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Over 50 street vendors, joined by construction, domestic, retail shop, and restaurant workers held a rally and a march in Diversity Plaza in Jackson Heights on May Day in honor of the International Workers Day.
The street vendors shared their stories of being targeted by the Jackson Heights Bangladeshi Business Association and being forced to leave their work. Street vendor Mohammad Biswas said that the JBBA invited police officers into the neighborhood April 27 and held a meeting where they claimed “‘street vendors are the cause of crime, disturbance, and illegal activity.’ But people like Biswas questioned JBBA about the basis of such charges and asked for proof for such allegations. “We keep this neighborhood safe by building a sense of community,” he said.
After the meeting NYPD officers allegedly came out and threatened several of the street vendors that they would be arrested if they came back the following day. None of the street vendors have worked since April 27 for fear of being fined or arrested.
Then the vendors joined by other workers started a march up 74th Street to the JBBA office. In front of the JBBA office, another street vendor, Mohammad Mohiuddin, shared that “20 years ago these businesses used to support us. Now they have become so rich and greedy that they cannot even tolerate us making a living on the streets.”
The group then marched to Bangladesh Plaza on 73rd Street, which is owned by Mina Farah, who is also a committee member of the JBBA and believed to be the main proponent against the street vendors.
The crowd chanted “Down with Mina Farah!” before moving on and returning to Diversity Plaza.
Over 50 street vendors, joined by construction, domestic, retail shop, and restaurant workers held a rally and a march in Diversity Plaza in Jackson Heights on May Day in honor of the International Workers Day.
The street vendors shared their stories of being targeted by the Jackson Heights Bangladeshi Business Association and being forced to leave their work. Street vendor Mohammad Biswas said that the JBBA invited police officers into the neighborhood April 27 and held a meeting where they claimed “‘street vendors are the cause of crime, disturbance, and illegal activity.’ But people like Biswas questioned JBBA about the basis of such charges and asked for proof for such allegations. “We keep this neighborhood safe by building a sense of community,” he said.
After the meeting NYPD officers allegedly came out and threatened several of the street vendors that they would be arrested if they came back the following day. None of the street vendors have worked since April 27 for fear of being fined or arrested.
Then the vendors joined by other workers started a march up 74th Street to the JBBA office. In front of the JBBA office, another street vendor, Mohammad Mohiuddin, shared that “20 years ago these businesses used to support us. Now they have become so rich and greedy that they cannot even tolerate us making a living on the streets.”
The group then marched to Bangladesh Plaza on 73rd Street, which is owned by Mina Farah, who is also a committee member of the JBBA and believed to be the main proponent against the street vendors.
The crowd chanted “Down with Mina Farah!” before moving on and returning to Diversity Plaza.
The post Bangladeshi Street Vendors In Jackson Heights Hold May Day Rally appeared first on News India Times.
