Friday Odds & Ends Nov. 18, 2016

Odds & Ends

Brooklyn Lawmakers Take Stand Against Hateful Graffiti

State Senator Daniel Squadron, Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez, and City Councilmembers Stephen Levin & Brad Lander called for an emergency ‘Stand Up Against Hate’ Rally for Sunday after graffiti scrawled swastikas and the message “Go Trump” appearing in Adam Yauch Park in Brooklyn Heights.

One of Squadron’s constituents discovered the graffiti sometime Friday and reported it to the lawmaker, whose district includes Brooklyn Heights, DUMBO and Lower Manhattan. Staff then connected with the NYPD and Park Department, who are in the process of removing the hate messages as well as investigating the incident.

Such hate-filled graffiti was also found in a Kingsborough College bathroom, according to a schools source. The source said the president of the school made a college-wide announcement that the school will not tolerate any such markings of racism and hate.

The rally, which includes community and faith leaders is slated for 11:30 a.m., Sunday, Nov. 20 at Adam Yauch Park, State Street between Columbia & Willow Place in Brooklyn Heights.


Jeffries, Velazquez, Clarke To Address Trump’s Appointments

Democratic Brooklyn Congress Members Hakeem Jeffries, Nydia Velazquez and Yvette Clarke on Sunday will gather with other state Congress Members in front of the Trump World Tower to denounce President-Elect Donald Trump’s recent controversial administration appointments.

The appointments thus far include Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions for Attorney General, Kansas Rep. Mike Pompeo as director of the Central Intelligence Agency and Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn as national security adviser.

Two other appointments include Republican Party Chairman Reince Priebus as the White House Chief of Staff and Steve Bannon as the White House Chief Strategist. Trump has over 4,000 positions to fill in two months and its been reported he is meeting with a diverse group of elected officials and policy people.

According to the New York Times, several of these picks have extreme racist, anti-Semitic and Anti-Muslim views. However, other reputable news outlets, such as The Wall Street Journal, did a story letting Bannon state his case.

The press conference is slated for 2 p.m., Sunday, Nov 20 in front of Trump World Tower, 845 United Nations Plaza in Midtown.