New York, NY. On Tuesday, June 17, 2014 at 8:30pm, undocumented youth will be leading a major civil disobedience in front of Governor Cuomo's midtown Manhattan office. This civil disobedience will be one final push to advocate for the NY DREAM Act to be passed during this legislative session. Although the NY DREAM Act suffered a crushing defeat in the State Senate during March, the bill was recently passed by the State Assembly again and still has an opportunity to be passed into law during this session. The New York DREAM Act would provide access to the state Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) for undocumented youth who have grown up in New York State and wish to pursue a college degree. Of the nearly 5,000 undocumented students who graduate from NY high schools each year, only a small percentage pursue a college degree due to tremendous financial obstacles. Passing the New York DREAM Act would open up the doors of higher education to these students, and move to translate the American rhetoric of equality of opportunity into tangible policy for undocumented youth. This is a critical and historic moment for the New York DREAM Act. The bill passed twice in the State Assembly this session and was only two votes away from passing in the State Senate. As the bill edges closer than ever to becoming law, undocumented youth and allies will come together to make a final push for this important piece of legislation in a civil disobedience on Tuesday evening. What: Civil disobedience for the NY DREAM Act Where: In front of Governor Cuomo's office (633 Third Avenue, between 40th and 41st Streets) Who: The New York State Youth Leadership Council
