DRUM - Desis Rising Up & Moving

05/20/2026

BREAKING | Thanks to sustained pressure from New Yorkers and over 100 organizations including labor unions, community-based organizations, parents, students, and civil liberties experts, all opposed to the “buffer zone” bill, City Council Speaker Menin will not call for an override vote of the Mayor’s veto.

At a time when free speech is under attack across this country, New York should not be expanding NYPD’s discretion to suppress dissent.

If Intro 175-B had passed, it would have disproportionately impacted Black and Brown students, immigrants, and workers. More police will never make Black and Brown students safer at school. It’s clear that the intent of this bill or any other bill that the Speaker will propose like Intro 175-B are about silencing voices, not increasing safety.

We are opposed to Speaker Menin’s proposal for a new bill that she has signaled that she will rush through City Council. Instead of listening to school communities and learning lessons from this failed veto override process, the Speaker is choosing to follow a path which will lead to the same opposition from New Yorkers.

City Council members should know that communities are organized and watching. We’ll continue to show up and urge them to block any bill that would increase police presence and chills free speech.

05/19/2026

Intro 175-b would undermine free speech and the right to protest in NYC at a time they are under attack federally

We are thankful to our council members who have voted against this unconstitutional bill, and we look forward to them to hold the line against the veto override

This afternoon we visited ’s office to leave messages to appreciate him for voting no on Intro 175-b and protecting his constituents right to protest.

05/18/2026

Happy Heavenly Birthday, Sean 🕊️ We know true justice would mean you'd be here, celebrating with your family today. You are missed dearly. 🕊️

was killed by NYPD in 2006, on what should have been his wedding day, when he was only 23 years old.

05/18/2026

Join us for our Poetry Workshop Closing Event as we reflect on the histories of our indentured ancestors through poetry and art.

Together, we will create a space grounded in creativity and community.

📍 RSVP: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc3Rmh5WPQ5dfbosLtbD-6UbFtgcwvcDLq17AqJYJQGBY-uFw/viewform

📅 May 31st
⏱️ 5-7 PM

05/12/2026

BREAKING—A Mayor committed to working class New Yorkers, partnered with robust movements, filled a $12 billion budget gap left behind by the previous administration.

For the first time in decades, we are seeing that despite resistance from Albany, a mayoral administration with a will to deliver can make things happen through cost saving solutions, a pied-à-terre tax on the rich, and without cutting essential services.

We don’t need to be stuck with annual political games around funding of libraries and schools. In a time of unprecedented corporate profits, tax cuts for billionaires on the federal level, and economic uncertainty for working people, Albany must .

05/11/2026

05/08/2026

No increases on all leases!

Yesterday we rallied with hundred of tenants outside the Rent Guidelines Board preliminary vote where it was announced:

PRELIMINARY RANGE PROPOSAL: 0-2% on 1 year leases, 0-4% on 2 year leases

This is a historic moment--the city's FIRST TIME EVER in the history of NYC proposing 0% increases on both 1 AND 2 year leases. But our fight must go on.

2.4M tenants need a rent freeze!

05/05/2026

This Friday—join us for a screening of ’s short film “Elijah” a Bangladeshi-American coming out story. After the screening we’ll be joined by for a Q&A with filmmaker Razid Season!

RSVP at bit.ly/may8elijah

Refreshments provided

Where: Apicha Community Health Center - Jackson Heights, Queens (82-11 37th Avenue, Queens, NY 11372)

When: May 8, 6pm

05/04/2026

NYC sent $21B more to the state than we got back last year—and now faces a $5.4B deficit.

If keeps holding our funding hostage, she’ll force cuts to schools, hospitals, and public services across NYC.

The Governor is finalizing the budget over the next 48 hours — that means in just a few days, New York City may have to make billions in cuts if Hochul doesn’t act.

Join us in calling on Hochul to and stop punishing everyday working people!

05/03/2026