BREAKING: Can’t believe this. NY Senate *Democrats* are caving to the fear & racism of police, prosecutors, & White nationalists. To kill bail reform a month after it began. Their “compromise” is worse than what we had. Kalief Browder would still be jailed.newsday.com/news/region-st…
Democrats plan gives judges discretion to REMAND people charged w/ most crimes. “Discretion” is just another word for “dangerousness.” And give judges that power: You’ll just replicate pre-existing racial disparities. Black & Brown people jailed w/ no way out. Cant believe them.
This statement from @VOCALNewYork: “Judges in New York have always treated Black people worse than White people regardless of the charges — this proposal gives them a license to discriminate and lock up more Black people in jail. I can’t believe that Democrats want to do that.”
Statement from @VOCALNewYork continued: “If the dems think this is going to help their elections they are crazy. This is going to discourage young people, Black people and progressives from voting at a time when we need huge changes here in New York and at the Federal level.”
Running to meeting but more updates here shortly. For now this: Ending cash bail does not require the creation of a brand new mechanism to incarcerate people pretrial. Armed with even more power and discretion to do so, most judges will do so. We know this from experience.
Recently I stood next to a parentless teenager charged w/ gun possession, who has been released since August with no new arrests and is actively engaged with a youth social worker from Brooklyn Defender Services. I am certain he would be detained under the Democrats proposal.
In Jan. 2019, a year before new bail reforms in NY went into effect, I met a 64 y/o man. Arrested & charged w/ a violent felony assault for allegedly attacking an EMS officer in back of an ambulance while on way to a hospital in Brooklyn, a claim he adamantly denies. Continued:
Despite the seriousness of the allegation, the judge didnt set bail. Instead released him on his own recognizance & was given a date to appear. Like tens of thousands charged with all types of accusations before bail laws, he was trusted to show up to court. And did. Continued:
To date, he has appeared at all 19 required court appearances, despite serious physical ailments & painful health conditions. At liberty instead of in jail, Rose was able to retain access to doctors & specialists, & housing in a specialized shelter. No rearrests. Continued:
Under Senate Dems "compromise" giving judges new discretion, this elderly innocent man falsely accused would be jailed. Detained for duration of his case w/ substandard health care, I firmly believe he would not have made it out alive. This is the opposite of "progressive."
How can NY Senate Democrats claim to be "progressive" while gunning to replace bail reform w/ a system that would have still killed Kalief Browder? If the very symbol for the need for bail reform would still be detained pretrial & traumatized to death, what are they thinking? 
Please visit JusticeNotFear.org to reach out to Senate Democrats and demand that they hold firm and not cave to fear. To turn their backs on reason, decades of advocacy by directly impacted people & advocates, & bow to fear within a matter of weeks is unacceptable.
The Senate Democrats are choosing politics over reason & facts. They are turning their backs on human beings like Miguel.
The Senate Democrats are choosing politics over reason & facts. They are turning their backs on human beings like Darryl Herring.
