We are THIS close to ending child marriage in New York: The legislature in June passed S3086, a bill sponsored by Sen. Julia Salazar and Asm. Phil Ramos, with near unanimous support (only two “no” votes).
But the bill still is awaiting Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s signature. We need to urge him to pick up his pen.
Our Fraidy Reiss, a forced marriage survivor, has pledged to Chain-In outside Cuomo’s Manhattan office in a bridal gown and chains every Wednesday starting August 4 until the governor signs S3086.
Please join Reiss at this historic Perpetual Chain-In on August 4 and/or subsequent Wednesdays. We provide the bridal gowns, veils, chains and tape, at no cost to you. All you need to do is register on this page — and show up to make some noise!
We provide the bridal gowns, veils, chains and tape, at no cost to you. All you need to do is register on this page — and join us to make some noise!
Speakers at the “inaugural” Perpetual Chain-In on August 4 include:
- Sen. Julia Salazar
- Susan Raqib, Human Rights Watch
- Leslie Wright, Zonta Club of Brooklyn
- Naila Amin, Naila Amin Foundation
- Chavie Weisberger, Footsteps
- Fraidy Reiss, Unchained At Last
- Michele Hanash, Unchained At Last
We also sing and chant at Chain-Ins to protest forced and child marriage, including a rendition of The Girls You Have Destroyed, a chilling poem/song we wrote about child marriage in the United States.
Perpetual Chain-In NYC
Wednesdays | 10:00 a.m.
633 3rd Avenue
(Outside Gov. Cuomo’s Manhattan office)
Child Marriage in the United States
We at Unchained lead a growing national movement to end child marriage in every U.S. state and at the federal level — as part of our mission to end all forms of forced marriage through direct services and advocacy.
Child marriage often is forced marriage, because minors face overwhelming legal and practical barriers if they try to leave home, enter a domestic violence shelter, retain an attorney or bring a legal action such as a divorce before they turn 18. Further, child marriage is recognized as a human rights abuse that destroys American girls’ health, education and economic opportunities and significantly increases their risk of experiencing domestic violence.
One of the strategies we use in our push to end this human rights abuse is the Chain-In. Read more here about this powerful form of peaceful protest, which we have staged in multiple U.S. states.
Join the movement. Be a part of our first-ever Perpetual Chain-In.