After spontaneous protests at JFK on Saturday and a large planned rally at Battery Park Sunday, Monday’s Tompkins Square rally was a relatively tame affair — but was still a defiant protest by hundreds of lower east siders in a location of significance to waves of immigrants and various resistance movements.

Speakers included local elected officials — Councilmembers Margaret Chin and Rosie Mendez (who together represent East River Coop); Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer; Public Advocate Tish James; and District Leaders Carlina Rivera and Anthony Feliciano. Religious leaders from east village churches, synagogues, and mosques also gave moving testimonials to the neighborhood’s history with immigrant communities, refugees, and outsiders.

The Lo-Down posted videos from the rally here:

Someone also shared with me today a post from the beautiful Museum at Eldridge Street housed in the old Eldridge Street Synagogue. It’s a statement of support for immigrants and refugees, as well as reaffirmation of the importance of immigration to the LES: “Our gateway Lower East Side neighborhood — once home to the largest Jewish community in the world — is today a part of a vibrant Chinatown.”

Any way you look at it, it’s been an eventful first week for President Trump, with bombshell executive actions from the Oval Office and unprecedented protests around the country. If you missed last week’s Women’s March, or today’s big rally downtown, or you just can’t get enough, Councilmember Rosie Mendez is promoting a neighborhood rally in Tompkins Square starting at 6:30 pm Monday evening: “Rally Against Hate.”

Community leaders and elected officials will be in attendance. Grand Street residents who oppose the President’s agenda will make ourselves be heard too. If you want to join a contingent of activists from East River, meet at the bus stop on Grand and Columbia at 5:45 — we’ll be taking an M14A bus up to the rally.

If you’re coming on your own, the rally will be in the south end of the Square.