Politics

UPDATE Fordham University Student Sit-in for Gaza Commences on Bronx Campus, Rally also Held Outside

By SÍLE MOLONEY
As ongoing student demonstrations in support of Gaza and Israel on New York City and other college campuses continue to dominate the nation’s television screens, along with what some see as controversial crackdowns on such protests by the NYPD and other police departments, around 20-30 people were seen rallying in support of Gaza outside the gates of Fordham University’s Bronx campus on Friday evening, May 3, at around 7 p.m. One attendee informed us that a sit-in by Fordham students had commenced earlier that day inside the walls of the college’s campus and was seemingly still ongoing.

UPDATE Bronx Elected Officials React to Alleged Sexual Abuse of Youth in Bronx Juvenile Detention Centers

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Various Bronx elected officials joined survivors of abuse that allegedly occurred in various youth detention centers across The Bronx, on Tuesday, April 30, to announce the filing of more than 150 civil lawsuits against The City of New York made possible by a law passed by the New York City Council in 2021, which extends the statute of limitations, granting survivors of gender-motivated violence an additional two years to pursue civil actions.

BP Holds Historic Flag-Raising Ceremony at Borough Hall to Mark Transgender Day of Visibility

By ARIEL PACHECO
The transgender flag was raised for the first time in front of Bronx Borough Hall on April 1, marking a historic moment for the Bronx transgender community, and coinciding roughly with Transgender Day of Visibility, which is celebrated nationally each year on March 31. Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson was joined by Bronx LGTBQIA+ leaders for the historic occasion in The Bronx.

Former BP Diaz Jr. & Hip Hop Legend Fat Joe Discuss Uplifting The Bronx at Lehman College Event

By ARIEL PACHECO, DAVID GREENE & SÍLE MOLONEY
Friends, former Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and Hip Hop legend Fat Joe, gathered at Lehman College on March 26 to discuss their respective professional lives, as well as their upbringings and their ongoing commitment to improving The Bronx. The annual event at Lehman, ordinarily held in the form of a lecture, was, this year, called, “Hip Hop with a Heart: The Civic Mind of The Bronx.” The lecture series itself dates back to 1970.

NYS Office of Addiction Services & Support Releases New Cannabis Toolkit

By SÍLE MOLONEY
The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (NYS OASAS) announced on Friday, April 19, the launch of a new Cannabis Toolkit for parents and mentors, designed to offer resources and information about cannabis and how to talk to young people about the risks of underage cannabis use and the impact it can have. The free toolkit is available in both English and Spanish on the OASAS website.