Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez appeared before a judge for his scheduled court date. Rodriguez pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct for his arrest on January 11, 2018 at a protest against Ravi Ragbir’s deportation. He was joined by civil rights lawyer Ron Kuby, Immigration Activist Ravi Ragbir, civil rights advocate Carlos Rodriguez, and Council Member Jumaane Williams who was also arrested during that same protest.
“Today in court I declared myself guilty of disorderly conduct for my arrest on January 11, 2018 while carrying out an act of civil disobedience. I want to ensure all my energy is focused on unapologetically fighting for immigrants, lifting their contributions, and keeping families together. A protracted trial process would take away from the urgent work in protecting immigrants that needs our full attention,” said Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez. “This act of non-violent protest was done in advocacy of Ravi Ragbir’s permanence in the United States and in protest of unjust immigration laws impacting the millions of deportation vulnerable immigrants like Amanda Morales Guerra. This act of non-violent protest was done in keeping with teachings of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the month we celebrate his legacy. This act of non-violent protest was done because the United States of America is a country for and by immigrants. This act of non-violent protest was done in resistance to the bigoted rhetoric peddled by the right wing that is intent on tearing our country apart and denying our immigrant history.”
“On January 11, ICE commandeered an ambulance and attempted to carry out the illegal deportation of Ravi Ragbir. Council member Rodriguez and others literally put the bodies in front of that vehicle, slowing the deportation process long enough that Ragbir’s lawyers were able to secure a federal court order stopping the deportation. Today’s plea to disorderly conduct, a violation on par with a traffic ticket, allows us all to use our time and resources fighting for immigrants and against deportations,” said Ron Kuby, Civil Rights Attorney.
“Council Member Rodriguez and I were proud to stand up in protest for Ravi and other immigrants facing immoral deportation. At the time, it was considered some to be a stunt or an empty gesture. But today, Ravi Ragbir remains in the United States, in part because of those very protests by ourselves and others. I thank Council Member Rodriguez for his courage in defending the rights of all immigrants and am proud to continue to join him in that defense,” said Council Member Jumaane D. Williams.
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