Staten Island residents are expected to protest a migrant shelter at a former Catholic school Monday evening – one day after the NYPD arrested six people outside Gracie Mansion rallying against Mayor Eric Adams’ response to the asylum seeker crisis.
A flier for the upcoming “Protest-a-Palooza” urges residents to “Say No” at “NYC’s Biggest Block Party” at the former St. John Villa Academy.
The building in Arrochar was the site of several large protests last week, some of which reportedly turned ugly. One protester yelled at migrants they were “not welcome” and “enemies of the state,” vowing to make a “citizen’s arrest” if they left the vicinity of the shelter, according to the New York Post.
The Staten Island Advance reported that the crowd at St. John Villa was often agitated and chanted about “saving their children” and sending migrants back to the countries they fled.
About two dozen migrants are currently housed at the facility, which has room for up to 300 people, according to a City Hall official. On Friday, an appeals court ruled against an effort by Staten Island lawmakers to block the Adams administration from sending migrants to the shelter.
Police did not share information regarding Monday night’s protest or security preparations.
The expected rally comes on the heels of Sunday’s gathering of around 150 people outside Gracie Mansion on the Upper East Side.
The protesters outraged at the recent surge in new arrivals clashed with counter-protesters and police, with several violent altercations captured in videos on social media. Counter-protesters held signs reading “stop playing politics with asylum seekers” and “stop the war on immigrants.”
Among the six arrested were former Republican candidate for mayor and Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa, according to the NYPD. He was charged with disorderly conduct and obstruction of governmental administration after addressing the rowdy crowd.
Sliwa did not immediately return a…
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