REMARKS
Concerns about new presidential administration's actions and importance of local democracy
0:16:47
ยท
4 min
Council Member Adams expresses concerns about the new presidential administration's actions and emphasizes the importance of local democracy in protecting democratic values.
- Criticizes initial actions and executive orders of the new administration
- Highlights threats to democratic governance and constitutional principles
- Stresses the critical role of local and state governments in protecting residents and strengthening democracy
- Calls for unity in protecting shared values and progress
Adrienne E. Adams
0:16:47
I also want to take a moment to address the opening actions of the new presidential administration that have been more focused on seeding division and fear than addressing the needs of this country and its people.
0:17:00
The initial actions and executive orders have threatened to impose severe harms that can negatively impact millions of New Yorkers in every corner of our city.
0:17:12
Instead of solutions to the challenges facing working people in our city and nation, we've seen actions that will increase prescription drug prices, pardon those who attacked our capital and police officers, threaten public health, undermine the diversity that has been a critical asset to our country, activate maltreatment of public servants, and much, much more.
0:17:43
We are indeed witnessing a weakening of democracy and democratic governance that we should never ever take for granted, and it's deme and it demands strong leadership from all of us to preserve.
0:17:57
One of the greatest anti democratic attacks we've seen is the blatant disregard for the US constitution with the unlawful executive order that claims to overturn the 14th amendment's principle that all persons born in the United States are citizens.
0:18:17
We must remember its history as one of the constitutional amendments adopted after slavery and during reconstruction.
0:18:26
This provided pivotal rights, including citizenship to my formerly enslaved ancestors.
0:18:33
It was furiously opposed then, particularly by Confederate States, which is telling context to understand this current challenge.
0:18:43
The most perverted views of our past are indeed returning today.
0:18:48
Historically for our city, the 14th amendment has granted citizenship to those who make New York City great.
0:18:59
New York City's rich African, Asian, Caribbean, European, and Latino communities have built this city and advanced our country forward.
0:19:14
The president's executive order to overturn this citizenship clause enshrined in the 14th amendment is not only unconstitutional, but also abhorrent and ahistorical.
0:19:27
We are a nation of immigrants with the exception of indigenous peoples.
0:19:33
If you trace any one of our ancestral histories, you'll find proof of immigration or arrival from nearly every single country in the world.
0:19:43
No president possesses the power to change constitutional amendments by executive order, and this city should join the legal challenge to this unconstitutional action.
0:19:58
With democracy under attack at the federal level, it is more critical now than ever to have strong local democracy to maintain freedom, debate through the exchange of ideas, and representative governance.
0:20:15
Local and state governments not only have a responsibility to protect their residents, but to also unequivocally commit ourselves to strengthening democracy and asserting our shared values.
0:20:30
Together with our constituents and the people of this city, let us unite to protect our democracy, values, and progress, which our ancestors risk their lives to advance for all of us.
0:20:46
It is now up to us to protect and grow the seeds of progress to bestow on future generations so that all of us can live full lives of meaning, dignity, and safety.
0:20:57
That is especially true in these most challenging of times.
UNKNOWN
0:21:12
Wow.