Protesters shut down traffic on two bridges in New York Friday morning in an effort to make their voices heard on issues pertaining to taxes and illegal immigration, according to the New York Post (NYP).
The protesters brought Manhattan-bound traffic on the Brooklyn Bridge, and Brooklyn-bound traffic on the Manhattan Bridge to a standstill around 10:50 a.m. as they marched across, pausing halfway for a moment of silence for the lives lost due to coronavirus, and then separating off around 11:30 a.m., NYP reported.
Participants of the march consisted of people and coalition groups who support monetary support for undocumented immigrants and convicted felons who didn’t receive COVID-19 relief support. (RELATED: Illegal Immigrants In Virginia Can Apply For Driver Privilege Cards Starting Jan. 1)
Protesters shut down traffic on Manhattan, Brooklyn bridges https://t.co/yafhKvtn69 pic.twitter.com/ELzWwXvTdV
— New York Post (@nypost) March 5, 2021
Several people chimed in via Twitter to share their support for those marching across the bridges.
NOW: We have taken over the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges!
Our message is clear: #FundExcludedWorkers NOW. pic.twitter.com/N3ZduYOFSy
— Yatziri ???? (@yatziritovar) March 5, 2021
“The taxi drive union appears to be blocking the Manhattan Bridge in some kind of protest,” Inez Feltscher Stepman, a Senior Policy Analyst with the Independent Women’s Forum (IWF) tweeted.
The taxi driver union appears to be blocking the Manhattan Bridge in some kind of protest.
— Inez Stepman ⚪️????⚪️ (@InezFeltscher) March 5, 2021
“Two different marches of worker coalition orgs have shut down the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges right now, demanding that NY #TaxThe Rich, #CancelRent, support cab drivers, and fund schools,” Scott Heins, a freelance reporter tweeted.
Two different marches of worker coalition orgs have shut down the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges right now, demanding that NY #TaxTheRich, #CancelRent, support cab drivers, and fund schools @MaketheRoadNY @nychange @housing4allNY @nycfairhousing @VendorPower @NYTWA pic.twitter.com/dw0XUdpNtO
— Scott Heins (@scottheins) March 5, 2021
Those participating in the march are requesting that the New York government create a fund of approximately $4.6 billion, by taxing the rich, to give to those who were ineligible to receive financial support from previous COVID-19 relief bills, due to prior convictions or immigration status, according to the NYP.