Author, Emmy-nominated documentary filmmaker, and Brooklyn College media law professor Ian Rosenberg discussed his book “The Fight for Free Speech,” on a Zoom meeting Monday evening. He introduced his publication as a handbook for combatting authoritarianism, protecting our democracy, and bringing an understanding of free speech law to all.

The first amendment protects government limits on our freedom of speech, but it doesn’t prevent a private employer from setting its own rules. This issue has caused confusion among advocates of free speech, according to Rosenberg.

One of the chapters in the book discusses whether or not Colin Kaepernick had the right to take a knee during the national anthem. His first protest occurred on August 14, 2016. It sparked a movement for NFL players fighting racial injustice. “I think Kaepernick is really the consummate protester of our age,” Rosenberg said.

“Kaepernick was working for a private employer, the NFL,” Rosenberg said, “and unfortunately I think this surprised many people, but you have almost no free speech rights in connection with a private employer.” Therefore, Kaepernick could not use the first amendment as an argument against the NFL.

The difference between public and private spheres extends to the world of education. Students at public schools can exercise their first amendment right to protest as opposed to students who attend private schools. “It’s another reason to appreciate CUNY,” said Brooklyn College Interim Provost, April Whatley who interviewed Rosenberg at the event.

In addition to the right to speak, there is a right to not have the government compel you to express a message you don’t believe in, Rosenberg said. Another case highlighted in the book, The Barnette Case, grants public school students the right to protest in a public space and prohibits public schools from forcing students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

Walter Barnette, Lucy McClure, and Paul Stull sued when their children were expelled from the Kanawha County schools for their refusal to salute the flag. They claimed that requiring participation in the ceremony violated their First Amendment rights. The Jehovah’s Witnesses challenged the regulations and won at trial. The state appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which in the 6-3 Barnette decision struck down the laws of all states requiring schoolchildren to salute the flag, according to The West Virginia Encyclopedia. “Students and people working for governmental agencies have greater rights than Kaepernick for the same purpose,” Rosenberg said.

The book was originally published February 9, 2021. Rosenberg released an updated version this spring.

• There is a right not to speak, and there is a right to not have the government compel you to express a message you don’t believe in.
• However, “if you are a student and you do the same protest and you take a knee, or the equivalent of at some public-school sponsored event, then The Barnette Case can be sighted. You can say there is no first amendment right that prohibits government actors from punishing you if you’re unwilling to express a message you don’t believe in,” Rosenberg said.
• The first amendment only protects you against government interference with your speech.
• and you do the same protest and you take a knee, or the equivalent of at some public-school sponsored event, then The Barnette Case can be sighted. You can say there is no first amendment right that prohibits government actors from punishing you if you’re unwilling to express a message you don’t believe in,” Rosenberg said.
• In comparison, you have essentially no free speech rights in connection with private schools along with private employers. “It’s another reason to appreciate CUNY,” Brooklyn College Interim Provost, April Whatley said.

Just yesterday, electronic devices nationwide, including cellphones, TVs, and radios, went off, creating a loud warning sound and vibration as part of an emergency alert. This test alert was accompanied by a message from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

FEMA coordinated the national test of Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) and the Emergency Alert System (EAS) with the Federal Communications Commission. The test was sent via WEA to cellphones and via EAS to televisions and radios.

At approximately 2:20 p.m. Eastern time almost everyone’s phone received the alert simultaneously. “I was so confused because my phone has never gone off like that. I have heard other people’s phones go off, but never mine,” said Alexander Volazquez, a Spanish speaker and recent iPhone user. “I just moved to the United States almost a year ago. I never knew they had emergency alerts for your phone.”

The alert is designed to allow the President to address the residents within 10 minutes during a national emergency through specific outlets. These wireless alerts consist of short messages with 360 characters or less, which are sent to phones to inform the owners of important information.

The purpose of yesterday’s test was to ensure that the system continues to function in the event of warnings or public emergencies, especially those at the national level.

FEMA, in collaboration with the FCC and other stakeholders, took measures to prepare for this national test, aiming to minimize receiver confusion and enhance public safety. The test occurred within a 30-minute window, with cellphones expected to receive it once. Alerts lasted approximately 15 seconds.

Since 2015, FEMA has been legally required to conduct a test of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System at least once every three years. The most recent national test took place in 2021.

Customers whose phones were set to the Spanish language setting should have received the message in Spanish.

“I really liked that my message was in Spanish since I don’t know how to read in English. If something were to ever happen, I’d feel less worried about not understanding what’s going on,” said Jennifer Sanchez, a Spanish speaker.

According to Spectrum News NY 1, Antwane Johnson, Director of FEMA’s Intergrated Public Alert and Warning System, received reports from individuals and colleagues at a conference for emergency managers in Tennessee from across the country. While observing the test, Johnson was able to witness an entire map “light up.” He added, “I am totally elated” and confident that the test performed as expected. However, he also noted that the government would need to gather and analyze the data in the upcoming weeks.

With multiple different crises in the Central African Republic, Ukraine, and other countries
including rising heat, hunger, and deadly attacks, the United Nations General Assembly stressed
the need to assist these nations in a meeting on Wednesday.

Farhan Haq, the Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary General hosted a briefing with guest
Mohamed Ag Agoya, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General to tell
reporters what steps the U.N. need to consider.

Deputy Haq started by discussing Climate Change. He says that Secretary General António
Guterres responded to findings from the World Meteorologist Organization, saying that “the dog
days of summer are not just barking, they’re biting,” before revealing that this August was the
hottest on record. This year has also been the second hottest on record so far behind 2016.

He then says that leaders must “turn up the heat” now for climate change solutions, as air quality,
human health, and the environment are at stake.

Deputy Haq then discussed recent attacks in Ukraine, such as one in the Donetsk and Zaporizhia
region, and one in the Kostiantynivka region that hit a market, killing and injuring dozens,
including children. Haq shared a statement from Denise Brown, the Humanitarian Coordinator

for Ukraine. “This tragic and unacceptable event is another example of the suffering that Russia’s
invasion inflicts on civilians across the country.”

Hans Grundberg, the Special Envoy of the Secretary General for Yemen, visited Abu Dhabi and
met with Senior Emirati officials and Yemeni stakeholders. Grundberg said that they needed to
progress towards peace to improve living conditions for residents to keep them safe.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo released an update about how their peacekeeping
mission, MONUSCO, welcomed actions taken by the government after multiple demonstrations
and protests on August 30th which resulted in the deaths of multiple protesters, as well as
security and defense officials. MONUSCU says that regardless of their rank, those who have
done these acts should be held responsible.

Deputy Haq then goes on to talk about the rise of online hate speech targeting women in politics
in Costa Rica before the upcoming elections in February of 2024. Online hate speech has risen
by 50% in the past year, and the amount targeting women has risen by 72% in that same time
period. Resident Coordinator Allegra Baiocchi launched a guide to protect these women ahead of
the elections in order to make them feel safer, and to encourage them to run without being
intimidated.

Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General Mohamed Ag Agoya took over as a
guest speaker talking about the crisis in Chad. More than 700,000 people have become refugees
in neighboring countries. Chad has helped 18,000 refugees after the crisis in Sudan. As of June
2023, there are 2.4 million refugees that have been displaced from South Sudan.

He finished the briefing by stressing the need for funding to give more humanitarian acts for
Chad.

Brooklyn, New York- A 57-year-old driver has been charged with the killing of a 64-year-old female pedestrian on February 1, at the East 17th Street and Foster Avenue intersection a few steps away from Brooklyn College.

The driver, Gale Grey-Lawrence, 57,  who was driving a large Chevrolet SUV, was officially charged on February 2 with failure to yield, running a red light and failure to exercise due care, according to police officials.

On February 1, at 6:55 am, the 64 year old woman was crossing an intersection between 17th street and Foster Avenue. Grey-Lawrence didn’t stop for the pedestrian, struck her with the Chevy and dragged her several yards on the pavement.

The woman was taken to Kings County Hospital and died. Grey-Lawrence remained on the scene.

The investigation is still on-going and the victim’s family are withholding the victim’s information until future notice.

The executive director of Transportation Alternatives Danny Harris expressed outrage about the victim’s death.

“Once again, a driver of a big car has killed a Brooklyn resident as they tried to cross the street. We are heartbroken and outraged. We send our condolences to the loved ones of the deceased.”

So far, there have been at least 18 deaths due to traffic violations in 2022 compared to 85 fatalities in Brooklyn last year, according to Transportation Alternatives. This puts the 2022 traffic fatality rate on track to exceed the deaths from 2021.

Mayor Eric Adams addressed concerns about traffic accidents just weeks ago on January 19 at a Coney Island Avenue press conference to propose new approaches to decrease fatalities.

A group of  New York State library administrators testified on Thursday that many libraries in poor, vulnerable areas were facing permanent closure due to state budget cuts prompted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The warnings arose at a hearing of the New York State Assembly on Libraries and Education Technology, led by Assemblyman Thomas Abinanti of Tarrytown.

“For more than a decade state aid to libraries and library systems has fallen significantly of what’s been required in the statute.” said Assistant Commissioner for Libraries Lauren Moore. According to Moore inadequate state funding has left libraries over $100 million  short of their mandated funding since 2009 with a further 2.6 percent cut for the current budget year and a $20 million cut to the capital construction plan.

“We are seeing some indication that not every library will survive this moment, we are seeing that some county and local governments are cutting library funding to the point that some of them are not going to be sustainable in the long-term,” Moore aid, adding that the State Education Department has indicated many potential closures are  located in communities with the highest poverty rates, the lowest internet adoption rates, and with the ‘greatest need for libraries’.

Briana McNamee, Director of Government Relations and Advocacy for New York Library Association. echoed these fears.

“On average each of our libraries in the state has spent over $6,500 for Covid-related expenses, some of our libraries told us they spent over $40,000,” she said. “When expanded to the entire state [in total] its 4 and a half million dollars on items such as PPE, plexiglass upgrades to a HVAC system all to ensure health and safety of our community.”

McNamee tesitfied that the withholding of 20 percent of the Aid and Incentives for Municipalities (AIM) payment will have serious consequences for library branches across the state struggling with resource shortages and retaining employment. AIM, which is the state’s funding program to cities in New York State , funds without which McNamee said may result in closures.

McNamee did not provide how many or where libraries were in danger of closing, saying that every library was different.

Abinanti promised to prepare a bill for the 2021 budget to recoup some of the funding for the state libraries.

Photo of Assemblyman Abinanti

The New York City Bar Association was ready to put police reform at the forefront of the agenda,  according to comments at a virtual panel on Thursday focused on over-policing and abuse in black and brown communities.

“Black lives matter and blue lives matter,” shouted the Bar Association president Sheila Boston at the start of the event.

The 90-minute dialogue featured guest speakers such as the Bronx Defenders Policy Counsel Dawit Getachew, Communities United for Police Reform Director Joo-Hyun Kang, Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice Deputy Director for Crime Strategies Deanna Logan, and New York City Police Department First Deputy Commissioner Benjamin Tucker.

After each speaker touched on systemic injustice, Kang showed a PowerPoint that revealed major issues related to police reform and discipline scandals that occurred over the years.

“The Police Benevolent Association repeatedly and consistently defends officers who kill, brutalize, and engage in misconduct.” said Kang “It’s important to recognize and state the fact that the police unions in New York City have outsized political power.”

As the discussion progressed, many references were made to problems that happened years ago, which makes it seem as though history is repeating itself.

“There’s a historical perspective that officers who don’t live in the city are therefore not invested in how they police the city, and that was the thinking back in the 1960s,” said Tucker.

The death of George Floyd had the entire country including New York up in arms a few months ago causing a feud between officers and civilians.

“I’m deeply concerned and invested in this issue. It’s dividing our nation, and we must figure out how to resolve all of this,” said Boston.

Crime in New York City has continued its downward trend according to statistics touted by Mayor Bill de Blasio and new Police Commissioner Dermot Shea at a press conference on Thursday, but data shows an increase in some violent crimes.

The crime index has decreased overall by 1.3% from 2018 to 2019, the officials said. Although there are fewer shootings this November versus last November, shootings are up year-to-date with 720 in 2019, compared to 696 in 2018.

“The good news is overall crime continues to go down,” said de Blasio, “but we are very focused on the challenge of homicide. Year-to-date we are up 22 homicides. That’s simply not acceptable.” he continued.

Chief of Crime Control Strategies Lori Pollock said that the increase in homicides can be partly attributed to an increased number of reclassifications of homicides. Deaths from past years can become classified as homicides after investigations end. This year there were more than double the amount of reclassified homicides as last year. 15 of those reclassifications came from deaths from last year, but there were deaths going all the way back to 1987 on the list.

The press conference took place in the Bronx’s New Settlement Community Center, in the 44 precinct, where Shea started as an officer.

“It’s also important to think about where this precinct was the day you joined in 1991 versus where we are today,” said de Blasio to Shea. “The immense progress that has been made, and it’s for a lot of reasons, but in recent years especially because of neighborhood policing and precision policing making a huge difference.” he continued.

In conjunction with neighborhood policing, the commissioner said he plans to do more youth outreach to help keep teens on the right track.

“As you know, that is one of the highest goals we in the NYPD have,” said Shea “to guide young people along the road to success. If we can help kids, teenagers especially, avoid a first interaction with criminal justice system, we’ll do a lot to enrich our neighborhoods, while continuing to reduce crime.” he continued.

The new Chief of Detectives Rodney Harrison and Chief of Patrol Fausto Pichardo, who were appointed Wednesday, were also congratulated at the event. Pichardo is now the highest ranking Dominican officer in the history of the New York City Police Department.

“I’m just elated to serve in this position, to work side by side with the many dedicated men and women on patrol,” Pichardo said. “I look forward in the coming days to going out to all the precincts in the city; meet the community certainly.”

Photo by Marie Fiero

Animal rights supporters covered in fake blood stood outside of luxury retailer in Midtown on Thursday to call an end to sales of the winter coat brand Canada Goose and all other fur items.

“As long as Nordstrom continues to sell fur and to sell Canada Goose, they will be a target of protests,” said Ashley Byrne, associate director of PETA.

The demonstration took place outside of luxury retailer Nordstrom on a busy 57th street at Midtown Manhattan. According to CNN, other luxury retailers Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s have committed to stop selling fur by 2021.

Nordstrom carries the winter clothing brand Canada Goose that is being accused of using methods such as hanging, electro shock, frostbite, dehydration, among others, against coyotes and geese to gain fur and feathers for their coats.

During the protest PETA supporters were on the ground inside metal barriers covered in fake blood and screaming “help me” to pedestrians who walked by. Other supporters with signs were chanting different slogans such as “fur free NYC” and “Nordstrom has blood on their hands”

Nordstrom spokeswoman Emily Sterken issued this statement: “We’ve been paying close attention to this topic, particularly given the recent announcements coming out of various brands, publications and local governments. We realize our customers have different opinions, and our commitment to them has always been to listen to that feedback and be open to change. We try to balance those concerns with the fact we currently still have many customers who tell us they want to be able to purchase fur products at Nordstrom.”

Middleweight contender Dennis Hogan did not seem like the epitome of confidence at a press conference with WBA Middleweight Champion Jermall Charlo, who by contrast, spoke a big game. Hogan’s soft spoken attitude at the press conference on Thursday did not alleviate concerns that he would not have the power to beat Charlo.

“If I hit him, I’ll flush him,” Charlo said on Thursday.  “I have to deliver something explosive. My little Christmas gift, Homie.”

And Charlo’s bark has bite. With 29 wins and 21 KOS, he was  called  by boxing analyst Steven Farhood of Showtime the, “boogeyman of the [middleweight] division” because not many people stepped up to face him. Farhood praised Hogan, who is fighting out of Australia but was born in Ireland, for taking the fight.

Hogan seemed to be more of a tentative speaker at the press conference. He did not outright say that he was going to win and he did not make predictions about his chances. This contrast was evident even in their attire with Hogan dressed in a standard, conservative blue suit and green tie whilst Charlo sported a flashy green jacket, gold chain, and a Russian winter hat (“Ushanka”).

Hogan, who has 28 fights, two decision losses, and only seven KOs, is expected to be outgunned by the more powerful Charlo. Hogan was directly asked about this by the moderator. “Every opponent thinks they can knock me out,” said Hogan. “I’m very accurate and he’ll be feeling those punches. Unless you have someone like me, you don’t really know how it is until you get into it.”

Hogan is coming off a majority decision loss against Jaime Munguia, a result that was controversial and which Hogan said was “bad for boxing.” During the fight, Hogan was apparently leading on points, but the judges ultimately gave the decision to Munguia.

Charlo meanwhile is on an undefeated streak and considered an exciting prospect who will box but also go for the knockout.

Hogan has an orthodox style with a good defensive style that relies on an intelligent jab, but is still a heavy underdog at +850.

Charlo was asked whether hs wife recently having another child has weighed on him to which he replied, “Just another reason to stop this M—– F—–”

The fight was scheduled at Barclays Center on Dec. 7 and streamed live on Showtime.

Former Credit Suisse banker, Surjan Singh, testified to a jury in Brooklyn Federal Court on Thursday that he had accepted millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks from a shipbuilding executive on trial for investment fraud.

Singh, who was arrested in London and already has pleaded  of conspiracy to commit money laundering, took the witness stand in the ongoing trial of Privinest Group banker Jean Boustani, accused by U.S. prosecutors of being the mastermind of a mammoth $200 million scheme to defraud U.S. investors.

Singh told the jury that he received $5.7 million in bribes from Boustani, whom he said he once considered a brother but that their friendship soured after Boustani threatened him when the fountain of money dried up.

Singh was responsible for handling projects in Mozambique that was contracted to Privinest Group in 2013.

“Each transaction under the project went through a number of committees,” said Singh.

Singh admitted that the payments sent from Privinest went through several committees
that were meant to detect if any fraud was taking place. This was overlooked by those same committees.

The prosecution charges that the creation of the Mozambique project was to disguise the payments as they were truly meant to be bribes to bankers in Credit Suisse on behalf of Privinest.

Andrew Pearse, Singh’s former boss who had testified against the defendant earlier, allegedly told Singh how there was potential to make extra money through Bustoni, This conversation took place right after Pearse stepped down to work for another company.

Singh plays an important role in this trial as he was the main contributor to the bribes by Boustani. Singh said that his actions should not cause any mistrust from other investors that work closely with Credit Suisse.

Boustani, a Lebanese banker, has denied all the charges.

Nine pieces. Nine body parts is what the defendant reduced the victim to,” a prosecutor said during one of many graphic and gory details peppered through the opening statements in the trial of a reputed pimp accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend and dismembering her body.

Assistant DA Sabeeha Madni also cited a trash company employee, Rasheen Stanley, who told investigators he’d been contacted by Moses at the time of the incident urging him to help him dump the body.

In their correspondence, Stanley said Moses told him, “You better help me or you are going to end up like her,” Madni said.

Madni also alleged Foster was in an abusive relationship with Moses, based on photo evidence and messages found on some of her phones at 185 Rasmuth St., the address where she lived with Moses, and the site where Foster’s remains were found. The messages indicate that she was scared to come home, and the photos show Foster’s body was covered in bruises allegedly made by her boyfriend.

The defendant’s lawyers did not deny that Moses dismembered the body, but said there was no evidence indicating that he killed her. The defense also claims Foster ultimately died due to unknown brain trauma, despite search records in the defendant’s phone revealing searches for cleaning agents, eye dilation, and brain trauma.

“You don’t have to like him… you don’t have to like his lifestyle. I am asking you to listen…Mr.Moses cut up the body, he had no motive to kill his money maker,” the defense said in their opening statement.

Among the most gruesome testimony on the witness stand came from the trash company employees who found the body. Vicente Figuoroa, a payloader, initially found Foster’s leg and torso. Jesse Mercado, who worked the floor the night before, was alerted by his colleagues about body parts found in the garbage.

“After we checked we realized it was a human being,” said Figuoroa, who testified through an interpreter.

The victim’s younger sister Shaniqua Figueroa, 33, on the stand identified the defendant as her sister’s boyfriend. Figueroa also verified the defendant’s address as Foster’s residence and said she’d last seen her sister in July 2016. Because of the numerous phones Foster kept for sex work, the two sisters often communicated via Facebook Messenger.

The last message Foster sent to her younger sister was January 12, 2017- the day of the alleged murder. Since that message was sent, the younger sister recalled trying to contact her between 4 and 5 times and failing to get a reply.

Somorie “Sugar Bear” Moses was arrested in January 2017, after cops found known sex worker Leondra Foster’s hands, feet, and head refrigerted in his home. Currently charged with second-degree murder, Moses was initially tied to the case after bags of trashed evidence were found in a privately owned garbage transfer station in the Bronx and tracked back to his apartment in Flatbush. Cops also found cut up carpet stained with blood, bleach stains on the floor, a box cutter wrapped in paper, and boxes with blood in a hamper during the investigation.

Moses was registered as a Level 2 sex offender in 2006 after he was busted trying to prostitute an underage girl. During their relationship, he also acted as a solicitor for Foster, a known sex worker. In the months leading up to the murder, the defendant was abusive in his relationship with Foster, according to the victim’s father, Kenneth. Kenneth previously accused Moses of also being a sadist, “with a thing against women.”

A convicted sex offender with a long rap sheet for subway lewdness was sentenced to ten years in prison and ten years probation in Brooklyn Supreme Court on Thursday

Reggie Frank, 48,  who was found guilty in September on two counts of illegal weapons possession and one count of public lewdness,  had 26 prior convictions going back to 2006, when he was accused of attacking a woman who rejected his sexual advances.

The defendant has been arrested 20 times for public lewdness, including an incident in 2015 that went viral after one of his victims, Tiffany Jackson, captured and posted on Instagram pictures of the defendant as he exposed and manipulated himself in front her on an uptown 3 train. He got 90 days in that case.

The latest conviction stemmed from an incident on February 23, 2018 when a dozing passenger on a southbound R train awoke to find Frank sitting across from her and masturbating.  “It’s not fair what happened to me,” said the woman in a victim-impact statement read in the courtroom by a prosecutor. “I did everything as right as I could and I still met Reggie Frank, a man who almost took my life from me.”

The woman screamed in horror, prompting Frank to attack her with pepper spray, according to the indictment. He then slashed her hand with a knife and tried to gouge her eye out. The woman managed to turn the knife against him, stabbing him twice. “I remember him — his stench, his cruelty, his voice,” she continued in the statement. “I can’t even escape into the things I loved doing.”

At the sentencing Frank no remorse, blamed the victim for stabbing him and argued that he acted in self-defense.

“I think the police should of did better” he told Judge Evelyn Laporte, “I had no intention of harming anyone…I am not guilty of those assaults.”

His pleas fell on deaf ears.

Passions raged as CUNY funding and tuition were the targets of a rally and a subsequent state Senate committee hearing on higher education.

Around 50 protesters rallied outside of the main gate of the East Quad at Brooklyn College, chanting, “Hey hey, ho ho, tuition hikes have got to go” and “faculty, students, and staff unite. Same struggle, same fight.”

The protest was organized by the CUNY Rising Alliance, an activist group dedicated to working towards what they call a “free and quality CUNY.”

Jamell Henderson, a coordinator at the CUNY Rising Alliance and a former adjunct professor and graduate of Brooklyn College, delivered a fiery speech to the assembled students, professors, and media who gathered there.

“We are here to no longer ask [for funding] because asking got us nowhere,” Henderson said. “If you don’t listen, we’ll make sure you hear us loud and clear. Governor Cuomo: you messed with the wrong crowd.”

“We are not funding public higher education,” said Timothy Hunter, the student government association president at the City College of Technology. “ We are not a top priority for New York legislators in New York State. We need to make sure we are coming ready to fight for higher education.” Later, Hunter held up a twitter handle for State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, and encouraged protesters to tweet images of the crowd to her.

Among the issues mentioned were food insecurity among students . “New York City does not have to be synonymous with struggle,” said Santana Alvarado, a Hunter College student and chairperson of NYPIRG. “Too many students are homeless.”

Keith Redzinak, a political science major at Brooklyn College, said that it was “impossible” to pay your own way through college. “Up until 1979, CUNY used to be free,” Redzinak said. “Since then tuition has been going up every single year. So what we’re trying to do is fight tuition hikes and make CUNY free again because it’s getting a little ridiculous.”

At the hearing of the  Committee on Education later that day, state legislators heard testimony from students, professors, and college presidents at the Brooklyn College Student Union Building. The meeting was punctuated by applause and cheering as those who rallied outside of the East Quad gate.

Also testifying was Leonard Blades, Vice Chair of Disability Affairs at CUNY University Student Senate, who thanked some of the senators for their work on disability.

Senator Robert Jackson applauded those testifying. “It was very important to hear from the students themselves and the activists themselves it is totally different from the President and CUNY and the administrative point of view,” he said. “Some of them cannot really say what they really want to say.”

Henderson gave the most powerful testimony of the day, decrying the poor heating and air conditioning at Brooklyn College, particularly Roosevelt Hall where he taught as an adjunct, and told the legislators about the state of CUNY’s budget. “It is appalling that in 2019 we are asking the state to fully fund CUNY. It doesn’t make any sense,” he said. “The governor blatantly lied when he said that students making under $25,000 a year can go to school for free.”

Henderson was referring primarily to the Excelsior Scholarship which was implemented in 2017. A common criticism of the program, which was reiterated in the hearing multiple times, is that the hidden costs of college which included transportation, books, and food among other things, wasn’t accounted for when the Excelsior Scholarship was implemented and, therefore, many poorer students can’t take advantage of it.

“We sit here and leaders say to us as young people education is the key to success. Well, stop giving us a rusted damn key,” Henderson said, slamming his fist on the table of the hearing room to uproarious applause.