The New York Taxi Workers Alliance gets ready to show New Yorkers just how important they really are. Editors Warning: Mentions of gun violence.

Happening in the World: President Biden took an unexpected trip to Kyiv, the embattled capital of Ukraine, to meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky. During their meeting, President Biden expressed his strong support for Ukraine, stating that an additional $500 million in military aid would be provided in the near future. This visit coincided with the one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion and even though an air-raid alarm sounded, both presidents stepped out into the streets of Kyiv and visited St. Michael’s monastery. President Biden’s visit was seen as a symbol of the United States’ ongoing commitment to Ukraine’s independence. (NYT)

Happening in the US: A shooting incident occurred at the New Orleans Krewe of Bacchus Mardi Gras Parade, resulting in five people being shot. According to the Gun Violence Archive, This event marks the 79th mass shooting in the United States in 2023. Four out of the five individuals are reported to be in stable condition, while the fifth is in critical condition. The Krewe of Bacchus Parade, which takes place annually on the Sunday before Mardi Gras, attracts over 9,000 people from all over the country. (NYT)

Happening in NYC: The New York Taxi Workers Alliance is organizing a third strike to protest Uber’s decision to block pay raises for its drivers. Bhairavi Desai, the executive director of the NYTWA, recently announced a seven-day countdown to the strike, which is scheduled for Sunday, February 26. During the strike, Uber and Lyft drivers will refuse to take rides from La Guardia Airport, one of the busiest in the country, from noon to midnight. The group, which represents more than 20,000 drivers of yellow cabs, green cars, black cars, and app-dispatched cars, is protesting the lack of a 7.8% pay raise per minute that was initially authorized by the taxi and limousine commission in November but was not implemented after Uber sued the commission, citing the proposed increases as “dramatic, unprecedented, and unjustified.” (Gothamist)

Happening in Our Community:  Join Columbia University Life for the Black and Latinx Roundtable with Columbia faculty, who will share their experiences navigating their identities as members of the Black and Latinx/o/a communities in higher education. Free University Life swag and lunch will be provided to those in attendance. This event will take place on Tuesday, February 21 from 6:00 to 7:30 pm in Earl Hall, Dodge Room, 2980 Broadway. Registration is recommended but not required. (Columbia)

New York City cabs via Flickr