Rally Denounces Anti-Dominican Xenophobia In Washington Heights

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, NY — A demonstration in support of the Dominican community and against the recent "attacks and discrimination towards the Dominican people" took place Sunday in Washington Heights.

The "Our Voice" demonstration, which took place on the Plaza de Las Americas at West 175th Street, was organized by Rep. Adriano Espaillat and attended by many elected officials.

Espaillat was joined in support by mayoral candidate Eric Adams, Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez, Council Member Mark Levine, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, other elected officials and dozens of community members.

"A demonstration in support of our Dominican community and against attacks and discrimination towards the Dominican people," read a presser from Rodriguez about the event.

From today's "Our Voice, Nuestra Voz" rally in Washington Heights. I'm proud to stand with @EspaillatNY @ydanis and the entire Dominican community against anti-Dominican discrimination. pic.twitter.com/rICjoKfzKi
— Eric Adams (@ericadamsfornyc) October 31, 2021

The demonstration was initially announced after Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa incorrectly claimed that Rodriguez wasn't a U.S. citizen during a mayoral debate on Thursday.

"Acts of xenophobia against the Dominican community and its leaders are increasing through New York CITY — and its simply unacceptable," Espaillat said in a statement Friday morning. "From racist attacks on elected officials, insinuations of corruption within local Dominican media, and objections to the designation of a historical neighborhood recognizing the contributions of the Dominican community — these are all manifestations of it, and it must end."

Espaillat's statement came the morning after he tweeted out a similar message about xenophobia against the Dominican community, but eventually deleted them and replaced it with this statement.

His original tweets mentioned the rally on Sunday, but those details were gone in the reposted statement — prompting some confusion over whether the event would take place.

Espaillat's reference to "calling members of our media 'corrupt'" came one day after a report from THE CITY revealed that his campaign committees have paid nearly $15,000 to Spanish-language bloggers in exchange for hundreds of flattering articles.

The bloggers did not disclose in their writing that Espaillat was paying them. The arrangement was legal, but ethically questionable, according to THE CITY, which did not use the word "corrupt" in its report.

Espaillat also mentions the ongoing debate about the congressman's previous resolution to change the name of Inwood, Washington Heights and Hamilton Heights to Quisqeuya Heights, which is one of the names in the Taino language for the island that is now Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

After months of feedback from the community, Espaillat revised the resolution earlier in October to no longer change the neighborhood's names, but still honor the contributions of Dominicans to the community.

The demonstration did take place on Sunday, though, with Espaillat, Rodriguez, Adams, Brewer, and Levine all delivering remarks.

Read More: Espaillat Announces Uptown Rally Against Dominican Xenophobia