QUEENS — A group of Forest Hills residents, prompted in part by President Donald Trump's executive order restricting immigration, is planning to organize a rally "against bigotry, intolerance and hate," which they say have been shaping the public discourse in the aftermath of recent political developments.
The organizers of Queens Stands Together Rally, scheduled for Sun., Feb. 26 in MacDonald Park, want to promote "Queens values" of tolerance and diversity instead, they said.
“Let us come together in MacDonald Park united for freedom and equality,” they wrote on the event’s Facebook page.
“I feel very strongly about this,” said Ethan Felder, 29, a local resident, labor lawyer and member of Community Board 6, who co-organized the rally. “There needs to be a public gathering and statement of solidarity and diversity and anti-bigotry at this moment in history.”
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According to the event's Facebook page, which was created Monday morning, more than 500 people are interested in attending and more than 100 committed to participate as of early Tuesday afternoon.
“We are hoping to attract groups and communities from all around the borough to this rally in the spirit of solidarity,” he said.
Felder said he also expects local elected officials to participate, as well of several organizations, including Council on American-Islamic Relations, Turning Point for Women, Alliance of South Asian Labor and Queens Connection.
“Queens epitomizes the multi-cultural melting pot of America,” the organizers wrote on Facebook. “Many in the community are quite fearful with reason. There is no place for scapegoating communities as the "other." In this uncertain time, this is our opportunity to stand together united in solidarity behind #queensvalues.”
The rally at MacDonald Park, between Yellowstone Boulevard and 70th Road, will take place on Sun. Feb. 26, between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
