Protest Against the Closing of East Harlem's Our Lady Queen of Angels Roman Catholic Church February 18, 2007 Photographed by Angelo Rivera

New York Cool photographer Angelo Rivera received this message from Marina Ortiz of Virtual Boriqua, "Calling all Catholics ... and Preservations... and East Harlem Residents ... and Concerned Citizens... Sunday Mass Continues at Our Lady Queen of Angels Roman Catholic Church, Padlocks Notwithstanding." And he was off to East Harlem where he got these images of the protest outside the church on a cold Sunday morning in February.

For more infomation on the closing of the church and the resulting protest, here is a press release from East Harlem Preservation:

"Despite their arrest after a 28-hour vigil to protest the closing of their spiritual "home away from home" by the Archdiocese of New York, local parishioners have scheduled a Sunday morning mass outside Our Lady Queen of Angels Roman Catholic Church. The congregation is currently reaching out to a local priest to officiate the ceremony. Please join Carmen Villegas and other worshippers to demonstrate support towards their efforts to prevent the closing of this beloved 121-year-old parish. Our Lady Queen of Angels Roman Catholic Church has served thousands of local residents, and should not be a pawn in the ongoing real estate battle that is East Harlem!"