NEW YORK, N.Y. (April 24, 2026) — Public education advocacy organization Alliance for Quality Education issued the following statement commending Mayor Mamdani for standing firmly with this city’s families and students and vetoing Intro 175-B:
“The right to gather outside or near schools is fundamental to how students, educators, families, and entire school communities advocate for change. From organizing around school safety to demanding resources and accountability, peaceful assembly has long been a cornerstone of civic engagement in our city’s public education system,” said Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari and Marina Marcou-O’Malley, Co-Executive Directors, Alliance for Quality Education.
“This bill was never about protection or safety. Instead, it would have placed students,families and educators at risk of arrest simply for peacefully protesting outside their own schools. We know exactly who would have borne the brunt of that harm: Black and Brown communities, immigrant families, Muslim and Jewish New Yorkers, queer and trans people, and young people already subjected to disproportionate surveillance and over-policing.
“The broad coalition that has united in opposition to 175-B is a reflection of New Yorkers’ values. Over 100 groups came together to call for a veto, including free speech advocates, labor unions, and leading faith-based organizations like Jewish Voice for Peace, Jews for Racial and Economic Justice, and Muslim Community Network. Most importantly, education groups, particularly those representing Black, brown, trans, and queer students and families, have been clear from the beginning that this bill was counter-productive to public safety. Today’s decision shows that the Mayor is listening.
“Mayor Mamdani’s veto is an important step to protect students’ rights, uphold our first amendment rights to freedom of speech, and reject policies that would have further criminalized vulnerable communities. The Mayor has affirmed that the voices of families and young people deserve to be heard, not silenced. We call on the City Council to sustain this veto.”