Katal New York Update — September 27, 2024

Share This Post

Federal Court is One Step Closer to Receivership – #ShutRikers Keeps the Pressure Up 

#ShutRikers march from City Hall Park to Foley Square, 9.25.24

Following years of sustained organizing from our #ShutRikers campaign, the federal courts are moving closer to taking over the jail complex. At Wednesday’s federal court hearing, Judge Laura Taylor Swain ordered the Department of Correction, the U.S. Attorney’s office, and the Legal Aid Society to meet and confer about the structure of a potential federal receivership at Rikers. This is major news, and we will keep the pressure up! 

Before Wednesday’s court hearing, we gathered at City Hall Park to demand that Mayor Adams shut down Rikers. Then we marched to Foley Square, near the federal courthouse, and rallied to demand that the federal courts appoint an independent receiver to save lives. See the release we issued in response

Our march and rally was widely covered in the media, including the Associated Press, NY Daily News, CBS News, Spectrum News 1, and AM New York. For more details about Wednesday’s #ShutRikers action, please check out these photos and videos.

#ShutRikers Rally at City Hall Park, 9.25.24

Take action with us! 

We’re calling on New York City Council immediately pass Resolution 183, which calls on the federal court to immediately appoint a receiver to improve conditions at Rikers. Use our online action tool to contact your representative and demand their support here

Join us this Wednesday, October 2, from noon to 1 p.m. for our Shut Rikers Phone Zap via Zoom! You can RSVP here. We will be calling New York City Council members to demand that they take immediate action to end the suffering and violence at Rikers. 

If you have questions or want to get further involved, please contact Yonah, our director of advocacy at Yonah@katalcenter.org.  


Statement in Response to Mayor Adams’s Indictment

Since Mayor Eric Adams took office, the overlapping crises and scandals on Rikers Island – and in his administration – have worsened. With the Adams Administration now engulfed in multiple federal investigations, and with violence spiking and reigning dysfunction at Rikers, the federal courts are moving closer to taking over the jail complex. 

Following Mayor Eric Adams’s indictment on federal criminal charges, we released this statement:

“For our members, allies, and anyone else following the disaster that is Rikers under Mayor Eric Adams, this criminal indictment is not surprising. From day one, the mayor has simply ignored the law as it relates to closing Rikers, and instead he’s worked to keep it open. His administration has consistently refused to follow court-mandated orders to reduce violence and improve conditions, leading a federal judge to hold them in contempt of court with a second contempt charge now pending. The Adams administration has obstructed or otherwise tried to eliminate mechanisms of accountability and transparency at Rikers, including by outright lying to the federal monitor and stonewalling the Board of Correction. And under Mayor Adams’s leadership, we’ve seen dysfunction, scandals, and mismanagement become routine at the Department of Correction. So it’s no surprise that he’s now under federal criminal indictment  for breaking the law. Whatever happens with this mayor or the next, we remain focused on shutting down Rikers and building the fair, just, healthy and equitable city all New Yorkers deserve.”


Monday 9/23: #PeerNotPolice Rally 

#PeersNotPolice Rally on the steps of City Hall, 9.23.24

On Monday, September 23, 2024, we joined the Correct Crisis Intervention Today Coalition (CCIT-NYC) for their #PeersNotPolice Rally on the steps of City Hall. The rally called to transform how New York City responds to mental health crises. The campaign pushes for a non-police response to mental health crises led by peers, or people with lived experience of mental health issues. Following the hearing, we attended the  New York City Council oversight hearing about the B-HEARD 911 Mental Health Crisis Response pilot program.


Tuesday 9/24: Launch of No Power Grab NYC 

Launch Rally of the No Power Grab NYC campaign, 9.24.24

On Tuesday, we joined the launch rally of No Power Grab NYC, which is a campaign run by New Yorkers Defending Democracy to defend democracy and defeat Mayor Adams’ attempt to enact dangerous and anti-democratic changes to New York City’s charter (NYC’s constitution) including making it harder to hold police and correction officers accountable. No Power Grab NYC is a coalition of more than 50 local and national civil rights and community groups and everyday New Yorkers from every background and borough uniting to defend democracy at the ballot this November. 

The mayor and his closest allies intentionally rushed a sham revision process to avoid the input of New Yorkers and increase their power. The changes they have proposed are bad for New York and bad for democracy. We ask voters to say no to the mayor’s power grab by voting no on props 2-6 in November! 

If you have any questions about the No Power Grab NYC, please contact Yonah at Yonah@katalcenter.org


Katal Quotes of the Week

These are some of the quotes we’re thinking about this week.

“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” – Nelson Mandela

“Strong people don’t need strong leaders.” —Ella Baker


Katal works to strengthen the people, policies, institutions, and movements that advance equity, health, and justice.

Join us: web, Twitter, Facebook!
Email: info@katalcenter.org
Phone: 646.875.8822.

More To Explore