Tonight, 8/21: Freedom Sounds at Nowadays
Tonight, we’re hosting a fundraiser at Nowadays in Ridgewood, Queens. Here’s the program for the evening:
- From 8-9 pm, we’ll have a panel discussion on the crisis unfolding in New York’s jails and prisons, and ways people can take action. The panel will feature our member Ziyadah Amatul-Matin, Renny Smith from Families and Friends of the Wrongfully Convicted, and our organizing director Melanie Dominguez.
- At 9 pm, participants will have the rare opportunity to listen to records created inside New York state prisons. Artist Josh MacPhee will play vinyl records produced in prisons and discuss the history behind each one. Josh has written two incredible books about political records: Strike While the Needle Is Hot and An Encyclopedia of Political Record Labels.
- Starting at 10 pm, RAGGA NYC, which is a growing collective of Queer Caribbean artists and allies, will take over the rest of the evening for a club night featuring four fantastic artists.
Register here to get a ticket! Tickets are a suggested donation of $20; however, no one will be turned away due to a lack of funds. All the proceeds from the night will go toward Katal’s organizing campaigns.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Yonah at Yonah@katalcenter.org. We hope to see you there!
Next Tuesday, 8/26: Receivership at Rikers Info-session
Receivership at Rikers Info-session on Tuesday, August 26th: RSVP Here!
This Tuesday, August 26th, at noon via Zoom, we’re holding a Receivership at Rikers Info-Session.
Rikers has long been a hellhole, and many New Yorkers are familiar with the regular cycle of news stories about the horrors perpetrated there. Last month, the ninth person died in New York City jails this year, and at least 42 people have died in NYC jails since Eric Adams became mayor in 2022. This is unacceptable.
In May, Federal Judge Laura Taylor Swain took the most dramatic step available to the court: With the worsening conditions at Rikers – and faced with a mayoral administration refusing to follow court orders – she ruled to appoint a remediation manager, which is practically speaking a court-ordered receiver, to act on stalled reforms at the jail complex. (Check out this recent article by the Brennan Center for Justice for more information on what’s next in the takeover of Rikers Island.)
On Tuesday’s call, we’ll hear from Hernandez Stroud of the Brennan Center about the court’s ruling to appoint a remediation manager and the next steps in the process. We’ll also discuss how the remediation manager could impact the fight to shut down Rikers and ways for you to get involved in our organizing efforts.
Register here for our Receivership at Rikers Info-Session at 12 pm on Tuesday, August 26th!
If you’re interested in joining the fight to shut down Rikers, please contact Melanie at melanie@katalcenter.org.
Weekly Pro-Democracy Phone Zaps
Join us on Wednesday, August 27th, for our weekly Pro-Democracy Phone Zaps! Every Wednesday from 12-12:45pm (EST), we’re gathering on Zoom to call our elected officials.
In the last week, we’ve seen the Trump administration continue to advance the authoritarian playbook by occupying Washington, DC with the National Guard and masked federal agents. Now, Governors from Republican states across the country are following suit and sending National Guard troops to the capital. Republicans in Congress are also saying that the DC takeover could serve as a blueprint for other cities. This is a significant threat to our democracy.
On Wednesday, we’ll continue to fight back by calling our congressional representatives in D.C. to demand they stand up to Trump. If you’ve been looking for a starting point to take action, this is a great place to jump in!
Register here for our next Pro-Democracy Phone Zap on Wednesday, August 27th!
If you have any questions, please reach out to Ricky at ricky@katalcenter.org. We hope to see you there!
We’re Back! September NY Statewide Criminal Justice Reform Call
We’re back from our summer hiatus! Our next NY Statewide Criminal Justice Reform Call is on Thursday, September 11, at noon! If you want to learn more about which criminal justice bills are still awaiting the Governor’s signature, the upcoming 2026 legislative session, and the latest efforts to reform the criminal legal system in New York, please sign up. We’ll be joined by organizers, advocates, and community members working on every aspect of justice reform in the state.
Register to join us on Thursday, September 11, from noon to 1 p.m.
If you have any questions about the statewide call or would like to be a presenter, please contact Yonah at Yonah@katalcenter.org .
Inspiring Resistance This Week
– In D.C., the streets were filled last weekend with resistance to President Trump’s federal takeover, with rallies, locals documenting arrests, and more! See details here.
– In this video, residents of Columbia Heights are driving ICE agents out of their area. This is what community power looks like! See details here.
For more examples of resistance, check out Choose Democracy’s Resist List!
Quotes of the Week
“There is no better teacher than adversity. Every defeat, every heartbreak, every loss, contains its own seed, its own lesson on how to improve your performance next time.” — Malcolm X
“Comrades, there is no true social revolution without the liberation of women. May my eyes never see and my feet never take me to a society where half the people are held in silence. I hear the roar of women’s silence. I sense the rumble of their storm and feel the fury of their revolt.” ― Thomas Sankara, Women’s Liberation and the African Freedom Struggle
For printing and distribution, download the Katal Weekly Update PDF version.
Katal works to strengthen the people, policies, institutions, and movements that advance equity, health, and justice.
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Email: info@katalcenter.org
Phone: 646.875.8822.