Rallies in Six Regions Across New York State Call Attention to Financial and Emotional Toll of Package Ban, as well as Harms to Health of Incarcerated People
September 27, 2022: Press Release
Advocacy and Legal Groups Urge U.N. to Call for Abolition of Life Sentences in U.S.
The signatory organizations respectfully submit this letter alleging that the United States’ extreme prison sentencing policies and practices of life without parole (LWOP), life with parole (LWP), “virtual life,”1 and other term-of-years sentences that exceed life expectancy and thus effectively condemn individuals to death by incarceration (DBI), violate the prohibition against racial discrimination; violate individuals’ right to life; violate the prohibition against torture, and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment; and are an arbitrary deprivation of liberty….
September 15, 2022: Press Release
Advocacy and Legal Groups Urge U.N. to Call for Abolition of Life Sentences in U.S.Read More
OBSERVING 3RD ANNIVERSARY OF IN-PRISON DEATH OF VAL GAITER, LONGEST-SERVING WOMAN IN NY PRISONS, LAWMAKERS, ADVOCATES, & LOVED ONES GATHER FOR VIGIL AND DEMAND JUSTICE
VAL DIED OF UNTREATED CANCER WHILE INCARCERATED AT BEDFORD HILLS, AFTER DOCCS MISDIAGNOSED HER WITH ACID REFLUX
August 11, 2022: Press Release
RAPP CAMPAIGN RESPONDS TO LEGISLATURE’S FAILURE TO PASS PAROLE REFORM
June 3, 2022: Statement
RAPP CAMPAIGN RESPONDS TO LEGISLATURE’S FAILURE TO PASS PAROLE REFORMRead More
ADVOCATES CALL ON GOV. HOCHUL TO FULFILL HER COMMITMENT TO FULLY STAFF THE PAROLE BOARD BEFORE THE END OF SESSION
June 1, 2022: Joint Statement of More Than 50 NYS Organizations
ADVOCATES & LAWMAKERS ERECT PRISON GRAVEYARD OUTSIDE NY CAPITOL, REMEMBER THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THOSE LOST, & DEMAND PAROLE JUSTICE
PARTICIPANTS HIGHLIGHT DATA PROJECTING THAT MORE THAN 70 PEOPLE WILL DIE IN PRISON DURING THE UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE RECESS IF LAWMAKERS DON’T ACT
May 31, 2022: Press Release
RAPP CAMPAIGN RESPONDS TO CANADIAN SUPREME COURT STRIKING DOWN “LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE” SENTENCES
Today, the Supreme Court of Canada issued a ruling striking down any and all impositions of “life without parole” prison sentences (“LWOP”). The Court found such sentences to be “cruel and unusual” and “incompatible with human dignity.” …
May 27, 2022: RAPP Statement
FAITH LEADERS, NEW YORKERS WITH LOVED ONES LANGUISHING IN PRISON & OTHER LOCAL ADVOCATES HOLD FUNERAL PROCESSIONS OUTSIDE NY LEGISLATIVE LEADERS’ OFFICES FOR THE 80+ PEOPLE PROJECTED TO DIE IN NY PRISONS DURING COMING LEGISLATIVE RECESS
PARTICIPANTS CALLED ON SENATE LEADER STEWART-COUSINS AND ASSEMBLY SPEAKER CARL HEASTIE TO PASS ELDER PAROLE AND FAIR & TIMELY PAROLE BEFORE LEGISLATIVE SESSION CLOSES ON JUNE 2
May 20, 2022: Press Release
RAPP CAMPAIGN RESPONDS TO ATTICA PRISON GUARD’S RACIST FACEBOOK POST ON BUFFALO MASSACRE
May 17, 2022: Press Release
RAPP CAMPAIGN RESPONDS TO ATTICA PRISON GUARD’S RACIST FACEBOOK POST ON BUFFALO MASSACRERead More
Our Hearts Are With the People of Buffalo
May 17, 2022:
Our Hearts Are With the People of Buffalo
Dear RAPP Family,
Yesterday, RAPP’s Director Jose Saldaña released the following statement in response to the white supremacist attack in Buffalo:
“We are devastated, saddened, and infuriated by the white supremacist attack on the Black community in Buffalo. We stand in love, support, and solidarity with the people and families deeply harmed by this horrific act and the cumulative impact that racism has had on generations of Black people.
We must all eradicate white supremacy from our state’s systems, institutions, and culture. Importantly, we also call on lawmakers to take action to meet the immediate and long-term needs of the families and community targeted in this vicious act of hate. Reinstating the death penalty or expanding the use of life without parole sentences in response to this attack will accomplish neither. As is the case today, those condemned to death by execution or death by incarceration will be mostly Black and Brown New Yorkers. These extreme sanctions have never kept our communities safe. They only reinforce racism in our state and undermine rather than promote community safety and healing. Instead, our state’s political leaders must protect and empower Black and Brown communities by tearing down systems of racial oppression and by providing us with the material resources we need and deserve. All love and power to the people of Buffalo.”
In addition to sharing our statement on twitter, we ask that you join us in supporting local Buffalo organizations that are supporting community members on the ground, including:
- Donate to Black Love Resists in the Rust’s Mental Health and Food Support Fund here: https://donate-usa.keela.co/mental-health-and-food-support
- Drop off food at the Rooted in Love Community Fridge at 347 East Ferry Street, and/or make a donation to the cause: https://rootedinloveinc.com/donate-to-our-cause/
- Drop-off fresh produce, milk, eggs, cheese, formula, baby food, juice, water, labeled cook meals (no raw meat) to the Buffalo Community Fridge at 257 E. Ferry St.
- Donate to Feed Buffalo, a Black woman-led food pantry that provides access to free locally-sourced, healthy, and halal food: https://www.feedbuffalo.org/
- Donate to Every Bottom Covered, a Black-led Diaper Bank located on the East Side of Buffalo: https://www.everybottomcovered.org/
- Donate catered food by emailing: phylicia@blackloveresistsintherust.org.
ASSEMBLY AGING COMMITTEE CHAIR RON KIM & OTHER LAWMAKERS TO JOIN LEADING OLDER ADULT SERVICE PROVIDERS TO CALL FOR PAROLE REFORM
AS PART OF A ‘PAROLE JUSTICE IS ELDER JUSTICE’ ADVOCACY DAY DURING OLDER AMERICANS’ MONTH, SPEAKERS CALLED FOR PASSAGE OF THE ELDER PAROLE AND FAIR & TIMELY PAROLE BILLS
May 10, 2022: Press Release
Kathy Boudin: A Great Life and a Great Loss
Celebrating the life and mourning the loss of our co-founder and co-director Kathy Boudin
May 2, 2022: Columbia University Center for Justice
NY LAWMAKERS, MOTHERS OF MURDERED CHILDREN, OTHER SURVIVORS OF OR CRIME VICTIMS & ANTI-GUN VIOLENCE GROUPS GATHERED AT NY CAPITOL TO CALL FOR PAROLE JUSTICE & SURVIVOR JUSTICE BILLS
April 25, 2022: Press Release
SPEAKERS CALLED FOR PASSAGE OF THE ELDER PAROLE, FAIR & TIMELY PAROLE, AND FAIR ACCESS TO VICTIM COMPENSATION BILLS TO PROMOTE HEALING AND SAFETY AS PART OF A PAROLE JUSTICE & SURVIVOR JUSTICE ADVOCACY DAY
U.S. REP JAMAAL BOWMAN, STATE LAWMAKERS JOIN FORMERLY INCARCERATED NEW YORKERS IN FIVE “PAROLE JUSTICE IS NEXT” PRESS CONFERENCES ACROSS THE STATE
April 20, 2022: Press Release
PARTICIPANTS RALLY IN NYC, ROCHESTER, ALBANY, WESTCHESTER, AND LONG ISLAND TO LAUNCH POST-BUDGET EFFORT TO PASS ELDER PAROLE AND FAIR & TIMELY PAROLE BILLS BEFORE END OF LEGISLATIVE SESSION
State Lawmakers & Faith Leaders to Join Formerly Incarcerated New Yorkers for 5 “Parole Justice Is Next” Rallies Across the State
April 19, 2022: Media Advisory
PARTICIPANTS WILL RALLY IN NYC, ROCHESTER, ALBANY, WESTCHESTER AND LONG ISLAND TO LAUNCH POST-BUDGET EFFORT TO PASS ELDER PAROLE AND FAIR & TIMELY PAROLE BILLS BEFORE END OF LEGISLATIVE SESSION