Press Release Archives - Page 2 of 7 - NYC Anti-Violence Project

The Walking While Trans Ban Has Been Repealed

February 3, 2021

A draconian piece of legislation that has for decades been wielded to harm trans and gender nonconforming communities has finally been repealed. Since the 1970s, New York State has enabled policing of trans and gender non-conforming people based on a discriminatory and highly variable set of standards relating to “loitering for the purpose of prostitution,” whose enforcement was entirely up to the discretion of police officers. TGNC people ha[...]

Ahead of tomorrow, we remain hopeful

January 19, 2021

As we prepare for tomorrow’s inauguration, AVP is inspired and hopeful for a shift towards healing, justice, and accountability for our nation. We are optimistic about the intentions of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to repair many of the harms President Trump inflicted on the most marginalized in our communities. In his first ten days in office, President-elect Biden has already committed to begin addressing the multiple crises of the COVID-19 pa[...]

AVP condemns the violence occurring in our nation’s capital

January 6, 2021

AVP condemns the violence occurring in our nation’s capital, and any and all attempts to overturn a free and fair election. In failing to recognize the results of the election and commit to a peaceful transfer of power, the administration and the president have undermined faith in our democratic process, sowing doubt that now threatens our democracy. The mob laying siege to the capitol building is a direct culmination of escalating violent rhet[...]

Today on Trans Day of Remembrance

November 20, 2020

Today on Trans Day of Remembrance, AVP joins our trans, gender nonconfirming, and non-binary community in rage and resistance as we remember and honor the TGNC lives lost this year. AVP stands alongside and in solidarity with the trans community, its leaders and trans-led organizations, today and everyday, as allies in the fight to end anti-trans violence. 2020 has been a year of immense grief for our community. It is a year marked by a glob[...]

Family of Layleen Polanco Settles Civil Suit With New York City, Continues Advocacy #JusticeForLayleen

August 31, 2020

Media Contact: Eliel Cruz, Director of Communications, New York City Anti-Violence Project ecruz@avp.org, 917-727-2107 David Shanies, Attorney representing Polanco family david@shanieslaw.com 212-951-1710 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Family of Layleen Polanco Settles Civil Suit With New York City, Continues Advocacy #JusticeForLayleen August 31, NEW YORK, NY — The family of Layleen Polanco, a 27-year-old Afro-Latinx trans woman who di[...]

AVP Calls For An Immediate End To Solitary Confinement

July 2, 2020

On Monday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the City’s plan to end solitary confinement for those with serious medical conditions effective immediately, and an end to solitary confinement for all in New York City by October. During his announcement he acknowledged that Layleen Polanco should not have been in solitary confinement. This step is necessary but does not go nearly far enough. AVP calls for an immediate end to solitary con[...]

AVP Condemns The City’s Fiscal Year ‘21 Austerity Budget with no major cuts to NYPD

July 1, 2020

Defunding the Hate Violence Prevention Initiative and Cutting Social Services by 20% Without Cutting the NYPD Budget is a Disgrace. At the close of Pride month, amid protests against anti-Black police violence, an ongoing global pandemic, and a financial crisis; the New York City Council passed an austerity budget that cut essential funding from many progams serving LGBTQ Black and other people of color and failed to meaningfully divest from t[...]

New York City Anti-Violence Project Condemns NYPD’s Violence at Pride After “Vow” to Never Repeat the Violence of Stonewall

June 30, 2020

This Sunday, June 28, 2020, protesters marching in the Queer Liberation March for Black Lives were attacked by police, who pushed them, beat them, and used pepper spray against them toward the end of the march in Washington Square Park. The New York City Anti-Violence Project strongly condemns this violence. Especially in light of all the actions taken over the past month, led by Black and brown New Yorkers to highlight and resist police violence[...]

City and State Lawmakers Must Commit to #JusticeForLayleen

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[...]

Statement From Layleen Polanco’s Family On Newly Released Footage Of Inside Rikers

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[...]

AVP Demands Divestment from Policing and Investment in Services for LGBTQ and HIV-affected Survivors

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[...]

AVP OPPOSES NEW YORK STATE’S BAIL ROLLBACKS

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 [...]