Good morning. At about 3am this morning, NY Democrats passed the harshest & most racist bail bill in New York history. At this time. Of all times. Gutted.
The law broadly expands the types of cases that are jail eligible, including a range of misdemeanors. Makes it more likely for people w/ criminal records (read: those most overpoliced) to be jailed. Kalief Browder-the symbol for the need for reform-would be jailed all over again.
And no one has written about it yet because people are just waking up.
"We are the only state in the country that in the middle of this public health crisis have decided to increase the number of people who are incarcerated in jails."northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/410…
In just Jan. 2020, new bail reform began. Saved thousands of lives. Kept families together. Jobs. Housing. Then protected from Coronavirus. Prosecutors & police exploited a small handful of cases. That’s all it took for NY Democrats to cave. To sell Black lives for votes.
Thank you @AMDanQuart for standing up to fearmongering and standing for reason.
Public Defenders will never stop fighting.
Thank you, @MrMikeBlake. "You are voting for Black and Brown and low-income people to die for your re-election."
Thank you @yuhline for your fire, passion, courage, and just plain old reason in the midst of this completely irrational, cynical, cruel move to placate the very WORST impulses of the electorate. More jail & prison was never the answer. Certainly not now.
New Yorkers. Here’s the list of the votes. “If you’re wondering who” would do such a a thing during a pandemic. Let them hear from you.
