Youth Baseball Coach Recounts ICE Encounter in Riverside Park

Incident in Riverside Park

• ⚾ Yman Wilder, founder of the Harlem Baseball Hitting Academy, recounts an incident on July 3rd where he alleges six ICE officers approached members of his youth baseball team during practice.
• 🎯 Wilder states the officers approached the middle and high school students, asking them about their origins and parents.
• ✋ As a coach with a master's degree in law, Wilder advised the students to invoke their Fifth Amendment rights and not answer the questions.

Coach's Response and Concerns

• 🗣️ Wilder reported that one officer raised his voice and called him a "YouTube lawyer" when he asserted his knowledge of the Constitution.
• 🇺🇸 He emphasized that all the children are American citizens, with parents from diverse backgrounds, and are entitled to their rights under the 14th Amendment.
• ⚠️ Wilder noted the officers were in uniform, armed, and wore clearly labeled vests, appearing to be legitimate ICE officers.

Impact and Official Response

• 🏛️ Wilder has reached out to local officials, including Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal, who supported his actions.
• 📰 The coach has contacted Homeland Security to verify the presence of ICE officers but has not yet received a response.
• 😟 Since the incident, Wilder has altered practice times, and the children and their parents are reportedly very worried, with only two players returning to practice.
• 📍 The incident occurred in Riverside Park on the Upper West Side of New York City.