In this issue…
Growing Energy behind #LessIsMoreNY
Join Us Next Thursday 2/4: CT Statewide Criminal Justice Reform Monthly Call
Growing Energy behind #LessIsMoreNY
We have a lot to share about the growing energy behind #LessIsMoreNY this week.
- Event Tonight: Tonight, with New York City Public Advocate Jummane Williams, we are co-hosting a #LessIsMoreNY Town Hall tonight at 6:00 PM — it streams live on Facebook. Click here to join us at 6!
- Press Release: With the Legislative Session now underway in Albany in the midst of an accelerating rise of COVID-19 cases and deaths in New York State prisons, the #LessIsMoreNY campaign joined together to call on New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie to pass the ‘Less Is More’ bill. The legislation currently has support from 220 community organizations and advocacy groups, 7 seven District Attorneys from across the State, the New York City Council, the Rochester City Council and dozens of public officials from every corner of the State.
- Manhattan DA Forum: Last night we co-hosted a forum with all the declared Democratic candidates running for Manhattan District Attorney. The event was a huge success, and we’re proud to have help organize it with our partners. Every candidate publicly committed to supporting LessIsMore if elected to the office. We want to uplift Katal member Emelissa Curo who was one of the attendees who got to ask a question, and she asked about #LessIsMoreNY. The video from the forum will be available soon!
- West Side Progressive Democratic Club presentation: This week we also joined a town hall with the West Side Progressive Democratic Club to give a presentation on #LessIsMoreNY and discuss how it will help decarcerate and advance justice in New York.
Join Us Next Thursday 2/4: CT Statewide Criminal Justice Reform Monthly Call
COVID-19 continues to spread in Connecticut’s jails and prisons. The 19th incarcerated person passed away from COVID-19 this week, making this the sixth incarcerated person to die from COVID-19 since the start of the year.
Additionally, while the State of CT initially included incarcerated individuals in Phase 1b of the State’s vaccination plan for COVID-19, that State has not yet begun to vaccinate all incarcerated people in Connecticut prisons while vaccinations for other groups in the phase have moved forward. We continue to call on Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont to provide vaccines for everyone in prison, and to take action and #FreeThemNowCT.
Join us next Thursday, February 2nd from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. for our next Connecticut Statewide Criminal Justice Reform Call held via zoom to learn more about the current rise of COVID-19 in CT’s prisons and jails and to hear updates from organizers and advocates working to advance criminal justice reform in Connecticut.
Keep practicing social distancing, wear your mask, wash your hands, and check in on your neighbors. If you want to get involved, learn more about our work, or just connect, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Katal works to strengthen the people, policies, institutions, and movements that advance health, equity, and justice for everyone. Join us: web, Twitter, Facebook! Email: info@katalcenter.org. Phone: 646.875.8822.
