Judge grants reprieve for anti-Israel Queens community garden after city pulls license
An anti-Israel community garden in Queens that forced incoming members to pledge 'solidarity with the oppressed and marginalized people' of Palestine has been given a reprieve as the city tries to shut it down.
Judge Hasa Kingo on Wednesday blocked the city's efforts to revoke the group's license to run a community garden at the site, allowing it to keep operating — for now, court records show.
The former Sunset Community Garden's leadership had alienated several Jewish Ridgewood residents with 10 'community agreements' — which included a commitment to interrupt 'violent behavior or rhetoric that expresses all forms of hate' — and a special section of the green space it labeled 'Poppies for Palestine.'
4 The city revoked the group's license to operate a community garden at the site.
Helayne Seidman
The pledge list breached Parks Department guidelines, the city said when revoking the group's license on May 5.
Garden leadership had been given until June 6 to vacate the land on Onderdonk and Willoughby avenues in Ridgewood.
4 The memorial to Cecilia Gentili, who lived just blocks from the garden.
poppies4palestine/ Insatgram
Ridgewood resident Sara Schraeter-Mowers called Kingo 'ludicrous' for even entertaining the group's request to keep the garden up and running.
The garden has since been renamed Jardin de Santa Cecilia, in honor of Latina trans advocate Cecilia Gentili, the group said in a news release calling the judge's decision 'a crucial legal victory' and 'a lifeline for our community.'
4 Jewish neighbors were put off by the Poppies 4 Palestine.
Instagram @sunsetgardenridgewood
The group accused the city of trying to 'erase a tribute' it erected last year to Gentili and 'punish our righteous solidarity with Palestinians facing genocide, and all oppressed peoples.'
'Pride is a riot they can't silence and this garden is a home they can't take away from us,' the group said in its statement.
The case will be back before a judge next month.
'We hope to see the judge make this ruling permanent, preserving the garden as a sanctuary for queer, transgender, black, indigenous, and people of color communities,' the garden leadership said in a statement.
4 The group vowed to fight the city's move to shut them down.
Helayne Seidman
It 'is unfortunate that this garden group continues to disregard the same rules upheld by every GreenThumb community garden, despite our repeated efforts to work with them,' the Parks Department said in a statement.
'Our goal has always been to ensure that GreenThumb community gardens are managed responsibly and remain open and welcoming for everyone, regardless of their background.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNN
19 minutes ago
- CNN
UN Nuclear Chief on Damage to Iran's Nuclear Sites - Fareed Zakaria GPS - Podcast on CNN Audio
UN Nuclear Chief on Damage to Iran's Nuclear Sites Fareed Zakaria GPS 43 mins Today on the program, the US entered the conflict between Israel and Iran by striking three of its key nuclear sites. Fareed speaks with head of the International Atomic Energy Agency Rafael Grossi about the damage caused by the attack. Then, why did President Trump decide to enter the conflict? Fareed speaks to CFR President Emeritus Richard Haas and retired Admiral James Stavridis. Finally, how are leaders in Iran and Israel changing their strategies moving forward and will these strikes usher in a new era in the Middle East? Fareed is joined by Johns Hopkins' Vali Nasr and Columbia University's Nadav Eyal. GUESTS: Rafael Grossi (@rafaelmgrossi), James Stavridis (@stavridisj), Richard Haass (@RichardHaass), Vali Nasr (@vali_nasr), Nadav Eyal (@Nadav_Eyal)
CNN
19 minutes ago
- CNN
Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Dem. Sen. Adam Schiff and Former Trump National Security Adviser John Bolton - State of the Union with Jake Tapper and Dana Bash - Podcast on CNN Audio
Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Dem. Sen. Adam Schiff and Former Trump National Security Adviser John Bolton State of the Union 44 mins On CNN's State of the Union, Kasie Hunt speaks to Israeli President Isaac Herzog about the aftermath of the U.S. strikes against Iranian nuclear sites. Democratic Senator Adam Schiff speaks about the congressional response to President Trump's order to strike Iran arguing the action was "not constitutional." And Trump's former National Security Adviser says the Iran regime "is in trouble." Finally Joel Rubin, Scott Jennings, Xochitl Hinojosa and Rebecca Heinrichs discuss.
Bloomberg
19 minutes ago
- Bloomberg
AGSI's Silliman Outlook on MidEast Conflict
The Asia Trade Douglas Silliman, former US Ambassador to Iraq & Kuwait and President & CEO of Arab Gulf States Institute, discusses the latest developments in the conflict between US, Iran and Israel and his outlook on how it will play out. He speaks with Haidi Stroud Watts and Avril Hong on "Bloomberg: The Asia Trade." (Source: Bloomberg)
