Women Protest Against Abusive Jackson Heights Employer
प्रकाशित मिति : फाल्गुन २७, २०७६ मंगलबार
Nearly 100 people gathered on Sunday to protest against Jackson Heights jewelry store, Sona Chaandi. The protest, organized by DRUM – Desis Rising Up & Moving, was to celebrate International Working Women’s Day by bringing the issues of rights and dignity of women workers into the neighborhood businesses and community.
At the head of the protest was Nargis, a DRUM member and a former employee of Sona Chaandi for 4 years, who shared that she was paid $50 to $75 a day while working more than 10 hours per day by the business owner, Dilip Malani, and also forced Nargis to take care of his elderly and sick mother without any pay. Nargis also shared that Malani “would verbally abuse me almost every day, and sexually harass me, and when I protested I was fired.” Nargis told the protestors that Malani abuses many of the women workers in the same way, but workers are afraid to say or do anything because they would get fired.
As Dilip Malani stared at the protestors from inside the store, Nargis stared back at Malani and ended her speech with:
“Today on international working women’s day, we must remember that we workers are many, and we cannot be scared of the few owners. We must stand together to build our power. We have to fight for our rights, they will not give it to us. Malani, we will be back for you!”
After Nargis, another DRUM member Nahar, shared her stories of working in several Jackson Heights businesses while being paid $5 per hour, which is violation of New York State law. Nahar stated that the “business owners have created their own network, and will not hire any worker who tries to speak up for their rights at any of the businesses.” Nahar also said that the tragedy was that “it is our own desi people who are exploiting us as desi workers.”
The last speaker, Savita, was also a DRUM member, who shared her story of when her husband was detained by immigration. Savita fought to get her husband out of detention, while at the same time working jobs, taking care of children, and taking care of home. Savita said that “no home, or no business, can run with women doing all the work, and we are now fighting for our rights and our respect for our work to be recognized.”
As the protest as happening, two banners were setup on the building next to the Sona Chaandi business store, telling people about the abuses by owner Dilip Malani, and about International Working Women’s Day. The protestors also put up artwork on all the trees on 74th Street, and put messages for women’s rights and International Working Women’s Day on the sidewalk with chalk.
The protestors then marched around the block and ended with a brief rally at Diversity Plaza.