Closerikers.org

One year after public launch of Campaign, and weeks after Mayor Bill de Blasio announces his support to close Rikers, hundreds gather to declare the proposed ten-year timeline is too long

New York, NY – Hundreds of members of the #CLOSErikers campaign gathered today at City Hall to demand Mayor Bill de Blasio take immediate action on his commitment to close Rikers Island. Advocates declared the Mayor’s proposed ten-year timeline to close Rikers is too long. They demanded the Mayor appoint someone to lead a speedy process of closing the facility, put forward a serious plan for closure, and immediately act on criminal justice reforms to reduce the Rikers population.

Closerikers.org

Glenn E. Martin, President and Founder of JustLeadershipUSA, and Gabriel Sayegh, Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director of the Katal Center for Health, Equity, and Justice are leaders in the #CLOSErikers campaign.  They issued the following statements in response to the release of the report from the Independent Commission on New York City Criminal Justice and Incarceration Reform.

Closerikers.org

Glenn E. Martin, President and Founder of JustLeadershipUSA, and Gabriel Sayegh, Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director of the Katal Center for Health, Equity, and Justice are leaders in the #CLOSErikers campaign. They issued the following statements in response to the announcement from Mayor Bill de Blasio that Rikers Island will be closed.

Closerikers.org

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Emily NaPier, Dir. of Public Affairs, emily@justleadershipusa.org or 315.243.5135

March 31, 2017 

Following Relentless Advocacy from the #CLOSErikers Campaign, City Hall Joins the Effort to #CLOSErikers and Begin Building Communities

Closerikers.org

Glenn E. Martin, President and founder of JustLeadershipUSA, and gabriel sayegh, Co-founder and Co-Executive Director of the Katal Center for Health, Equity, and Justice are leaders in the #CLOSErikers campaign. They issued the following statements in response to Mayor Bill de Blasio’s announcement today that people in New York City jails will receive reentry services.

Closerikers.org

“Mayor Bill de Blasio has repeatedly failed to confront a human rights atrocity right in his own backyard. To live up to his own progressive values of justice, fairness, and equality, he must take action and close Rikers now,” said Glenn E. Martin, President and founder of JustLeadershipUSA. “New York City’s reputation as a sanctuary city is tarnished by the ongoing criminalization of thousands of its own residents who suffer unnecessarily in disgraceful and dangerous conditions.”

For Immediate Release
September 26, 2016

Contact: Gabriel Sayegh, 646-335-2264
Valrie Fowler, 347-622-3694                                                                                        

Nearly 1,000 People March and Rally in Queens

in Action to Close Rikers Island Jail Complex 

Nearly 100 Advocacy Groups, City Officials and Celebrities

Demand Mayor de Blasio Close Rikers, Build Communities 

New York, Sept. 24, 2016 – Nearly 1,000 New Yorkers -- including NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer, Russell Simmons, NYC Council Members Brad Lander, Danny Dromm, and Antonio Reynoso, State Senator Gustavo Rivera, Rev. Vivian Nixon, and more -- gathered in Queens on Saturday in a historic march and rally to call on New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio to close Rikers Island Jail Complex.