Dear friend,

Earlier today while court watching and escorting immigrants at their court hearings masked ICE agents arrested NYC Comptroller Brad Lander, the sitting NYC Comptroller and mayoral candidate. Brad has been doing this volunteer work for weeks, a response to the Trump administration's escalating immigration dragnet. Just a few moments ago, Brad was released to his family.

Let that sink in– the sitting City Comptroller, a United States citizen, was illegally and unconstitutionally arrested by ICE for escorting an immigrant out of court. This type of bravery and moral clarity is exactly why I endorsed Brad for Mayor and why I am proud to support him.

This is authoritarianism, plain and simple, and it is happening here. We should all be outraged. And we should all stand up and say we will not allow this to happen in our country's name.

This moment asks more of us. I’m proud to have been down at Federal Plaza today demanding his release and standing up for our constitutional values.

At this moment, we are faced with a choice: do we remain silent, or do we declare loudly and clearly that we will fight for our rights? That we will fight for our neighbors? That we will fight for a city and country where everyone has the right to live safely and freely? I know my choice.

Best,