Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.

REMARKS

Council Member Avilés urges action on detention of Mahmoud Khalil

1:14:55

·

76 sec

Council Member Alexa Avilés makes a passionate plea for the release of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia graduate student detained for exercising his First Amendment rights in support of Palestinian rights. She condemns the action as an assault on democracy, human rights, and due process.

  • Avilés describes Khalil as having his green card and student visa revoked, separating him from his pregnant US citizen wife.
  • She characterizes the detention as the "first disappearance of someone here legally" in the United States.
  • Avilés warns that this action sets a dangerous precedent, asking her colleagues to consider "who is next" if such detentions are allowed.