Shut Down Rikers!
FEBRUARY 5, 2023
Close Rikers
On January 26, 2023, Exodus Transitional Community joined Freedom Agenda and other community partners in a rally to support the closure of Rikers Island. While Mayor Adams was hosting his State of the City Address, hundreds of people rallied outside to support closing Rikers NOW! Activists spoke about the trauma they experienced on Rikers first-hand and the abuse their loved ones experienced. We had members of the Faith Community discuss the importance of community healing and the investments needed to close Rikers for good. Dozens of people have died on Rikers in the past two years, and we are calling on the Mayor to make significant investments in decarceration strategies. According to Kandra Clark, VP of Policy & Strategy, “we have the solutions, but they are not being funded to scale. In 2020, we had the daily population on Rikers down to approximately 3,800 people – the population reduction goal to close Rikers is bringing that number down to 3,500. This can ABSOLUTELY happen. But we will only be able to do so if this Administration begins caring about community safety.”
FEBRUARY 5, 2023
