Tuesday 3/25: Press Conference in Albany to Increase Jail and Prison Oversight
We’re holding a press conference in Albany next Tuesday, March 25th from 10:30-11:30 AM to increase jail and prison oversight. We’ll be calling on the New York State Legislature to swiftly pass (S. 856)-Salazar / (A.2315)-Gallagher, which will expand and diversify the State Commission of Correction (SCOC).
With the recent killing of Robert Brooks and Messiah Nantwi in state prisons, four deaths at Rikers this month, and the multiple crises unfolding in correctional facilities across the state, this is a critical moment. The SCOC is an independent body mandated with the constitutional authority to ensure that correctional facilities across New York – all local jails and state prisons – are “safe, stable and humane,” but for more than 20 years the SCOC has consistently failed to meet its responsibility.
That’s why we’re working on legislation to fix the SCOC by bringing greater accountability so that it meets its mandate with regard to jails and prisons throughout the state. Support for this legislation is growing; we currently have 55 community, advocacy, legal, and faith-based organizations signed on from across the state – click here to sign on your organization. For more information on this bill, check out our fact sheet here.
Can you join us on Tuesday, March 25th, in Albany to demand the passage of (S. 856)-Salazar / (A.2315)-Gallagher?
If you want to join us for our press conference or have any questions, please reach out to Yonah at Yonah@katalcenter.org. If you’re not able to make it in-person, we’ll be livestreaming the press conference on Katal’s Instagram.
Two Deaths at Rikers this Week
This morning, news broke that another person died at Rikers Island. This is the first woman to die in NYC jails this year. She is the second person to have died at Rikers this week, and at least the 37th person since Eric Adams became mayor in 2022. Here is the statement we issued today in response to the death.
Under Mayor Adams, conditions at Rikers have continued to worsen. Violence is out of control, and the federal court is on the verge of taking over the jail complex due to the deadly conditions incarcerated people face. Yesterday, instead of working to address the crisis at Rikers, Adams once again called the plan to close Rikers “flawed” and doubled down on his commitment to keep Rikers open.
A report issued yesterday by the Lippman Commission confirms, again, that Rikers will not be closed by the legal deadline of 2027. However, the report fails to meaningfully address or even name the most significant obstacle to closing Rikers: Mayor Eric Adams. Instead of working to address the crisis and shut down Rikers, since his first days in office, Mayor Adams has taken a jail-first approach to public safety and worked to increase the jail population while expressing opposition to the closure plan. See the statement we released yesterday in response to the report.
Here’s a quote from our member Lah Franklin:
“When I was sent to Rikers, I remember being terrified for my life. I don’t think anything can prepare you for the violence and life-threatening conditions found there. I am grateful to have made it out alive. My heart breaks for the family of 21-year-old Ariel Quidono, who passed away just this week at Rikers. This marks at least the 36th person to die while being detained in NYC jails since Mayor Adams took office. It is unconscionable that we have a mayor who refuses to care for our communities. Instead of working to shut down Rikers Island, he has been doing the complete opposite. This mayor is doing everything he can to criminalize communities of color and keep Rikers open. Today’s report released by the Lipmann Commission fails to highlight that the biggest obstacle to shutting down Rikers has been this mayor. Families are suffering, and real human lives have been lost. We demand accountability, and we need answers. This is not the time for independent institutions to provide political cover for the mayor. This is the time to hold him accountable for protecting NYC communities and shutting down Rikers.”
If you’re interested in joining the fight to shut down Rikers and hold Mayor Adams accountable, please contact Melanie at melanie@katalcenter.org.
Weekly Pro-Democracy Phone Zaps
Join us on Wednesday, March 26th, for our weekly Pro-Democracy Phone Zaps! Every Wednesday in March, from 12-12:45pm (EST), we’re gathering on Zoom to call our elected officials. We’ll start by calling our congressional representatives in D.C. to demand they take action to defend democracy, then we’ll call our state-based officials about local campaigns. If you’ve been looking for a starting point to take action, this is a great place to jump in!
Join us for our next Pro-Democracy Phone Zap on Wednesday, March 26th. Register here!
If you have any questions, please reach out to Lily at lily@katalcenter.org. We hope to see you there!
March to Stop the Federal Cuts
Katal Team at March to Stop the Federal Cuts, 3.1.25
On Saturday, March 15th, we joined dozens of organizations for an urgent march to protect our freedoms, our families, and say NO to the devastating cuts proposed by Congress. We met up at Foley Square and marched to Wall Street along with 10,000 people to say stop the cuts!
Trump is working to cut trillions of dollars from federal programs like Medicaid ($800+ Billion), SNAP ($230+ Billion), and Education & Workforce ($330+ Billion). These deep cuts would strip away healthcare, food security, and education from low, and middle-income families and leave millions of people without life-saving services.
Check out more pictures and videos from the march here.
If you’re interested in joining our events, rallies, or member meetings, please contact Melanie at melanie@katalcenter.org.
Katal in the News
- AMNY: Our Member Lah Franklin talks his experiences at Rikers and the need to hold Mayor Adams accountable for protecting NYC communities and shutting down Rikers
- NY Daily News: Our organizing director, Melanie Dominguez, is quoted discussing the recent death at Rikers and how Adams has made the crisis worse.
- Queens Daily Eagle: Our organizing director, Melanie Dominguez, and advocacy director, Yonah Zeitz, discuss how Mayor Adams has been the most significant obstacle to closing Rikers.
Katal Quotes of the Week
These are some of the quotes we’re thinking about this week.
“You can’t make a movement, but you can prepare for one.” –Vincent Harding
“Revolution is about the need to re-evolve political, economic and social justice power back into the hands of the people, preferably through legislation and policies that make human sense. That’s what revolution is about.’’ –Bobby Seale
“Let me just say: Peace to you, if you’re willing to fight for it.’’ –Fred Hampton
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Email: info@katalcenter.org Phone: 646.875.8822.
