NOT IN OUR NAMES: “As Jewish legislators, we are deeply concerned about the rash of anti-Semitic attacks. We are also deeply concerned about recent attempts to use these attacks as a rationale for dismantling NYs brand new bail reform law.”nydailynews.com/opinion/ny-ope…
All humans: “While it’s important for us to untangle the truly heinous crimes from incidences of people with mental illnesses lashing out, it’s also important to ensure defendants in all of these cases are treated like human beings while they await prosecution.”
Not the answer: “Rolling back the landmark criminal justice reforms that were accomplished in the last legislative session — which limited potential use of cash bail to a list of specified, mostly violent crimes, while requiring pretrial release for others — is not the answer.”
“None of this backsliding will address the underlying issue or make communities targeted by hate any safer. In cases where serious violence takes place, the new bail law already has been and can be applied to set bail on a suspect.”
What prosecutors & police want: “The old cash bail system distorted justice and caused irreparable harm to thousands. For decades, New York’s money bail system violated the presumption of innocence, criminalized poverty and devastated families and communities.”
Call out cynicism: “Despite the critical need for this reform, change-resistant district attorneys, right-wing media & regressive politicians are now exploiting anti-Semitism to stir up opposition to bail reform. Incarceration will not solve the problem of anti-Semitic violence.”
“Like all Jews, the persecution of our ancestors is embedded deep within our DNA, a shared identity rooted in fear. As Jewish legislators, we feel acutely the deep fear those we represent. As a result, we feel a special responsibility to help lead during these dark times.”
Historical obligation: “As Jews, we are obligated to strive for justice. Deuteronomy commands us: justice, justice you shall pursue. Even more specifically, Psalm 23 directs us: Do not deny justice to a poor man when he appears in court. That’s bail reform in a nutshell.”
“In this new year, we are obligated to inscribe in law justice, fairness and dignity for all. We can’t begin by backsliding on bail.”
