A protest entitled, Protect Queens #NoAmazonNYC, has received a large response with over 500 people RSVPing and thousands ‘interested’ in the action hosted by the Democratic Socialists of America, the political organization that counts North Greenpoint’s incoming representative, New York Senator Julia Salazar as a member. Community members, activists and politicians are concerned with the sizable billion-dollar-plus state subsidy that a monopolistic corporation owned by the wealthiest man in the world will receive. The protest starts at 5 p.m. tonight at Court Square Park in Long Island City.
The event description reads:
“The heartbeat of Queens is the working class and immigrants, not billionaires. At a time when our city is facing a crisis of affordability, New York is looking to pay Amazon, the richest corporation in the world, billions of dollars to gentrify Queens. This is outrageous. Rather than creating good jobs for the community this deal will displace existing residents. We do not need nor want Amazon in our barrio.
– We need affordable housing, not further gentrification
– We need protections for immigrants, not a company that profits off of work with ICE
– We need more funding for transit, not billions in corporate subsidies
– We need good jobs, not a company that exploits workersOur communities need real investment, not displacement. It’s time for New York to #NoAmazonNYC.”
A protest held after the HQ2 announcement on Nov. 14, drew a large crowd of protesters and international media outlets with fiery speeches from State Senator Michael Gianaris and NYC Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer, whose constituents in Queens are outraged at the lack of community dialogue on Amazon’s decision to locate its HQ2 in Long Island City.
The Cyber Monday NYC Amazon Black Out event also gained attention with thousands RSVPing, essentially making a commitment to the mission statement:
“On this Cyber Monday, a fake holiday promoted by the tech giants, we are calling for a boycott and decentralized direct action against Amazon by groups and individuals interested in fighting for a future worth living. We have had enough of the ‘gig economy’, the tech companies lying and exploiting our private lives and data for profit, the expanding militarization and surveillance of everyday life, the building of walls, and the expanding gap between the rich and the poor.”
On Dec. 10, a “Resist Amazon” community forum also hosted by DSA takes place at 7 p.m. in Long Island City at the NY Irish Center.