Unity amidst Diversity: Chinatown Anti-Prison Protests

This research investigates the diverse coalition of activists protesting the construction of a mega jail in Manhattan's Chinatown, part of New York City's plan to close Rikers Island. Despite the issue being localized and neighborhood-specific, the protests have attracted participants from various ethnic and social backgrounds, including Chinatown residents, non-Chinese activists, and individuals from other neighborhoods. This study explores how this broad coalition formed and how different groups with distinct interests were mobilized around a shared cause.

Drawing from theories on urban collective action, displacement, and social movement mobilization, this study addresses key questions: What motivates individuals with minimal direct ties to Chinatown or the jail construction to participate in the protest? How do the protest organizers use narratives of displacement and racial discrimination to build solidarity across diverse groups?

Methodologically, the research employs an ethnographic approach, combining participant observation with semi-structured interviews for 7 months. By actively engaging in the protests, documenting participant demographics, roles, and interactions, and analyzing social media materials, this research sought to understand the factors and mechanisms that drive mobilization and sustain the coalition.

The research identifies three main categories of participants: broad protest alliances (including organizers and organizations members), interest groups with cooperative ties to the alliance, and individuals who are not formally part of the alliance but are concerned with the Chinatown jail or broader social justice issues. These diverse groups are connected through three core local social organizations, which facilitate the formation of a wide-ranging protest front through the exchange of resources and the development of social networks.

This research contributes to the understanding of cross-ethnic mobilization and collective action in the context of urban displacement and gentrification. It offers insights into how grassroots activism can influence local government decisions regarding public spaces.