VOCAL-NY Activist Arrested After Protest On Dunn Memorial Bridge

I caught this on my Facebook Live and it definitely looked wild. On Wednesday members of a group of local organizations banded together to protest the state budget proposal. To draw attention to their complaints, they took over the Dunn Memorial Bridge in Albany.

Get our free mobile app

Members of local groups banded together to form a coalition to bring attention to the state of affairs in New York. The coalition includes groups such as Housing Organizers for People Empowerment, Citizen Action New York, Housing Justice For All, Alliance for Quality Education, and VOCAL-NY.

Yesterday the coalition took to the streets and 10 members were arrested for blocking the Dunn Memorial Bridge.

The protesters are demanding that legislators oppose Governor Andrew Cuomo‘s budget proposal. They are asking Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins to lead legislators in opposition to the governor’s budget proposal.

According to News 10, The coalition is demanding that the governor increase taxes on the rich. They are also asking for the government to provide direct assistance to workers, and for rent assistance to tenants who were adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Although 10 members of the coalition were arrested, they did not stay behind bars very long, because were released from custody on Thursday.

Members of VOCAL-NY sent out a tweet that they had taken the Dunn Memorial Bridge in Albany to demand that legislators hold the line against Governor Cuomo‘s budget negotiations. They also tweeted that 10 members were arrested on the bridge.

It’s good to see activists out in the community working to seek equity for people who are unable to speak for themselves.