A contingent of elected officials and activists joined several hundred Bay Ridge Democrats in front of U.S. Rep. Malliotakis’ (R-Southern Brooklyn, Staten Island) office on a winter cold Saturday to denounce and call for the resignation of the newly-elected congresswoman for her decision to vote against certifying the electoral college election in favor of President-elect Joe Biden.
Malliotakis joined some 155 GOP Congressmembers – about two-thirds of the Republican House delegation – in voting to not certify the election, leaving charges that these members are complicit in last week’s Trump-led insurrection and takeover of the U.S. Capital building.
“For over 300 years, we’ve had a peaceful [presidential] transition and after 72 hours in office, Nicole Malliotakis sold us out. Five people died [in the insurrection] and she still voted with Donald Trump.,” said City Councilmember Justin Brannan (D-Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bath Beach, Bensonhurst).
““We’re in the midst of a pandemic. People are starving and struggling and starvings and we’re dealing with a white supremicist insurrection. This is a defining moment. Either you stand with Trump or you stand with the truth,” he added.
Assemblywoman and Borough President Candidate Jo Anne Simon (D-Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Downtown Brooklyn, Boerum Hill) called on Malliotakis to do the right thing and either follow the constitution or back an administration based on systemic racism.
“You [Malliotakis] took the oath of office on the [Jan.] 5th and you violated it right after,” said Simon. “He [Trump] feels he’s from a superior race. Nicole Malliotakis’ job is to be an American. Either you support Article 25 or vote to impeach him.”
Public Advocate Jumaane Williams in denouncing Malliotakis and Trump, also noted that the Democratic Party now controls both legislative chambers and the executive branches on both the state and federal level.
“There is nbo more excuses but to move the country forward for everybody. Everybody can be on this freedom train,” he said.
City Councilmember and Borough President Candidate Antonio Reynoso (D Williamsburg, Greenpoint) noted Malliotakis was one of hundreds in the House who voted to decertify the election and in doing so toed the line of fascism.
“I have no problem if you are blue or red, but I won’t have you go after our Democracy,” he said.
Other elected officials denouncing Malliotakis and urging for her resignation was City Councilmember and Comptroller Candidate Brad Lander (D-Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Kensington) and Assemblywoman Mathylde Frontus (D-Bay Ridge, Coney Island, Dyker Heights).
Among the activists that spoke were Palistinian-Americans Murad Awawdeh and Linda Sarsour. The Bay Ridge/Dyker Heights area neighborhoods have the largest Palistinian-American population in the county, said Awawdeh.
“You can’t incite an insurrection then vote to undermine the voters will and think we’re going to take it laying down. This isn’t a Republican/Democrat issue— it’s an American one— our democracy was attacked,” said Awawdeh.
Sarsour, whose activism has led her to becoming a national figure in progressive and Black Lives Matter politics, said it is good to speak in the nighborhood where she grew up in and vowed to reenergize herself into local politics.
“Nicole Malliotakis claims her family fled a dictatorship [Cuba] for freedom only to support a dictatorship and fascism here,” Sarsour said.
Malliotakis did not respond to questions about the protest in front of her office at post time.
