FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Cassady Fendlay, 908-499-3380
NEW YORK STATE BUDGET WILL INCREASE UNNECESSARY INCARCERATION, SAYS THE GATHERING FOR JUSTICE
April 8, 2022 (New York, NY)--The Gathering for Justice, a nonprofit organization founded by Harry Belafonte and led since 2010 by Carmen Perez, released a statement today regarding the New York State budget, which lawmakers are expected to vote on today.
“Governor Hochul has made it clear through budget negotiations that her priority is incarcerating more New Yorkers, not creating public safety. Although she admitted that there’s no connection between bail reform and the rise in crime, she still greatly expanded the use of bail in low-level, nonviolent offenses. The result is going to be more young people traumatized by long stints in Rikers without ever seeing trial, simply because they don't have the money to be released.
Governor Hochul also cut the legislation known as Clean Slate - which the legislature already passed - from the current budget. This prevents thousands of New Yorkers from being able to expunge their records after they've successfully reentered society. The consequences of an old conviction can affect employment, housing, and the ability for a parent to participate fully in their child's life. It's clear that Governor Hochul wants to continue to punish people who've already served their time and repaid their debt to society.
What’s also clear is Governor Hochul’s allegiance to wealthy campaign donors. While she increases incarceration in Black and Brown communities, her budget also gives over $600 million to subsidize a billionaire NFL team owner—a pet project that also benefits Hochul’s husband, who owns the concessions company for the Bills stadium. That money would have been better spent ensuring all children in New York State have access to early childhood education, but again, Governor Hochul showed her lack of concern for anyone but the richest New Yorkers.
New York State legislators have fought for a budget that reflects our values of racial and economic justice as well as alternatives to incarceration. Assemblymember Latrice Walker went so far as to go on hunger strike in opposition to the Governor's budget. Despite our collective efforts, Governor Hochul forced this budget upon all of us, despite her rhetoric about supporting justice reform. We call upon legislators to continue holding the line and VOTE NO on a budget that will incarcerate thousands more New Yorkers--the vast majority of them Black and Brown people. We refuse to turn back the clock for our communities and we call upon our champions to keep holding strong against this disastrous state budget.”
Carmen Perez, the President and CEO of The Gathering for Justice, is available for interview upon request. Please contact press@gatheringforjustice.org or contact Cassady Fendlay at 908-499-3380.
About The Gathering for Justice:
The Gathering for Justice is a nonprofit founded in 2005 by Harry Belafonte and led since 2010 by President and CEO Carmen Perez-Jordan. The mission of The Gathering for Justice is to end child incarceration and eliminate the racial inequities that permeate the justice system. The Gathering for Justice has two state-based task forces, Justice League NYC (established in 2013) and Justice League California (established in 2017), both of which bring together juvenile and criminal justice experts, advocates, artists and individuals who’ve experienced or been impacted by incarceration directly. We believe in an organizing model which draws from diverse communities to utilize our combined power to build the agenda for sustained black and brown liberation. In the footsteps of our legendary founder’s activism, The Gathering for Justice and its Justice League state task forces utilize Kingian nonviolence as a social application for systemic change and civic engagement.
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