In the wake of a shocking incident on July 11 in which a Muslim woman was verbally harassed by a fellow passenger on an S53 bus traveling from Bay Ridge to Staten Island, Borough President Eric Adams, who led a symbolic unity ride on the S53 bus on July 15 to combat hatred, will host his annual Citizenship Drive on Saturday, July 21, at Borough Hall from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
In a video of the incident, a woman who identified herself as Ashley is seen verbally attacking a woman wearing a headscarf. In the video, “Ashley” can be heard taunting the woman, telling her that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is coming to arrest her. “Immigration at the door. Oh wait, is that ICE? Oh mama, they here for you,” Ashley is heard shouting.
It’s not clear if the victim is an immigrant.
Adams — who led the unity ride on the S53 to send the message that hatred has no place in New York — said his Citizenship Drive is a good place to learn about immigration rights.
“Brooklyn is home to everyone from everywhere, and we’re proud of that. Our diversity is our strength, and we grow even stronger by supporting our immigrant neighbors who are making their way through the citizenship process and need a helping hand. I thank our partners in the legal community, as well as our incredible network of community advocates, who are coming together to make this drive possible at such an important moment in our history,” Adams said.
Adams is working with Dominicanos USA, a Dominican-American organization, to put together the workshop.
The Citizenship Drive also includes input from the Brooklyn Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project (VLP); the Carnegie Corporation of New York; Citizenshipworks; the Coalition of Latin American Consuls in New York; Gay Men’s Health Crisis; the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs; Make the Road New York; the New Americans Campaign and other groups.
“Assisting Brooklyn residents with the naturalization process enables more people to have access to rights and economic opportunities afforded by American citizenship, providing family stability and ensuring our diversity as a nation continues to enrich us all,” said Heidi Lee Henderson, executive director of the Brooklyn Bar Association VLP.
Anyone planning to attend the Citizenship Drive should bring a green card, passport, the most recent federal tax return, a marriage certificate and/or divorce papers and any certified court dispositions. Registration is required to take part in the event.
Spanish-speaking interpreters will be available.
For more information, visit: www.brooklyn-usa.org/citizenship or call 718-665-1920.
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