It began on Kimball Street, with participants marching up Avenue U toward Flatbush Avenue vehemently chanting, “We come first!” and “Save our city!”

Upon reaching their destination, Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA” could be heard mercilessly blasting from the speakers surrounding the makeshift stage as a multitude of American flags all waved in unison.

Assemblymember Jaime Williams (D-59, representing Canarsie, Flatlands, Georgetown, Mill Basin, Marine Park, Bergen Beach, and Gerritsen Beach) opened with a comment aimed directly at the President.

“Joe Biden, you’ve got to do better,” Williams said as the crowd began to chant, “Close our borders!”

“We are fed up,” she continued, adding that what you see here is not just Marine Park — “it’s all of southern Brooklyn, south Queens, Staten Island, and more. We want to send a very clear message to [New York] Gov. Kathy Hochul: ‘You are taking our taxpayer dollars — 2.4 billion of them — and putting them into an unsustainable solution; you are abusing your power.” 

Williams pointed out that veterans, many of whom are homeless and can’t even put food on their tables, and seniors need to come first.

“We have to stand together,” she said. “It’s about common sense over nonsense. We’re not going to take it anymore.”   

Assemblyman William Colton (D-47, representing Gravesend, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach and Dyker Heights), who was also in attendance, began his oration with a chant of “U.S.A.,” in turn, getting the crowd significantly fired up.

“There are people, veterans, who have been here for many years, and immigrants who have been here for many years, and they are not getting the services they need,” Colton said. “And yet we are spending money on people that the Federal government has decided to allow to come into this country. It does not make sense.”

Colton noted that it is imperative to speak up when laws are not being followed, “and in this situation, the Federal government is not following the law.”

“Democrats, Republicans, Conservatives, Independents, everyone needs to speak up with one voice,” he said.

Assemblyman Michael Novakhov (D-45, representing Sheepshead Bay, Midwood, Manhattan Beach, Gravesend, and Brighton Beach) pointed out that while the city spends millions of dollars per day on migrants, only $5 million is dedicated to veterans per year.

“I am an immigrant; my father is an immigrant, and many members of my family are immigrants,” Novakhov said. “But we came here in a legal way — the right way. What’s going on now is ridiculous; the whole world is laughing at us; we need to make a change.” 

Ari Kagan, a former Democratic city councilman and district leader who switched to the Republican Party, told the audience that a very strong message needs to be sent to city and state authorities who continue to ignore the plight of Americans and New Yorkers, and continue to prioritize the needs of illegal immigrants over the needs of our citizens and our veterans. 

“Throw the bums out in November — those that don’t support New Yorkers!” Kagan exclaimed.  “I love America, I love New York, and I support this beautiful country and this city.” 

Curtis Sliwa, Guardian Angels founder and former New York City mayoral candidate, referred to the current migrant situation as “an absolute disaster” and “an attempt to destroy our city.”

“This is mass chaos brought to you by those that sold us out — Hochul, [NYC Mayor Eric] Adams, and [President] Joe Biden, who won’t seal the border,” Sliwa said, adding that there is already chaos in the streets. 

“These migrants come here into Kings Plaza, commit crimes, and nothing is being enforced on them; there are no penalties, no prices to pay. This cannot go on.