NYC Nurses Strike: Vigil for Alex Presti, Protest Against ICE in Hospitals

Nurses Strike and Contract Negotiations

• 🏥 New York City nurses are nearly three weeks into a historic strike, advocating for a fair contract.
• 💰 Nurses cite that greedy corporations like Mount Sinai, Montefiore Medical Center, and New York Presbyterian are prioritizing profits over patients.

Protesting Immigration Agents in Hospitals

• 🛡️ Nurses are protesting the presence of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents in or near hospitals, viewing it as a threat to immigrant patients.
• 🏛️ Several local members of Congress, including Nydia Velazquez, Adriano Espaillat, Jerry Nadler, and Grace Meng, joined nurses on the picket line to voice their opposition.
• 💬 Elected officials thanked nurses for not only saving lives but also for protecting immigrant patients when ICE is present.

Vigil for Alex Presti

• 🕯️ A vigil is being held in honor of Alex Presti, an ICU nurse who was killed by ICE agents in Minneapolis.
• 📍 The vigil is taking place outside the VA New York Harbor Health Care System in Gramercy Park.
• 🤝 Healthcare workers and members of various unions from across the five boroughs are expected to join to pay their respects.

Broader Concerns for Healthcare Workers

• ⚠️ Nurses and other healthcare professionals nationwide are concerned about federal agents targeting immigrants in hospitals.
• 🚑 Hospitals are emphasized as places for healing, not as hunting grounds for immigrants.