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advisory – new york state criminal justice reform groups to hold justice rally on juneteenth at the capitol to demand immediate action

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ADVISORY

June 19th, 2019

Contact:

Yan Snead, ysnead@katalcenter.org | 518.360.1534

 

New York State Criminal Justice Reform Groups to Hold Justice Rally on Juneteenth at the Capitol to Demand Immediate Action

 

Albany, NY: As the session comes to a close, critically important issues necessary to be addressed in order to end mass incarceration and advance the cause of justice in New York are being left undone by Albany. These issues include: parole reform (#LessIsMoreNY); solitary confinement (#HALTsolitary), Marijuana legalization (#MarijuanaJustice/ #MRTA), police accountability (#saferNYACT), and overdose prevention (#A833B / #A7246B). 

Albany has passed some notable criminal justice reforms earlier this year, but is ending session without fully completing the job. In response, criminal justice reform groups working on a range of different issues are joining together for a rally to demand lawmakers in Albany and the Governor give New Yorkers the equitable criminal justice system that is well beyond overdue. Groups will also highlight the connection to reform in Albany and closing Rikers Island jail Complex. Just yesterday the Independent Commission on New York City Criminal Justice and Incarceration Reform released a report, Stopping Parole’s Revolving Door, which highlights how passing legislation like the Less is More Act is essential to the goal of closing Rikers.

The rally is being held on June 19th, known as Juneteenth– the day in 1865 that Black people in Galveston, Texas learned that the Civil War had ceased, that Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, and that they were now free. A historical day of remembrance, criminal justice groups are gathering on Juneteenth to demand that Albany end the modern day manifestation of systemic racism known as mass incarceration.

 

WHAT: Juneteenth for Justice

WHEN: Wednesday, June 19, 2019 at 1pm

WHERE: New York State Capitol, Albany, NY

WHO: Katal Center for Health, Equity, and Justice; #HALTsolitary, Start SMART NY; Drug Policy Alliance; VOCAL-NY, and more.

 

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