Amid ICE fears, neighbors find a safe place to gather
On Saturday, June 13, the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) hosted its annual Key to the City resource fair on 44th Street between 5th Avenue and 6th Avenue. The fair provided not only free resources but also fun, including free salsa dancing lessons and the opportunity to participate in art projects.
The event was successful, but ICE enforcement was still on the minds of organizers and attendees alike — a source of fear for some and the reason the event felt like a safe haven for others.
The annual fair brings together many organizations and businesses to provide resources to the community in what Caterina Cundari, manager of community programming for NYIC, described as a “one-stop shop” where participants can get many of the items and resources they need.
In all, over 40 organizations participated in the event. Muna Social Services provided canned goods. City Harvest provided fresh produce. Well Cloth’d provided clothing. Good+ provided clothes, toys, and diapers. Brooklyn Book Bodega provided books for children and young adults. Multiple organizations provided information on insurance and legal aid.
“This event brings all the resources together in a celebratory manner,” said Alexa Avilés, a City Council member and event partner, who wore a pair of heart-shaped earrings painted with the Puerto Rican flag and made by a “young person at UPROSE.”
Salsa Salsa Dance Studio DJ’d the event and offered a free beginner salsa lesson.
Brooklyn FAM (Festival of Arts and Music) hosted a pop-up art event where attendees could participate in art projects.
One Brooklyn FAM project was called “Shine a Light.” It allowed participants to create labels for candles in response to the question of how they “shine their light.” When a candle is illuminated, the participant’s story is illuminated for all to see and read.
Fear of ICE persists, even on sunny days
In May, a survey organized by the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce found that 30% of small businesses in Brooklyn reported lower economic activity due to immigration enforcement. In Sunset Park, 79% of businesses reported that their activity had been affected.
Kim Corona, press secretary for NYIC and a Sunset Park resident, described the event as particularly necessary during this time of fear.
“A lot of community members are afraid to leave their homes right now. This event allows members to come out of the shadows,” Corona said. “And turnout didn’t decrease this year from last, so we’re taking that as a sign that people felt safe to join this event.”
There was an undercurrent of fear among those at the event. Sunset Post tried to speak to a number of attendees, all but one of whom declined to speak.
The one person who spoke told us directly that he was providing a false name, Leo Messi, and said that he did not feel safe speaking to reporters during times like these.
“There’s just no way of knowing who to trust right now. And honestly, I don’t think reporters should feel all that safe either,” Messi said.
Still, he was in high spirits.
“Why not ask me about the nice day, how we’re celebrating, how Mexico won its first match the other day, we’re excited for the next one?” Messi asked, referring to Mexico’s national soccer team performance in the World Cup.
He was right on all counts. It was a beautiful, sunny day, and everyone, at least for the time being, was enjoying being outside.