PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Raul Rivera, TLC Driver and Advocate
6:08:50
ยท
136 sec
Raul Rivera, a TLC driver and advocate, provided controversial testimony expressing strong anti-immigration views and criticizing the City Council. He voiced support for ICE enforcement and challenged the council members' patriotism and trustworthiness.
- Rivera claimed to have diverse family connections while advocating for strict immigration policies
- He congratulated the incoming ICE director and called for arrests of those who "violate the Constitution"
- The testimony was confrontational, with Rivera demanding council members say "close the border" and "I love America"
Raul Rivera
6:08:50
Good afternoon.
6:08:51
My name is.
6:08:52
I'm a TLC driver and a TLC driver advocate.
6:08:55
I'm a native New Yorker.
6:08:56
And, for the record, we don't have anything personal against, the chair.
6:09:02
Also for the record, in my family, we have children that are half Dominican, half Puerto Rican.
6:09:09
I have a nephew that's, his mother comes from Peru.
6:09:13
When I was 23 years old, I lost a child.
6:09:17
Her mother was from El Salvador, just for the record.
6:09:23
We say legal migration, no discrimination, and justice for all.
6:09:28
We also want to say congratulations to the new incoming ICE director, Tom Homan.
6:09:35
We want mister Homan to receive this message.
6:09:40
If this committee and if this city council cannot follow the constitution, we ask that anyone that gets in his way to be arrested.
6:09:49
He said he will do so himself.
6:09:51
So if this chair violates the Constitution, chair, if you violate the law, we ask that he lock you up.
6:09:59
We also ask that he investigate any legislation that you approve or pass in this city council.
6:10:05
I don't believe you are a councilman that that can be trusted.
6:10:08
You're a councilman that cannot be trusted.
6:10:10
Any legislation, I repeat, any legislation that you try to pass in this city council must be investigated.
6:10:17
And we're gonna get this message over to Tom Homan.
6:10:20
And we also challenge you right now.
6:10:22
If you if you dare if you dare to say close the border, do you can you say that, Jared?
6:10:28
Can you say close the border?
6:10:29
Do you know that if you have a country without borders, you don't have a country?
6:10:33
Even if it's a communist country, you don't have a country.
6:10:35
That's what makes a country borders.
6:10:39
It's people and borders.
6:10:41
Alright?
6:10:41
We demand safety for the New Yorker and all citizens of this country.
6:10:46
We don't preach hate.
6:10:48
We see all the gaslighting that's happening here, all these, nonprofits that show up.
6:10:52
Can you say close the border?
6:10:54
Can you say you love America?
6:10:56
Can you say you love America?
6:10:58
You see?
Alexa Aviles
6:10:58
Thank you, miss Navarre, your time is
Raul Rivera
6:11:00
Because you are a traitor.
6:11:01
That's why you can't say it.
Alexa Aviles
6:11:02
And we're moving to the next traitor.
Raul Rivera
6:11:04
That's why you can't say I love America.
Alexa Aviles
6:11:06
Thank you very much.
← Previous Chapter
Testimony by Kevin Lee, Member of Rev Com Corps for the Emancipation of Humanity and Revolution Books, on Immigrant Rights and Anti-Fascism
Next Chapter →
Testimony by Maggie Sanchez, Public Advocate Appointee to the Citywide Council on Special Education, on Immigrant Protections and Education Concerns