Four people protesting President Trump’s immigration policies staged a sit-down protest and briefly blocked the Thanksgiving Day parade route before cops removed them.
The protesters are young people who came into the country undocumented but were allowed to stay, according to the Seed Project.
Trump ordered the repeal of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program in September. Attorney General Jeff Sessions in October announced the program would be canceled in March.
Congress is now considering the measure and debating whether it should be included in a pending budget bill.
“We want permanent protection for undocumented youth and more focus on the fact that all undocumented youth are suffering, whether they’re DACA or not,” said Piash Ahamed, 26, a college student from Woodbridge, N.J.
The protesters, dressed in red T-shirts, sat in the middle of the road on Central Park West at 70th St. — and were quickly ushered off by police. They were not arrested, spokesman Roberto Juarez said.
Barbara Hernandez, a 25-year-old early childhood teacher, came from California to participate.
“I was scared of being arrested, I was scared of losing my job,” Hernandez said. “But once there, I felt empowered, having them with me, and knowing it wasn’t just for me — it was for everyone, not just the Dreamers, but all 11 million.”
Hector Martinez, 26, a Ditmas Park yoga teacher, said the aim was to draw attention to the young and hopeful immigrants.
“What we’re trying to remind people is that they’re the ones who shape a democracy, and it’s their voices that shape what the future is.
“Today was successful in that we were able to remind the immigrant community that they don’t have to live in fear,” he said. “When you work together, you can change the way things are.”
Ahamed said they’re planning to protest in Washington in December.
“We want to put pressure on the legislators and the public, and make sure we’re not getting lost in this political nightmare,” he said. “We want to make sure our voices are heard.”
