Governor Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James today said they’re prepared to protect the fundamental freedoms of New Yorkers during a second Trump Administration. She underscored that New York has already taken steps to protect access to safe and legal abortions, including passage of Proposition 1 in the Nov. 5 election, which enshrines reproductive freedoms in the State Constitution.
“I will be very clear; while we honor the results of this election, and we’ll work with anyone who wants to be a partner in achieving the goals of our administration and our state, that does not mean we’ll accept an agenda from Washington that strips away the rights that New Yorkers have long enjoyed,” Hochul said. “I need to remind everyone, this is the birthplace of the women’s rights movement, the environmental justice movement, the LGBTQ rights movement, and the American labor movement. With that as part of our history, our story, New York will remain a bastion for freedom and rule of law. And over the next coming weeks, and indeed years, I’ll do everything in my power to ensure that New York remains a bastion from efforts where those rights are being denied in other states.”
Hochul announced that she has created the Empire State Freedom Initiative, which she says is “focused on key areas that are most likely to face threats from the Trump Administration.” Hochul said the threats most likely will focus on reproductive rights, civil rights, immigration, gun safety, labor rights, LGBTQ rights and environmental justice. She said that Trump and his advisors have made clear their plans for a second administration.
On the other hand, she said she will work with him or anybody, regardless of party, on efforts that will benefit the New York.
“However, if you try to harm New Yorkers or roll back their rights, I will fight you every step of the way. New Yorkers are resilient — we fought the first time around and we’ll fight again,” Hochul said.
James pointed out that between 2019 and 2021 during the first Trump Administration her office filed nearly 100 legal actions against it.
James said, “As attorney general, I will always stand up to protect New Yorkers and fight for our rights and values. My office has been preparing for a potential second Trump Administration, and I am ready to do everything in my power to ensure our state and nation do not go backwards. During his first term, we stood up for the rule of law and defended against abuses of power and federal efforts to harm New Yorkers. Together with Governor Hochul, our partners in state and local government, and my colleague attorneys general from throughout the nation, we will work each and every day to defend Americans, no matter what this new administration throws at us. We are ready to fight back again.”
