PLEASE HELP: Right now. *Literally right now* on same night these horrifying numbers came out, NY Democrats are meeting behind closed doors. To discuss repealing bail reform that’s already saved thousands from Rikers. @NYSenDems & @NYGovCuomo right now want to jail more. Outrage! 
All over the country elected officials are scrambling to get people out of jail & prison. But here in NY, @NYGovCuomo & @NYSenDems are actively working to put MORE people in jail. It’s hypocritical, illogical, and flies in the face of public health and safety. Why ever? Why now?
Last night, @NYGovCuomo was on @chrislhayes, & pretended the plan to KILL bail reform was just “fine tuning.” You know who his “fine tuning” would have jailed all over again? Kalief Browder. The very symbol for the need for reform. Know who else?
The “fine-tuning” would jail Angel. A father. Grandfather. Husband. He & his wife Lydia are impoverished. 15 days hell on Rikers. Family separation. “I still feel like I’m in jail.” Bail reform prevents this trauma. Why ever, why now @NYGovCuomo?
Killing bail reform will jail people like Paul. 20 days on Rikers. “I lost all my stuff. Me & my son, we struggling. I had a job. Now I don’t. He just recently had a birthday. I couldn’t buy him nothing.” Bail reform stopped this from happening to another.
Why are Democrats considering jailing more people right now? Politics. For the last half year, prosecutors, police, & actual White supremacists enabled by sensationalist media, have fearmongered over a handful of cases. That’s all it took to sell Black lives for votes. Truth:
TAKE ACTION: Before I go any further, please visit JusticeNotFear.org now to call on lawmakers to stop this madness (& learn what bail reform really means):
Truth: There are literally tens of thousands of people who’ve already benefited from the law. With families. Jobs & housing. Millions in taxpayer dollars saved. And protected form the COVID outbreak. But fear is such a powerful force. 3, maybe 4 cases at most is all it took.
Truth: Pretrial detention in NYC decreased 74% in last 3 decades. Violent crime dropped 82% in same period. Brooklyn has practiced what bail reform now requires for years. Lowest crime rate in history. Don’t need to guess if reform will work. It’s working. nydailynews.com/opinion/ny-ope…
Police & prosecutors knew that if the law lasted any longer, data would show better outcomes. Public would be able to peak behind the curtain. See the lies they’ve been selling for decades. The law must be defeated. Not allowed to work. Dems bought what they were selling.
Fortunately, NY Assembly Speaker @CarlHeastie is a champion. Has stood firm against fear. Defending commonsense bail reform. Calling out sensationalism. "This criminal justice reform is something so ingrained in my spirit that we had to right the wrongs."
Other Dem lawmakers have also stood firm & spoken up about how now, more than ever, lawmakers should not be spending any energy on anything but public health & decarceration, LET ALONE, jailing more people at this time, during this pandemic.
I am furious. Next to no action is being taken in NY to save the lives of humans jailed when so many can & should be released. Even worse: Democrats in NY--@NYGovCuomo & @NYSenDems --are working behind the scenes to repeal bail reform. Now. Tell them no. peoplesaction.org/petition/norol…
READ: Bail reform saves lives. “One ray of hope for Rikers & NY jails has been bail reform instituted in January. Now people charged w/ most misdemeanors & non-violent felonies are not being jailed before trial. Reform has reduced people cycling through.” washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/03…
