NEW YORK, N.Y. (May 14, 2026) — Students, parents and advocates gathered Wednesday for a rally urging members of the New York City Council to sustain Mayor Mamdani’s veto of Intro 175-B and protect students’ right to protest.
At the rally, students, families and educators shared personal stories on the importance of maintaining the right to protest and protecting student voices. “I don’t want police to be hanging around our school when we’re trying to say something. It doesn’t make me feel safe,” said Franny, 9, who is a student at a nearby school.
Speakers highlighted concerns that Intro 175-B will make students less safe, discouraging their civic participation and limiting their ability to speak out on the issues that directly affect their schools and communities, and that these impacts would disproportionately harm Black, immigrant, and trans students.
Participants also walked together to Council Member Harvey Epstein’s office to publicly thank him for voting against the bill, and standing with students and families. Cooper, also an elementary school student, said “this bill is threatening our city and it should not be passed.”
“We need a city council that invests in community safety, not policing. We know what happens when surveillance and increased police are around our schools. Black, Brown, immigrant, and trans people suffer the most. This bill is not about safety, it is about surveillance and upholding white supremacy and a police state.” – Reverend Amanda Hambrick, local parent and organizer
“How we as a society approach dissent and conflict matters, especially around schools, because our children will learn from the example we set. Just like Trump’s fascist attempts to shut down and persecute protest at the federal level, 175-B will chill free speech and will harm and criminalize children and families.” – Kaiser, NYC Community Organizer, Alliance for Quality Education
“More NYPD presence around schools does not make students safer; it creates more opportunities for over-policing and racial profiling. Students deserve safety, but they also deserve the right to protest and organize without fear. We are not asking for amendments. Kill the bill.” — Lilah Mejia, local parent and organizer