State Senator Brad Hoylman and GLAAD Condemn Stephen Ross and the Related Companies for Trump Fundraiser
August 8, 2019
NEW YORK, NY – Senator Brad Hoylman (D/WF-Manhattan) and Zeke Stokes, Chief Programs Officer for GLAAD, released the following statements in response to the planned fundraiser for President Trump to be hosted by Stephen Ross, Chairman of the Related Companies. Senator Hoylman’s district includes many of Related’s major properties, including Hudson Yards, as well the headquarters of Related-owned businesses including SoulCycle.
Senator Hoylman said: “It seems that almost every day, Donald Trump stokes the flames of white nationalism and violence against immigrants, LGBTQ people, women and people of color. It’s all the more repulsive that Stephen Ross, a New Yorker and real estate developer who received hundreds of millions in state and city subsidies for the construction of Hudson Yards, would turn his back on these New Yorkers by hosting a $100,000 a person fundraiser for Donald Trump at his Hamptons home this weekend. I call on Stephen Ross to cancel this weekend’s fundraiser for Donald Trump and urge concerned New Yorkers to hold his companies accountable if he proceeds, including the Related Companies, Equinox, and SoulCycle.”
Zeke Stokes, GLAAD’s Chief Programs Officer, said: “The huge outcry on social media stoked by Stephen Ross should be a sign to other business leaders that hosting a fundraiser to support President Trump is synonymous with hosting a fundraiser to oppose people of color, LGBTQ people, immigrants, women, and other marginalized Americans. The Related Companies should take this opportunity to speak out strongly and undeniably in favor of marginalized Americans and against the attacks that President Trump and his Administration have carried out against so many of its customers.”
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