implemented, will lower fuel costs for families, reduce U.S. dependence on fossil fuels and create construction jobs nationwide.
President Trump has also threatened to roll back the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and repeal its tax credits. NYSERDA estimates a full repeal of the clean energy incentives could result in more than $20 billion in increased project costs and could cause significant project attrition.
HOUSING
At the direction of President Trump and DOGE, HUD staff has been decimated, imperiling the core functions of the agency that serve our communities, manage federally funded housing programs and assist housing development at a time of national crisis for housing. Funding has also been cut for organizations that fight housing discrimination across the country, while rolling back federal protections to Affirmatively Further Fair Housing.
HUD has further announced it was ending four years early the Emergency Housing Voucher Program, a successful federal program to combat homelessness for more than 9,500 households across the State. The federal administration imperiling this funding will force these families, at last stably housed, back onto the street.
The $1 billion Green and Resilient Retrofit Program that helps preserve affordable housing is being paused, threatening projects that keep tens of thousands of units livable for low-income Americans.
HEALTH CARE
The actions of the current administration threaten the health and safety of New Yorkers. New York State remains steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding the health and well-being of all New Yorkers and promoting health equity.
President Trump has endorsed the House’s budget resolution which includes over $1 trillion in cuts to critical safety net programs like Medicaid and SNAP. Nearly 7 million qualifying New Yorkers are covered under Medicaid, including 2.5 million children, and 636,000 New Yorkers with disabilities. 2.9 million New Yorkers rely on SNAP for healthy food, including over 800,000 children.
The Trump administration’s National Institute of Health (NIH) has cut grant funding to SUNY used to conduct research to cure diseases, keep our nation safe and grow our economy. The NIH’s sudden budget cuts will cost SUNY research an estimated $79 million on current grants, including more than $21 million over just the next five months that will immediately imperil the work of SUNY’s dedicated researchers by decimating the equipment, staff and services they rely on.
The Trump Administration picked a top health official who has questioned the safety of vaccines and the use of fluoride in drinking water and claimed that autism was preventable. These views go against proven science and could lead to more diseases by making people doubt public health advice.
The Administration has taken back important public health funding. This includes money for tracking disease, supporting vaccinations and helping vulnerable communities hit hardest by the pandemic. Without this funding, local health services must cut staff and scale back programs, especially in areas that need the most help.
Hundreds of federal health workers have lost jobs, making it harder for both the federal government and states like New York to respond to health threats and deliver services like maternal care and disease control.
New executive orders have removed federal support for diversity, equity and inclusion programs, harming efforts to ensure fair health care for women, LGBTQ+ people and communities of color. These actions affirm that the needs of these communities no longer matter to the federal government.
In addition, with massive arbitrary cuts to federal agencies, the future of federal programs to help combat substance use disorder, heating and cooling assistance for low-income New Yorkers, and early childhood investment programs like Head Start remain in jeopardy.
New York State remains committed to ensuring all New Yorkers have access to affordable, quality health care. Accordingly, the State rejects thinly veiled attacks on anyone who may not comport with the Trump Administration’s limited views of who is a person.
EDUCATION
President Trump vowed to eliminate the Department of Education, a crucial part of the federal government that supports kids, teachers and administrators right here in New York State. New York receives $5.5 billion annually from the Department of Education. Approximately $3.2 billion is routed through the State Budget and $2.3 billion is sent directly to local entities, primarily colleges and universities. This crucial funding supports Pell Grants for college students, money for kids with disabilities, programs that are supporting kids’ mental health, crucial research at our public higher education institutions and much more
ENVIRONMENT & AGRICULTURE
The Trump administration has taken aim through Executive Order at dismantling New York State’s strong environmental protections.
Additionally, funding for the Local Food Purchasing Assistance Program has been slashed. While the Biden administration had indicated that $24 million would be available under the LFPA program (New York Food for New York Families), the Trump administration (USDA) has reversed and this next round of funding will no longer be available.
More recently, New York State’s $60 million award for the New York Connects: Climate Smart Farms and Forests Program, which funds climate smart agriculture and forestry practices, was cancelled by USDA.
USDA staff that assist farmers with implementing conservation programs, loans and other resources for their farms, have been laid off.
Over 80 percent of agrochemical imports and 70 percent of farm machinery imports come from countries facing tariffs of 10 percent or more. Tariffs may slow down or halt on-farm expansion and modernization due to projected increases in equipment costs, with much of the stainless steel coming from abroad.
Trade issues are having a compounding effect for dairy farmers — input costs are going up and the milk price relies on export markets. Tariffs and threats of trade disputes result in lost markets and lower milk prices. For example, the budget for a building project went from $85,000 to $106,000, due to tariffs on steel and aluminum, one farm had a $2,200 fee added to their bill for grain because it came from a Canadian feed mill and another farm is anticipating their bottom line to be 7-10 percent lower this year due to lower milk prices and tariffs on inputs, including feed, energy and building supplies.
The ability of West Coast apple producers to export their product will play a key role in the price and demand for New York apples. If West Coast producers are not able to expand overseas markets, they will continue to flood East Coast markets and displace New York State fresh apples where they can undercut prices.
Tariffs placed on equipment, largely coming from Canada, would increase producers’ costs of maple syrup production significantly and negatively impact profitability in the maple industry.
Governor Kathy Hochul and New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced that New York State and a coalition of 11 other states are suing the Trump administration for illegally imposing unprecedented tax hikes on Americans in the form of tariffs issued under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The Trump administration’s IEEPA tariffs raise taxes on imports from nearly every country on Earth, including America’s closest allies and trading partners, and they have already caused severe economic damage. The lawsuit, filed by Attorney General James and a coalition of attorneys general, argues that Congress has not granted the president the authority to impose these tariffs and therefore the administration violated the law by imposing them through executive orders, social media posts, and agency orders. The coalition seeks a court order halting these IEEPA tariffs, including the worldwide tariffs that were paused on April 9, and preventing the Trump administration from enforcing or implementing them.
“President Trump’s reckless tariffs have skyrocketed costs for consumers and unleashed economic chaos across the country. New York is standing up to fight back against the largest federal tax hike in American history,” Governor Hochul said. “Attorney General James and I are partnering on this litigation on behalf of New York consumers, because we can’t let President Trump push our country into a recession.”
New York State Attorney General Letitia James said,“The president does not have the power to raise taxes on a whim, but that’s exactly what President Trump has been doing with these tariffs. Donald Trump promised that he would lower prices and ease the cost of living, but these illegal tariffs will have the exact opposite effect on American families. His tariffs are unlawful and if not stopped, they will lead to more inflation, unemployment, and economic damage.”
Since February, President Trump has been unilaterally imposing sweeping tariffs against America’s closest trading partners. These tariffs expanded in a series of announcements in April to now cover nearly every country worldwide, including places that are not involved in international trade, such as the Heard and McDonald Islands, which have no known human inhabitants.
In addition to the severe economic damage that President Trump’s tariffs have already caused, the coalition warns they could cause even more destruction if allowed to continue. The lawsuit argues the IEEPA tariffs will increase unemployment, raise inflation, and threaten Americans’ wages by slowing economic growth. The president’s tariffs will harm the states and their residents by making important goods ranging from electronics to building materials more expensive and scarce.
These costs will severely impact New Yorkers. Economists estimate the increased tariffs will cost the average family thousands of dollars per year, and a report from the New York City Comptroller estimated that even a mild recession caused by the tariffs would lead to over 35,000 lost jobs in New York City alone. New York state agencies could end up paying over $100 million in extra costs due to tariffs increasing prices. Retaliatory tariffs imposed by Canada on the hundreds of millions of dollars in electricity that New York imports every year would cause New Yorkers’ energy bills to spike. Across the state, small businesses that rely on imports are already reeling from the threat of higher prices and uncertainty caused by the administration’s policies. In Central New York, the Cortland Standard, one of the oldest family-owned newspapers in the country, announced it would cease publication in part due to an expected tariff on newsprint.
The lawsuit, filed in the United States Court of International Trade, asserts that President Trump has no authority to impose tariffs as he has. While the president has declared emergencies and invoked IEEPA to justify these tariffs, not once has any other president used IEEPA to impose tariffs like this in the five decades since it became law. As the coalition argues in the lawsuit, the law was not designed to allow the president to unilaterally impose worldwide tariffs indiscriminately. In addition, the coalition argues that the Trump administration has overstepped its authority and violated the Constitution and the Administrative Procedure Act by imposing these tariffs.
With this lawsuit, the coalition is seeking a court order declaring the Trump administration’s IEEPA tariff orders to be in violation of the law and ordering the administration to stop implementing or enforcing these tariffs.
Joining Attorney General James in filing this lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, and Vermont. (California filed its own lawsuit against the Trump Administration.)
Governor Hochul has been in contact with federal leaders regarding the devastating effects tariffs will have on New York’s residents, businesses and our economy. The Governor has consulted with federal partners, economists and heard from business owners, trade groups, agribusiness and other stakeholders on the hardships tariffs will have on New York State.
Some 20,000 turned out in New York City with little notice only two weeks after the gigantic nationwide “Hands Off” protest on April 5 which drew some 3 million people nationwide – way more than anticipated considering that 100,000 flooded Manhattan streets only two weeks ago.
“No Kings”. March to Protect Migrants and the Planet, NYC, April 19, 2025, organized by 50501ny.org (c) Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
This protest, organized by 50501 NY, was themed a “March to Protect Migrants and the Planet” and while these were the most prevalent among the signs and the marchers, even more were the signs protesting against encroaching tyranny, fascism, the need to protect democracy, due process, free speech, and calls to Resist, Rebel, “Revolution 2.0” along with signs protesting for women’s rights, Hands Off Social Security, Medicare, healthcare, protect science, protect truth, against tariffs (the penguins were back)
“It’s the Constitution Stupid” and “Make Corruption Wrong Again”
“It’s the Constitution, Stupid”. March to Protect Migrants and the Planet, NYC, April 19, 2025, organized by 50501ny.org (c) Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
This event took place on the 250th anniversary of Pau Revere’s Midnight Ride – a woman held a sign “250 years ago-and today- let the warning ride forth once more: Tyranny is at our door.”
“250 Years Ago-And Today.” March to Protect Migrants and the Planet, NYC, April 19, 2025, organized by 50501ny.org (c) Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
Others drew parallels: “No Kings. Not in 1775. Not in 2025.”
“No Kings in America.” March to Protect Migrants and the Planet, NYC, April 19, 2025, organized by 50501ny.org (c) Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
(April 19 is also the anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing, and the WACO – two of the worst incidents of domestic terrorism.)
The line of marchers stretched a mile, taking over 42nd Street from Fifth to Madison, and then Madison Avenue up to 57 street, and Fifth Avenue into Central Park where the march ended.
“Mein Trumpf”. March to Protect Migrants and the Planet, NYC, April 19, 2025, organized by 50501ny.org (c) Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
There were people of all ages, people using walkers, wheelchairs, fearful of losing Social Security or Medicare; families with young children, afraid for the future of the planet, let alone the economy – an indication of the extent of the harms – basically to every constituency except his billionaire and corporate donors – Trump, Musk, DOGE and MAGA have inflicted in less than 100 days in office.
“Wanted! Crimes Against Democracy.” March to Protect Migrants and the Planet, NYC, April 19, 2025, organized by 50501ny.org (c) Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
The fear and anxiety over Trump rapidly imposing a fascist autocracy is not unwarranted – it took Hitler only 53 days to replace Germany’s constitutional democracy with his Nazi dictatorship and only 10 years between his inauguration to the Final Solution in which he exterminated 6 million Jews and millions of others and sunk the world into war. Trump has been in office 89 days, but between his ignoring court orders, deporting individuals to foreign gulags without due process, snatching people from the street, attacking judges, journalists, law firms and academia, many drew the parallels to genocidal autocrats of the past.
“Fight Ignorance. Not Immigrants.” March to Protect Migrants and the Planet, NYC, April 19, 2025, organized by 50501ny.org (c) Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
Though smaller in number than two weeks ago, these chanters were more angry and not above using profanity in chants and on signs. People are pissed.
“First it’s immigrants, then…” March to Protect Migrants and the Planet, NYC, April 19, 2025, organized by 50501ny.org (c) Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
The April 19 protests nationwide were organized by the 50501 Movement, a grassroots initiative. Some 700 protests were planned, to “sustain resistance in order to make a difference” and keep the momentum of the massively successful April 5 “Hands Off” protests that by some estimates drew 5 million across the U.S.
Here are more photo highlights:
Indivisible Brooklyn “fabulously fighting fascism!” March to Protect Migrants and the Planet, NYC, April 19, 2025, organized by 50501ny.org (c) Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
“Hands Off Our Bodies, Our Freedom, Our Democracy.” March to Protect Migrants and the Planet, NYC, April 19, 2025, organized by 50501ny.org (c) Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
March to Protect Migrants and the Planet, NYC, April 19, 2025, organized by 50501ny.org (c) Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
March to Protect Migrants and the Planet, NYC, April 19, 2025, organized by 50501ny.org (c) Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
“Revolution 2.0” March to Protect Migrants and the Planet, NYC, April 19, 2025, organized by 50501ny.org (c) Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
“Resist.” March to Protect Migrants and the Planet, NYC, April 19, 2025, organized by 50501ny.org (c) Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
“Resist.” March to Protect Migrants and the Planet, NYC, April 19, 2025, organized by 50501ny.org (c) Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
March to Protect Migrants and the Planet, NYC, April 19, 2025, organized by 50501ny.org (c) Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
March to Protect Migrants and the Planet, NYC, April 19, 2025, organized by 50501ny.org (c) Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
“Due Process Now!” March to Protect Migrants and the Planet, NYC, April 19, 2025, organized by 50501ny.org (c) Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
“Wicked” March to Protect Migrants and the Planet, NYC, April 19, 2025, organized by 50501ny.org (c) Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
“Our Power. Our Planet. Our People” March to Protect Migrants and the Planet, NYC, April 19, 2025, organized by 50501ny.org (c) Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
“Tell Old Pharoah: Let My People Go!” March to Protect Migrants and the Planet, NYC, April 19, 2025, organized by 50501ny.org (c) Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
“Jews Against Deportation.” March to Protect Migrants and the Planet, NYC, April 19, 2025, organized by 50501ny.org (c) Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
“Hands Off Public Health, Medicare & Medicaid.” March to Protect Migrants and the Planet, NYC, April 19, 2025, organized by 50501ny.org (c) Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
“Billionaires Profit Off Climate Chaos.” March to Protect Migrants and the Planet, NYC, April 19, 2025, organized by 50501ny.org (c) Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
“Save our Land. Stop the Destroyer.” March to Protect Migrants and the Planet, NYC, April 19, 2025, organized by 50501ny.org (c) Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
March to Protect Migrants and the Planet, NYC, April 19, 2025, organized by 50501ny.org (c) Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
“Rotten Oranges Belong in the Compost Bin, Not the Oval Office.” March to Protect Migrants and the Planet, NYC, April 19, 2025, organized by 50501ny.org (c) Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
March to Protect Migrants and the Planet, NYC, April 19, 2025, organized by 50501ny.org (c) Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
“Who is Safe?” March to Protect Migrants and the Planet, NYC, April 19, 2025, organized by 50501ny.org (c) Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
“This is what autocracy looks like.! March to Protect Migrants and the Planet, NYC, April 19, 2025, organized by 50501ny.org (c) Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
“Hands Off! Immigrants. Our Free Speech.” March to Protect Migrants and the Planet, NYC, April 19, 2025, organized by 50501ny.org (c) Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
“A National Disgrace.” March to Protect Migrants and the Planet, NYC, April 19, 2025, organized by 50501ny.org (c) Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
“Consequences.” March to Protect Migrants and the Planet, NYC, April 19, 2025, organized by 50501ny.org (c) Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
“Make America America Again.” March to Protect Migrants and the Planet, NYC, April 19, 2025, organized by 50501ny.org (c) Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
“Wanted” March to Protect Migrants and the Planet, NYC, April 19, 2025, organized by 50501ny.org (c) Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
“Vote or Watch Democracy Die.” March to Protect Migrants and the Planet, NYC, April 19, 2025, organized by 50501ny.org (c) Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
“Super Callus Fascist Sexist Nazi POTUS.” March to Protect Migrants and the Planet, NYC, April 19, 2025, organized by 50501ny.org (c) Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
“Save the Planet.” March to Protect Migrants and the Planet, NYC, April 19, 2025, organized by 50501ny.org (c) Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
“Republicans Destroying America.” March to Protect Migrants and the Planet, NYC, April 19, 2025, organized by 50501ny.org (c) Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
“No Deportations.” March to Protect Migrants and the Planet, NYC, April 19, 2025, organized by 50501ny.org (c) Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
“Get Off Fossil Fuels.” March to Protect Migrants and the Planet, NYC, April 19, 2025, organized by 50501ny.org (c) Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
“Hands Off DEI! Education!” March to Protect Migrants and the Planet, NYC, April 19, 2025, organized by 50501ny.org (c) Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
Families protest to save the future. March to Protect Migrants and the Planet, NYC, April 19, 2025, organized by 50501ny.org (c) Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
“Make America Broke Again.” March to Protect Migrants and the Planet, NYC, April 19, 2025, organized by 50501ny.org (c) Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
March to Protect Migrants and the Planet, NYC, April 19, 2025, organized by 50501ny.org (c) Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
“Worst President Ever.” March to Protect Migrants and the Planet, NYC, April 19, 2025, organized by 50501ny.org (c) Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
“Our City. Our Earth. Our Future.” March to Protect Migrants and the Planet, NYC, April 19, 2025, organized by 50501ny.org (c) Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
March to Protect Migrants and the Planet, NYC, April 19, 2025, organized by 50501ny.org (c) Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
“Rebel Baby Rebel” March to Protect Migrants and the Planet, NYC, April 19, 2025, organized by 50501ny.org (c) Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
“Turd Reich No!” March to Protect Migrants and the Planet, NYC, April 19, 2025, organized by 50501ny.org (c) Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
It took almost three hours for all the protesters to get to the starting line on Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street for the march to Madison Park at 25th Street in midtown Manhattan – I’m guessing some 50,000. There were no speeches, only chants and periodic roars that rang through the cavern of skyscrapers, releasing pent up anger, frustration, hostility to an administration – headlined by Trump, his billionaire hatchet man Elon Musk and the DOGE bros – that has been so contemptuous of human rights, civil rights, voting rights, workers rights, allies and alliances, that has upended people’s lives and inspired such fear, anxiety, insecurity. Hands Off! They chanted. Hands Off….! (fill in the blank) their hand-written signs declared.
It was an anguish that could only be extinguished by being in community with thousands of others.
The New York City march was one of some 1,300 taking place in all 50 states and even abroad, organized by a coalition of some 150 organizations, headed by Indivisible, Moveon, Public Citizen, women’s groups, veterans groups and others.
It was the biggest day of protest since the 2017 Womens March that greeted Trump’s first term. But after a period of frustration that the biggest single day of protest did not protect women’s reproductive freedom, with the capitulation of Republicans in the Senate, in the House, in the states and localities, with the capitulation of media moguls, universities, law firms, and with Democrats banished from having any impact on governance, as Trump unleashed his assault on constitutional rights, it was decided that the people have to take power, and take it back where they live.
And that was before Trump, with a stroke of a Sharpie, undermined the economic order that has underpinned peace and prosperity for 75 years, and unleashed the worry of a global recession, erasing $4 TRILLION in wealth in two days, the sharpest two-day decline since he was last occupying the office. He is the only individual in history to have caused that kind of damage. On purpose.
There is no constituency – even the MAGAs who fell for Trump’s BS (the Big Lie of Election 2024: “I never saw Project 2025”) – that has not been harmed by Trump and his enforcer, Elon Musk and the DOGE bros: women, seniors, children, students, the disabled, scientists, doctors, teachers, federal workers (he ended rights for 1 million civil servants), veterans (Trump, who had no idea that four American soldiers had been “lost” in Lithuania, went to his golf club rather show respect and receive their bodies), academics, union workers, farmers, immigrants, refugees, migrants WITH LEGAL STATUS (who have I left out?).
Trump has trampled on free speech, free press, free assembly, the right to a trial by jury, the right to due process (except for abusing that privilege for himself, while conveniently tearing up the other part of the 14th amendment: no insurrectionist can hold federal office), equal protection, the right to vote and have that vote counted. He has even teased that he would run for a 3rd term (“I’m not joking.”).
I’ll let the people and their posters speak for themselves:
On Saturday, April 5, Long Island will host its Hands Off! Mass Mobilization Rally protesting the Trump administration and Elon Musk’s DOGE actions to dismantle government services, civil rights, public health and environmental protections. It will be one of more than 1,200 Hands Off! Day of Action protests being held throughout the country and the world, with major ones being held in Washington DC and New York City (Bryant Park,1 pm).
More than 1,400 community members from across Long Island are expected at the rally, taking place at the Nassau County Courthouse, 262 Old Country Road, Mineola, at 1 pm, “to protest and join in this national mass day of action to express our deep concerns about the course this country is taking.”
“Trump and Musk are illegally decimating our federal workforce and gutting the many services we rely on to keep us safe,” stated Dr. Eve Meltzer Krief, Legislative Chair NY Chapter 2 American Academy of Pediatrics, one of the organizers. “They are barreling toward dismantling social security while Congressional Republicans are planning to significantly slash the Medicaid funding so many Long Islanders rely on- all to fund tax cuts for billionaires. Trump is making us less safe and is threatening our health and well being. Whether it’s the maligning of our NATO allies, defunding NOAA and the National weather service, slashing jobs at the VA- impacting the employment and health of Veterans who fought for this country, cuts to the EPA along with clean water and air initiatives or the cuts to the HHS which will cripple our local health departments’ ability to fight disease and cut substance abuse and mental health programs right here on Long Island – the list goes on and on. Everybody knows somebody being impacted by the instability Trump is bringing to our daily lives. It’s a national crisis and it’s time to stand up to it.”
The protesters are demanding:
•An end to the billionaire takeover and rampant corruption of the Trump administration.
•An end to slashing federal funds for Medicaid, Social Security, and other programs working people rely on.
The Long Island protest is being organized by concerned community members from across Long Island including members of Engage Long Island, Show Up Long Island, 1199SEIU.
Speakers at the Long Island rally include: Jeffrey L. Reynolds, Ph.D, President/CEO Family & Children’s Association; Dr. Eve Meltzer Krief, Legislative Chair NY Chapter 2 American Academy of Pediatrics; Mary Anne Trasciatti, labor activist and educator; Greg Perles, teacher and unionist and Fred Harrison, Food and Water Watch.
“Donald Trump and Elon Musk think this country belongs to them, and they’re taking everything they can get their hands on. On Saturday, April 5, we’ll take to the streets nationwide in a non-violent action with a clear message: Hands OFF! our democracy!
“This mass mobilization day is our message to the world that we do not consent to the destruction of our government and our economy for the benefit of Trump and his billionaire allies. Across the country, we’ll be marching, rallying, and protesting to demand a stop to the chaos, and to continue building a non-violent movement dedicated to ending the looting of our country.”
On a national organizing call for Hands Off! Held by Moveon.org, Randy Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers spoke out against the assault on public education and labor, with the actions to shut down the Department of Education and pull back on billions in funding supporting school lunch, programs for disabled children, support for rural and schools in impoverished areas, and the clear policy shift to put tax payer money into private, parochial and for-profit charter schools.
“Why are they going after public education, why labor? Because public education is the foundationstone of democracy, the foundation of opportunity, and democracy and pluralism, brings communities together instead of separating, brings people who are different together instead of otherizing. And the labor movement is about agency – decent wages, health care, the fight for social security. If you take the labor movement away, the right to collective bargaining away, how do we fight together? They are taking away foundation stones of opportunity.
We must fight back – in the courts, in the court of public opinion, in commerce –that’s how we move Congress.
If you care about critical thinking, safe and welcoming environment, that all our kids have access to the funding we’ve been trying to get for 40 years- Title 1, IDA, funding for poor kids, going to college, kids with disabilities, we have to be out on the streets on April 5, together, as community. The more we are together, the more they can’t otherize people. We must work together to fight for all, for opportunity, for public education for every child, a labor movement for anyone. To say ‘No, this is what we want in our government, this is not not who we are, not what we voted for.”
Jonah Minkoff-Zern of Public Citizen, said “We are angry, scared, fired up. Could have had speakers for hours talking about all the ways Trump and Musk and their people – incompetent and malicious – are devastating our nation, services, freedoms, democracy. Signalgate shows their incompetence, just how little they care about their impacts of going to war. Firing 10,000 healthcare workers today is not even top of the news because it goes on and on. But we have power. Our voices, our mobilization will pushback and ultimately win.
The dismantling of government services, the threats to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, the brain drain that is underway as Trump shuts down research and threatens universities, the assault on freedoms, the Rule of Law and due process evident in the cruel and malicious and unconstitutional deportation of immigrants, the attacks on judges and lawyers, the assumption of war powers without an actual war, the attacks on voting rights and barriers to voting has already shattered the pillars holding up our democracy as it is clear, while antagonizing and threatening allies and cozying up to every tyrant on the planet. Trump is assuming powers of an autocrat (even not joking about a third term), and a power structure based on oligarchy and kleptocracy, following Putin’s example.
The Hands Off! Day of Action is endorsed and supported by Indivisible, Common Cause, Third Act (and Third Act NYC), MoveOn, the SEIU, and many others.
Check out handsoff2025.com for more information, events and to sign up.
