Jumaane Williams Heads To Court To Fight Protest Charges

FLATBUSH, BROOKLYN — City Councilman Jumaane Williams will head to Manhattan Criminal Court Monday to face criminal charges for protesting the arrest of immigrant rights activist Ravi Ragbir.

Williams plans to fight low-level obstruction charges stemming from his arrest outside Manhattan federal building on Jan. 11, where he protested Ragbir's arrest at the hands of immigration authorities.

The Flatbush city Councilman was one of hundreds of people to protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents’ arrest of Ragbir, the executive director of the New Sanctuary Coalition of New York City, at a routine check-in inside the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building.

Willaims was arrested after he and fellow protesters tried to block an ambulance that eventually carried Ragbir away after he fainted.

The Brooklyn councilman was one of 18 protesters — including City Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez — who was arrested but he is the only one planning to fight the charges. Rodriguez pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and sixteen other protesters had their cases adjourned with the possibility that they'll be dismissed in September.

The Flatbush city councilman, currently running for lieutenant governor, rejected a plea deal in March that came with a sentence of time already served in jail, a spokesman for the Manhattan District Attorney's Office told Patch.

Williams said he would fight the charges because he had a "moral obligation" to protest Ragbir's arrest.

"Those of us with a public position and voice have a moral obligation to defend communities who are disadvantaged and attacked," Williams said in a statement. "As voices across the city have risen to defend and support Ravi, we should not criminalize actions of protest taken in his defense."

A federal judge has since freed Ragbir and his deportation is on hold as lawsuits to protect him go through federal courts.

Photo caption: Councilman Jumaane Williams protests as ICE detains community leader and activist Ravi Ragbir. Photo courtesy of Kevin Fagan/Councilman Jumaane Williams' office.