Latest news with #DivestmentandSanctions
Glasgow Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow venue closes to 'prioritise safety' after protest
The Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA) in Glasgow city centre announced it will be shut after a crowd attempted to stage a takeover on Tuesday. On social media, the spot announced: "In light of recent events and ongoing conversations involving the Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA), we've made the decision to keep the building closed to the public for the remainder of this week. "This is not a decision we take lightly, but we recognise the need to pause. The temporary closure will allow us to prioritise the safety and well-being of our staff and partners, and to create space for reflection. "We understand the strength of feeling being expressed by our community, and we remain committed to engaging with this moment thoughtfully. "We will be sharing further updates in the coming days. Thank you for your support, and for your patience." Glasgow venue closes to 'prioritise safety' after protest (Image: Newsquest) READ NEXT: LIVE: Huge police presence in city centre as activists stage takeover Palestine protestors took over CCA in Glasgow city centre (Image: Newsquest) We reported at the time that a group of activists staged a sit-in. The action prompted a huge police response, with three police buses, four vans, and a patrol car deployed to the scene. Officers were observed both inside the CCA building and stationed outside on the street. According to the group, the demonstration was sparked by the CCA board's refusal to adopt a Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) policy or to endorse the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI).
The National
3 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Glasgow arts centre temporarily closes after pro-Palestine protest
The Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA) in Glasgow was taken over by campaigners from Art Workers for Palestine Scotland on Tuesday. People could be seen sat outside the building blocking the entrance, while traffic was temporarily unable to pass through the area. (Image: NQ) Police confirmed a 63-year-old woman had been arrested, while the details of other participants were taken down by officers as they left the scene. The group had planned to takeover the building from Tuesday until Saturday in protest over the CCA board's recent refusal to adopt a Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) policy or endorse the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI). The sit-in was set to feature events, workshops and screenings that showcase Palestinian art and culture and interrogate "the complicity of Scottish cultural institutions" in the ongoing genocide in Gaza. On Wednesday, however, the CCA said it would be temporarily closing for the rest of the week, citing "recent events and ongoing conversations" involving the centre. READ MORE: UK Culture Secretary: BBC should not show Kneecap's Glastonbury set In a statement shared on Instagram on Wednesday, the CCA said: "In light of recent events and ongoing conversations involving the Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA), we've made the decision to keep the building closed to the public for the remainder of this week. "This is not a decision we take lightly, but we recognise the need to pause. The temporary closure will allow us to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of our staff and partners, and to create space for reflection. "We understand the strength of feeling being expressed by our community, and we remain committed to engaging with this moment thoughtfully. "We will be sharing further updates in the coming days. Thank you for your support, and for your patience." Following Tuesday's protest, police confirmed to The National that a criminal investigation was underway linked to licencing laws.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Zohran Mamdani's 5 major campaign promises
Zohran Mamdani, the 33-year-old Democratic running for New York City Mayor is set to make history as the first Muslim nominee to accede to the position. A far cry from former Mayor Eric Adams, Mamdani is projected to be the upcoming voice of the immigrant, working-class population in the city. As of Wednesday (June 25) morning, Mamdani held a substantial lead over opponent Andrew Cuomo out of the 95% ballots counted at that time. New York City mayoral candidate and Democratic State Representative Zohran Mamdani campaigns in New York City on April 16, 2025. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP)(AFP) ALSO READ| Who are Zohran Mamdani's parents? All about father Mahmood Mamdani and mother Mira Nair Mamdani has repeatedly emphasized the need to bring down the racked-up affordability crisis in the city, a strong indicator of his commitment to grassroots-level politics. "This is a city where one in four of its people are living in poverty, a city where 500,000 kids go to sleep hungry every night," he told the BBC at a recent event. "And ultimately, it's a city that is in danger of losing that which makes it so special." He has proposed to introduce a chain of city-owned grocery stores, a rent freeze on all rent-stabilized units, stricter accountability for landlords, and the creation of a Social Housing Development Agency to oversee the construction of 200,000 subsidized housing units over a three-year period. Community benefits In addition, Mamdani has also promised universal childcare for kids aged six weeks to five years. Higher education will be made more affordable by eliminating tuition fees at public colleges and removing property tax exemptions extended to private universities. He also plans to set up a Department of Community Safety meant to enhance public safety measures such as housing assistance, community outreach, and mental health service providers. Increase taxation In order to implement the proposed measures, Mamdani is willing to introduce a 2% city income tax on citizens earning more than $1 million along with an increase in corporate taxes. This additional income is meant to support universal childcare, tuition-free public college (CUNY/ SUNY), expansion of tenant legal support, free public transport, and subsidized grocery stores. Infrastructure and amenities In addition to the subsidized housing facilities, Mamdani has also proposed a plan to make all MTA buses fare-free and freeze subway fares. These measures are meant to increase ridership on these modes of transport, introduce climate protection, cut back on congestion pricing, and provide better infrastructure for those using pedestrian or cycling lanes. Immigration, LGBTQ+ rights and hate crimes Mamdani's views on Israel and Palestine have been a source of contention but also unprecedented due to their open declaration. As a vocal supporter of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, he has repeatedly called Israel's actions a 'genocide' and believes that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should be imprisoned. While he recognizes the country's legitimacy to exist, he also emphasizes their need to uphold international law and condones all such violence. Previously, he introduced a bill to remove the tax-exempt status granted to certain New York-based charities with ties to Israeli settlements. ALSO READ| Statue of Liberty wears a burqa in MAGA pics after Zohran Mamdani win He is an active supporter of LGBTQ+ rights and plans to set up a special Affairs Office, extend access to gender-affirming healthcare, and grant sanctuary protection to undocumented workers. Granting legal aid and language access to immigrants is another cornerstone of his policy. He has also been quite vocal about emphasizing his Muslim identity throughout the campaign, even recording an entire campaign video in Urdu. The election took place on Tuesday (June 24) and if elected, Mamdani will come to office in November of this year. By Stuti Gupta
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Trump mocks Mamdani's appearance after NYC primary upset
President Donald Trump sharply criticized Zohran Mamdani on social media Wednesday, following Mamdani's unexpected victory in New York City's Democratic mayoral primary. The 33-year-old progressive assemblyman from Queens pulled off a major upset, positioning himself as the likely Democratic nominee for mayor. In his posts on Truth Social, Trump attacked Mamdani's appearance and intelligence, and ridiculed his Democratic allies, including Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. He referred to Mamdani as 'a 100% Communist Lunatic' and mocked Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer as 'our Great Palestinian Senator,' claiming Schumer was 'groveling' before Mamdani. Mamdani, who has represented Astoria in the State Assembly since 2021, is running on a platform that includes free city bus service, a rent freeze on stabilized apartments, and city-operated grocery stores—funded by a proposed $10 billion tax increase on corporations and high-income earners. His strong pro-Palestinian stance has brought foreign policy into the local race. Mamdani has led chants at pro-Palestinian protests and endorsed the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. He also stated that, if elected mayor, he would arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during any visit to New York, citing International Criminal Court warrants issued in November 2024. Mamdani's campaign is likely to draw national focus as a referendum on progressive leadership in the country's largest city. Trump's swift and aggressive response signals that Republicans may use the race to spotlight what they describe as the Democratic Party's shift toward far-left politics.
NDTV
4 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Israel, Netanyahu, LGBTQ: Zohran Mamdani's Key Campaign Policies
New Delhi: Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani has won the Democratic primary for mayoral elections in New York City. On Tuesday, he defeated former New York governor Andrew Cuomo in arguably one of the biggest political upsets in recent times. At 33, Mr Mamdani now heads into the November election with a platform focused on housing reform, economic redistribution, transit access, and a foreign policy stance that has drawn national attention. Zohran Mamdani's Stance On Israel-Palestine A vocal supporter of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, Mr Mamdani has called Israel's military actions in Gaza"genocide," and sought to cut city ties with firms operating in Israeli settlements. While he supports Israel's right to exist and condemns violence against civilians on all sides, he has repeatedly criticised the country's ongoing military assault in Gaza, particularly following the October 7 Hamas attacks. In an interview with Zeteo's Mehdi Hasan, he said he would arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu under international law if he visited New York City, citing the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant. His activism dates back to college, where he co-founded a chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine. His mother, acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair, has expressed similar views, boycotting Israeli cultural events in protest of what she has called "apartheid" policies. Zohran Mamdani's Campaign Policies Housing And Rent Reform Zohran Mamdani 's priority is housing. He has pledged an immediate rent freeze on all rent-stabilised units and proposed a Social Housing Development Agency to build 2 lakh publicly owned affordable homes over the next decade. He would fund this through increased taxes on millionaires and large corporations. Economic Justice His fiscal plan includes a 2 per cent income tax on New Yorkers earning over $1 million and higher corporate taxes, reforms projected to raise $20 billion. That revenue would go towards universal childcare, tuition-free public college, subsidised grocery stores in underserved areas, and fare-free public transit. Mr Mamdani has also called for a $30 per hour minimum wage by 2030. Public Transit And Climate Building on successful pilot programmes, Zohran Mamdani wants to make all Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) buses permanently fare-free and freeze subway fares. His infrastructure plan includes congestion pricing, expanded bike lanes, and better transit access across boroughs to reduce car dependency and fight climate change. Childcare And Education He proposes city-funded universal childcare and pre-K, tuition-free CUNY and SUNY colleges, and taxing private universities that currently avoid property taxes. Public Safety Rejecting traditional policing models, Zohran Mamdani proposes a new Department of Community Safety focused on housing, mental health care, and outreach. He also plans an 800 per cent increase in funding for anti-hate programmes, targeting antisemitism, Islamophobia, and anti-Asian violence. LGBTQ+ And Immigrant Rights Zohran Mamdani supports expanded gender-affirming care, an LGBTQIA+ Affairs Office, and full sanctuary protections for undocumented New Yorkers. His immigrant rights plan also puts focus on legal aid and language access, particularly for Muslim and South Asian communities.
