Jul 9, 2024 — by Howard Weiss

in Documentary Photography, Photography

Date: July 9, 2024

Author: Howard Weiss

Location: U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York

Today, community groups, elected officials, and directly impacted individuals gathered outside the federal courthouse in Manhattan to demand the immediate appointment of an independent receiver for Rikers Island. The rally highlighted the ongoing crisis within the jail complex, calling for urgent federal intervention to save lives and improve conditions.

The rally to shut down Rikers Island was a powerful demonstration of solidarity and urgency. Organized by the Katal Center for Equity, Health, and Justice, the event brought together more than 75 community and advocacy groups, alongside dozens of city and state legislators, to call for federal courts to appoint an independent receiver for Rikers Island.

Senator Julia Salazar, Chair of the New York State Senate Committee on Crime Victims, Crime, and Correction, passionately stated, “The conditions at Rikers have been egregiously dangerous and inhumane for far too long. Control over Rikers must be stripped from the City and put in the hands of a federal receivership.”

Assemblymember Phara Souffrant Forrest echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need for justice, compassion, and reform. “The time has come to close Rikers Island. The first step toward that goal must be for the federal government to step in and take receivership of Rikers.”

Council Member Crystal Hudson also voiced strong support for the movement, criticizing the current administration’s handling of the crisis. “The Department of Correction has taken no meaningful steps to demonstrate it is fit and willing to manage the jail in a way that meets bare minimum standards of human rights laws,” she said.

The rally was a response to the ongoing violence, corruption, and mismanagement at Rikers Island, with at least 31 people having died in city jails since Mayor Eric Adams took office. The federal monitor’s report from June 27 underscored the dangerous and unsafe conditions, prompting widespread calls for federal intervention.

Melanie Dominguez, Organizing Director at the Katal Center, highlighted the dire situation, stating, “Under Mayor Eric Adams, the conditions at Rikers have worsened, violence is out of control, and at least 31 incarcerated people have died in New York City jails.”

The rally concluded with a strong call to action, urging the federal courts to appoint an independent receiver to take control of Rikers Island and for the immediate closure of the facility to prevent further loss of life.

Discover the details of the rally to shut down Rikers Island, where community groups and leaders demanded federal intervention. Learn about the crisis, key speakers, and the urgent call for an independent receiver.

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