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New Yorkers flooded the streets of the city on Saturday when major news networks announced former Vice President Joe Biden defeated President Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election. Biden’s win was particularly meaningful to immigrants’ rights groups that have continuously fought the Trump administration’s anti-immigration policies. Yatziri Tovar, a Make The Road activist, said, “Our work doesn’t end here… Now we have to make sure these promises are delivered to our community.” She mentioned that her group is concentrated on ensuring that the Biden administration stops separating immigrant families. Gothamist
In other local immigration news…
Chinatown Voters Sided with Biden
The Confucius Plaza and IS 131 poll sites in Chinatown saw more voters this election compared to the last one. Most voters in the neighborhood were dissatisfied with Trump’s management of the pandemic and his racist policies and remarks; he often referred to COVID-19 as the “China virus.” So they knew it was important to use their voices to decide who they wanted as president. About 78.4 percent of the 65th Assembly District voted for Biden. A 93-year-old immigrant woman, who arrived in the United States 40 years ago, said she didn’t vote in every election but knew this one was too valuable to miss. City Limits
NYC Immigrants Voted For 1st Time in the 2020 Election
Many New York City immigrants were inspired to take part in this election, some for the first time. Hulando Shaw, an immigrant from Jamaica, voted for the first time this year despite residing in the U.S. for over 20 years. Shaw, like other immigrants, was afraid to vote in previous elections because of his immigration status. But he put that fear on the side and voted for his daughter in hopes that she will be inspired to achieve anything she desires, like becoming the next vice president. Aleeia Abraham, founder of The Blaque Resource Network in Southeast Queens, said her organization focused on making sure minority communities participated in the election. Pix 11
