CATHY MAGUIRE ON A CHANGED NEW YORK
Singer on George Floyd reaction
DUNDALK WOMAN CATHY MAGUIRE SPEAKS TO OLIVIA RYAN ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE DEATH OF AN AFRICAN AMERICAN MAN IN POLICE CUSTODY, THE MASSIVE PROTESTS AGAINST RACISM IN THE UNITED STATES, AND HER OWN FEELINGS ON HOW LIFE IN NEW YORK MAY NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN AFTER THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
‘I fear this city has changed in ways it can never recover from,’ says Dundalk woman Cathy Maguire as she reflected on the unprecedented few months which have just passed.
But, as we spoke, there were small signs that her words were more ominous than ever.
Within 24 hours of our Facetime call, huge protests had erupted across the US, as people took to the streets to demand justice for the family of an African American man, George Floyd, who died in police custody.
The shocking nature of his death prompted a wave of violent clashes between protestors and police across the country.
In New York, which has endured a horrific few months after it became the epicentre of the global Coronavirus outbreak, there were massive demonstrations too.
Cathy, who lives in Sunnyside in the Queen’s borough of New York, set up a memorial just outside her garden, where in the first few days hundred of signatures were added by people passing by.
‘I decided to create a tribute to George Floyd in my garden last week, and what happened afterwards was incredible. People were stopping by and asking could they put their names to it and take part in some way, so we set up boards for anyone who wanted to write a message, and pay their respects.’
Cathy said she was ‘ overwhelmed by the huge outpouring of grief, or sadness, of anger.’
‘It’s been unbelievable, the response of people coming to the memorial here. New York is just a very sad place to be at the moment.’
The garden at her Queen’s home overlooks a busy pedestrian area, and she added she has been out chatting with people who are stopping with their children to leave their own personal messages on the boards.
‘A lot of people are saying this is not the New York that they knew, this is not the America we are used to, and it definitely isn’t.’
‘ This type of brutality, this type of uncertainty, we are not used to this, and people are absolutely saddened, and traumatised.’
Images from New York broadcast across the world show, showing massive protests, and looting from some of the city’s most famous shopping landmarks, such as Macy’s department store have truly shocked. But, Cathy adds, the reality is that most people are peaceful protesters, simply wanting their voices to be heard.
On Tuesday evening last, she held a vigil outside her home, where hundreds of people turned out to light candles and share in their grief.
‘We have seen such a huge outpouring of sympathy for George Floyd and his family. It has been incredible, and some of the beautiful messages are so inspirational.’
‘ This has to be a turning point in America, it just has to be. Watching a person begging to breathe, being murdered on the street like that, it’s just not human, it’s not acceptable, and we just can’t let this pass us by this time... we have got to say enough is enough.’
She added that the outrage was ‘clearly felt all over the world. But you can really see it right here, in this neighbourhood, the sadness, the outrage, people are so angry, and so disappointed, and so uncertain about what is to come, and how we can proceed after this.’
Watching parents gather at the memorial with their children was at times, she said ‘ heartbreaking.’
‘ There were parents having to explain to children what racism was, and why they were signing this board for him. It was heartbreaking to watch, but it is a conversation that has to happen at this point unfortunately.’
As she spoke, the sound of alarms echoing loudly breaks through.
‘If you live in New York, that’s the sound of alarms coming through to our phones of the nightly curfew. It was 11pm, but it’s moved to 8pm.’
Life, she fears, will never be the same again in New York, the city she has called home for over a decade.
‘ This is the only thing I can do at this moment, to set up this little memorial for people to visit. Everyone is so uncertain right now, and there has been zero leadership. The White House is in a shambles, and from what I can see politicians on both sides, whether they are Democrats or Republicans, are using this for political gain.’
The huge swathes of protests have immediately followed the Coronavirus outbreak, which had put New York at the epicentre of the global pandemic.
She highlighted the huge impact of the COVID -19 crisis, and the panic and fear that had gripped the city in mid March.
‘When the St.Patrick’s Day parade was cancelled, I think then everyone knew something was seriously wrong.’
‘Lockdown happened really quickly after that, with bars and business shutting down, and people really taking the message to stay home seriously.’
Cathy, who runs a global mobility company, said she had been getting warnings earlier in the year from CEO’s operating in countries around the world, that a major crisis was unfolding.
‘In some ways we were able to prepare, but when the numbers of deaths in New York started to come through it was really shocking.’
The Queen’s borough is adjacent to the worst affected area in New York, she explains, recalling the sudden quietness of ‘ the city that never sleeps.’
‘I wasn’t concerned for myself getting sick, but I was worried for parents and grandparents back at home.’
She added: ‘I am so incredibly proud of Ireland, and the way the Irish people responded to the crisis. They did what had to be done to keep everyone safe. They really took it seriously, and
THE ICONIC NEW YORK WE KNEW IS GONE. THERE WILL BE AN INDELIBLE MARK LEFT ON PEOPLE’S PSYCHE FOR MANY YEARS TO COME
Ireland’s handling of the pandemic was well documented here in America.’
In New York, however, she described the testing system as ‘diabolical for the first few weeks.’
But, she says she fears that the worst aspect of the Coronavirus impact is just beginning.
‘ The economic fallout in New York is going to be immeasurable. The lasting impact of the crisis has really taken hold here now. So many people have lost their jobs.’
Every day, there are people queueing at foodbanks as they just don’t have enough money to pay rent and bills, and feed their family. It’s just so unbelievably sad to see children in a queue for a foodbank in 2020 New York. This really is poverty brought home.’
She added that ‘New York may never again be the same city, with so many shops closing, places that have been landmarks here for generations.’
‘Alongside that, there are so many huge companies who have hundreds and thousands of people working from home, and now they realise they don’t really need the massive skyscraper offices downtown, so they too could be laying empty.’
‘I love New York, I’ve been living here for ten years, but I fear that so many of the things that have made this city what it was have been hit, shopping, tourism, big business. It will be a very different place when we come out the other side of this.’
Lockdown for her, had been a ‘strange time’ she admits, but she felt lucky to have a garden outside her home where she could spend time.
‘We opened it up a little to allow people to be able to come and visit. A lot of people here are living in apartments, where they have no outside space, and with all the parks in the city closed, it was really difficult for them to get fresh air and time outside, which is so important for our mental health.’
The psychological impact of the crisis is also a ‘major concern’ said Cathy, as people grapple with what has been perhaps the most difficult time the city has faced in many years.
‘Iconic New York is gone. There will be an indelible mark on people’s psyche for years to come.’
She described how there had been a ‘ mass exodus’ from the city, even before last week’s protests, with people getting out when restrictions on movement had eased.
Cathy, who is also known for her success in music, says she hopes to get back to recording in the coming months.
‘I’m hoping to get down to Nashville for a while, to do some collaborations with other artists. So many musicians have seen their income from live performances ground to a halt, so they are recording at the moment.’
She had just released a single with Steve Earle called ‘Ireland’ ahead of St. Patrick’s Day, but ‘felt it wasn’t right to be promoting music at that time.’
She hopes to collaborate with him again in Nashville, and has also released a back catalogue of her work online ‘for people to enjoy during these very difficult times.’