June 18, 2020
Dear Supporter,
I’m proud to announce that the New York City Anti-Violence Project has received its largest-ever gift -- $1.75 million from the #StartSmall initiative. This fund was created by Jack Dorsey, co-founder and CEO of Twitter and Square, in response to the global pandemic and economic downturn.
This gift comes at a time when funding was uncertain for AVP. I’m humbled that we will not only be able to continue our 40-year legac[...]
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June 15, 2020
Media Contact:
Eliel Cruz, Director of Communications
ecruz@avp.org,
917-727-2107
City and State Lawmakers Must Commit to #JusticeForLayleen
The NYC Anti-Violence Project is calling on city and state officials to take concrete steps towards ending the criminalization and abuse of transgender women of color in New York's carceral system. Last week, the Bronx District Attorney released the results of their investigation into the death of Layle[...]
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June 13, 2020
Media Contact:
Eliel Cruz, Director of Communications at AVP
ecruz@avp.org,
917-727-2107
David Shanies, Attorney representing Polanco family
david@shanieslaw.com
212-951-1710
The following is a statement from Layleen’s mother, sister, and brother, Aracelis Polanco and Melania Brown, Salomon Polanco respectively:
“The Rikers video shows the world just how little these officers cared whether Layleen lived or died. Layleen’s su[...]
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June 11, 2020
One year ago our community lost Layleen Polanco, a 27-year-old Afro-Latinx trans woman, who was pronounced dead in a solitary confinement cell at Rikers. We mourn the loss of Layleen, a sister, daughter, mother, friend, and community advocate. We are angry and stand with her family as they seek justice for her death.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpuO84pnODc
AVP demands #JusticeForLayleen. We demand that:
The State Legislature pass[...]
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June 4, 2020
Contact:
Ericka Dixon, National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs edixon@avp.org
Audacia Ray, New York City Anti-Violence Project aray@avp.org
As anti-violence organizations that provide direct services for and advocacy with LGBTQ and HIV-affected survivors of hate, intimate partner, and sexual violence, we affirm that #BlackLivesMatter and demand that city, county, and state governments commit to reallocating funding from police depar[...]
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June 1, 2020
As Pride month begins in New York City with protests against anti-Black police violence and an ongoing global pandemic, the New York City Anti-Violence Project demands divestment from policing and investment in social services and resources for low-income New Yorkers of color. The last fifty years of LGBTQ lives in NYC were marked by protest: the Stonewall Riots, civil disobedience around the AIDS crisis, and vigils and rallies supporting the liv[...]
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April 10, 2020
AVP opposes New York State’s recently passed bail rollbacks which will put thousands more in jail, including marginalized and criminalized LGBTQ survivors of violence.
New York City, NY – The New York City Anti-Violence Project (AVP) opposes the actions of Governor Cuomo and the New York State legislature to rollback 2019 bail laws, which will put thousands more in jail, including marginalized LGBTQ survivors like Layleen Polanco, a Black [...]
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March 27, 2020
Dear Governor Cuomo and New York State Legislature,
As organizations that serve hundreds of thousands of survivors of domestic and intimate partner violence (IPV) in New York State, through counseling, support and legal services, and advocacy, we join the growing call of voices opposing rollbacks on bail reform. Contrary to the arguments of those who invoke intimate partner violence to push back against bail reform, rollbacks will not make sur[...]
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March 26, 2020
While being at home is best practice to avoid the spread of this virus, for some it may carry other risks. Many survivors are navigating a difficult reality: staying home to keep themselves and their community safe may keep them isolated with the person(s) causing them harm. This could be a partner, a roommate, or a family member.
If you’re unsafe, try to consider what your options are and remember AVP is here to help with navigating available[...]
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March 13, 2020
UPDATE 1/13/21: AVP's offices will remain closed until at least June 2021.
ORIGINAL POST 3/16/20:
We hope you are all taking care of yourselves and each other in these times that are stressful for all of us. We are writing to let you know that due to the escalating situation around coronavirus, and in the interest of our collective community's health and well-being, AVP has decided to close our offices for in-person appointments and walk-i[...]
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New York City, NY - The New York City Anti-Violence Project (AVP) joins NYC Against Hate Coalition and communities facing hate violence and intimate partner violence to demand “No Rollbacks” to the current New York State bail laws. AVP serves thousands of LGBTQ people every year, who as LGBTQ, Black, Latinx, immigrant, working-class, and low-income survivors of violence, were often themselves criminalized and detained because of the discrimin[...]
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March 5, 2020
This interview has been shortened and condensed for clarity.
For a decade, Cecilia Gentili has been an ongoing collaborator and community partner with AVP. Working at the intersections of sex work, transgender women’s rights, and incarceration issues, Cecilia Gentili has helped shape critical forums with AVP. Cecilia is well known for advocating for safe and equitable access to housing, employment, and public resources for the trans and ge[...]
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