The first time our criminal legal system failed me was in 1996. At the age of 26, I had recently moved into a friend’s home after living in the Wards Island shelter. I barely had time to get settled when I was arrested on a robbery charge for allegedly stealing VHS tapes and $10. When […]
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CONTACT:Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org VOCAL-NY RESPONDS TO DEATH OF DASHAWN CARTER, FOURTH DEATH ON RIKERS ISLAND THIS YEAR NEW YORK – Today, in response to news of the death Dashawn Carter, a 25-year-old homeless manwho took his own life while detained on Rikers Island – the fourth death on Rikers Island this year – VOCAL-NY released the following statement, attributable
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VOCAL-NY Leaders in Buffalo Will Join Allies at a Vigil on Sunday Morning BUFFALO, N.Y. — In response to the racially motivated shooting at a Tops supermarket in a predominantly Black community on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo, VOCAL-NY has released the following statements from our Buffalo community leaders: “I’m a Black man who lives in Buffalo. I’m already afraid
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“Few things undermine the credibility of the criminal legal system as much as the incredible tolerance law enforcement and elected officials seem to have for wrongful convictions,” said Nick Encalada-Malinowski, civil rights campaign director for VOCAL-NY, an advocacy group championing the bills. “The Challenging Wrongful Convictions Act, which we now know is widely supported by
CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org, 203 470 9979 VOCAL-NY RESPONDS TO MAYOR ADAMS BUDGET PROPOSAL NEW YORK — In response to Mayor Adams announcement of his administration’s Budget Proposal for Fiscal Year 2023, VOCAL-NY released the following statement, attributable to Althea Matthews, a Homelessness Union leader and New York City-based harm reduction street outreach worker who is currently experiencing
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CONTACT Jasmine Budnella, Jasmine@vocal-ny.org, 720-480-5262 Mariah McGough, Mariah@vocal-ny.org, 203 470 9979 NEW POLL: MAJORITY OF NEW YORKERS SUPPORT EXPANDING OVERDOSE PREVENTION CENTERS & DECRIMINALIZATION OF DRUG POSSESSION See Exclusive Coverage of the Polling in City & State; Poll Shows Support Across All Regions Of New York NEW YORK – Today, VOCAL-NY released polling conducted by
CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org VOCAL-NY RESPONDS TO THE POLICE ASSAULT OF AN 8-YEAR-OLD IN SYRACUSE This is a Clear Example of Criminalizing Poverty SYRACUSE, N.Y. — In response to the arrest of an 8-year-old boy in Syracuse on Tuesday, VOCAL-NY released the following response: “Under no circumstance does an alleged possession of a bag of chips warrant
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CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org VOCAL-NY RESPONDS TO THE POLICE ASSAULT OF AN 8-YEAR-OLD IN SYRACUSEThis is a Clear Example of Criminalizing Poverty SYRACUSE, N.Y. — In response to the arrest of an 8-year-old boy in Syracuse on Tuesday, VOCAL-NY released the following response: “Under no circumstance does an alleged possession of a bag of chips warrant excessive force and dismissal
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CONTACT: Mariah McGough, Mariah@vocal-ny.org NEW: VOCAL-NY RELEASES ROADMAP WITH IMMEDIATE STEPS FOR MAYOR ADAMS TO REVERSE HARM AND END HOMELESSNESS Roadmap Available Online Here The Roadmap Comes Ahead of the Adams Administration’s Anticipated Housing Plan and After Hundreds of Encampment Sweeps Across the City NEW YORK — Today, after a press conference in Fulton St. Station, VOCAL-NY released a roadmap with immediate actions the Adams Administration can
CONTACT Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org, 203 470 9979 GOV. HOCHUL, YOU FAILED US: VOCAL-NY CONDEMNS FINAL BUDGET THAT NEGLECTS HOMELESS NEW YORKERS AND ENABLES MASS INCARCERATION After Promises to be Different Than Cuomo, Gov. Hochul Final Budget Offers More of the Same Failed Tactics, Without Investments in Evidence-Based Solutions Gov. Hochul Will Have a Direct Hand in the
