Find recent press releases from the RAPP Campaign below
For media inquiries contact:
David George, Associate Director, Release Aging People in Prison/RAPP:
rapppress@gmail.com
(631) 885-3565
Protestors to Demand Invesco & Greenberg Traurig Immediately Cut Funding for Cop City Project in Atlanta; Protests to Take Place Outside Offices in White Plains
February 21, 2023, Press Release: FOLLOWING THE POLICE MURDER OF A COP CITY PROTESTOR IN JANUARY 2023, THERE IS INCREASING DEMAND FOR BUSINESSES TO CUT TIES WITH COP CITY
CONGRESSMEMBER & FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTOR DAN GOLDMAN ANNOUNCES SUPPORT FOR PAROLE REFORM MEASURES IN NY STATE
February 14, 2023: Press Release CITING JUSTICE AND COST SAVINGS, CONGRESSMEMBER GOLDMAN URGES PASSAGE OF THE ELDER PAROLE AND FAIR & TIMELY PAROLE BILLS
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14 • NY LAWMAKERS TO JOIN CRIME VICTIM & ANTI-VIOLENCE ADVOCATES AT RALLY TO “STOP CYCLES OF VIOLENCE” WITH PAROLE JUSTICE & SURVIVOR JUSTICE
February 13, 2023: MEDIA ADVISORY: SURVIVORS OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE AND INCARCERATION WILL CALL FOR RENEWED COMMITMENT TO HEALING AND SAFETY THROUGH PASSAGE OF THE ELDER PAROLE, FAIR & TIMELY PAROLE, AND FAIR ACCESS TO VICTIM COMPENSATION BILLS
AT RALLY IN SUPPORT OF PAROLE REFORM, NY LAWMAKERS ISSUE OFFICIAL PROCLAMATIONS TO DOZENS OF FORMERLY INCARCERATED NEW YORKERS DOING ESSENTIAL COMMUNITY SAFETY WORK
January 18, 2023: Press Release FORMERLY INCARCERATED SPEAKERS DECLARE: “WE’RE PART OF THE SOLUTION TO VIOLENCE” AND CALL FOR PASSAGE OF THE ELDER PAROLE AND FAIR & TIMELY PAROLE TO BRING HOME MORE LEADERS TO IMPROVE COMMUNITY SAFETY
RAPP CAMPAIGN STATEMENT ON FIRST DAY OF 2023 LEGISLATIVE SESSION
January 4, 2023: Campaign Statement
ADVOCATES CELEBRATE INCARCERATED NEW YORKERS GRANTED CLEMENCY BY GOV. HOCHUL & LOOK FORWARD TO HER GRANTING MORE CLEMENCIES ON AN ONGOING BASIS
Today, Governor Kathy Hochul granted 13 clemencies, including four to incarcerated people in the New York State prison system, two of whom are incarcerated members of the Release Aging People …
Senate Correction & Judiciary Chairs, Crime Survivors, & Reform Advocates Held Press Conference Ahead of Public Hearing to Say: “Parole Justice Measures are Next”
Photos and video available upon request: • Jared Chausow, jchausow@gmail.com, (650) 814-0565• TeAna Taylor, taylorteana@gmail.com, (518) 847-5497 December 7, 2022: Press Release
ADVOCATES’ STATEMENT ON NYS INSPECTOR GENERAL REPORT FINDING SHARP & WORSENING RACIAL DISPARITIES IN PRISON DISCIPLINE
Today, the New York State Inspector General released a report entitled Racial Disparities in the Administration of Discipline in New York State Prisons. The report found sharp and widening racial …
Family Members, Survivors of Incarceration, State Legislators, and Allied Collective of Leading Campaigns Held Statewide Rallies to Stop the Repression and Human Rights Crisis in New York State Prison
Among Other Demands to Protect Human Rights and Improve Safety in Prisons and Outside Communities, Participants urged Governor Hochul and State Officials to: November 21, 2022: Press Release
ADVOCATES TO HOLD RALLIES IN NYC, BUFFALO & ALBANY CALLING ON GOV. HOCHUL TO FULFILL HER COMMITMENT TO EXPAND USE OF CLEMENCY AND REUNITE FAMILIES
NOVEMBER 17, 2022: New York, NY: RALLIES TO TAKE PLACE ONE YEAR AFTER GOV. HOCHUL COMMITTED TO GRANT CLEMENCIES ON AN ONGOING BASIS – AND AMID CRISIS OF AGING, SICKNESS & DEATH BEHIND BARS
RELEASE AGING PEOPLE IN PRISON CAMPAIGN (RAPP) RESPONDS TO GOV. KATHY HOCHUL’S RE-ELECTION ON 1-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF HOCHUL’S COMMITMENT TO EXPAND USE OF CLEMENCY
FOLLOWING HER HISTORIC VICTORY, AND CONTINUED STRENGTH OF SENATE AND ASSEMBLY MAJORITIES, CAMPAIGN DIRECTOR CALLS FOR PROMPT ACTION ON CLEMENCY AND PAROLE REFORM November 9, 2022: RAPP Statement
FAMILIES OF INCARCERATED NEW YORKERS HOLD STATEWIDE RALLIES CALLING FOR END TO CRUEL DOCCS PACKAGE BAN
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: …
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 …
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
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 …
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: …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
CONGRESSMEMBER NYDIA VELÁZQUEZ, WORKING FAMILIES PARTY, AND STATE LAWMAKERS JOINED FORMERLY INCARCERATED WOMEN, TRANSGENDER, AND NON-BINARY NEW YORKERS IN WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH VIRTUAL PRESS CONFERENCE SUPPORTING PAROLE REFORM
March 9, 2022: Press Release PARTICIPANTS CALLED FOR PASSAGE OF ELDER PAROLE AND FAIR & TIMELY PAROLE BILLS AS PART OF ‘PAROLE JUSTICE IS GENDER JUSTICE’ ADVOCACY DAY WITH 650 …
REV. AL SHARPTON, REP. BOWMAN, LEADING STATE LAWMAKERS & FAMILIES IMPACTED BY MASS INCARCERATION HELD VIRTUAL PRESS CONFERENCE FOR PAROLE JUSTICE IN HONOR OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH
February 8, 2022: Press Release As Part of the ‘Parole Justice is Racial Justice’ Virtual Advocacy Day with 650 Participants from Across NY State, Speakers Called for Passage of the …
REV. AL SHARPTON, REP. BOWMAN, LEADING STATE LAWMAKERS & FAMILIES IMPACTED BY MASS INCARCERATION TO HOLD VIRTUAL PRESS CONFERENCE FOR PAROLE JUSTICE IN HONOR OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH
February 7, 2022: Media Advisory As Part of the ‘Parole Justice is Racial Justice’ Virtual Advocacy Day with 650 Participants from Across NY State, Speakers Will Call for Passage of …
AMID COVID CRISIS IN NY PRISONS, TWO MORE NEW YORKERS HAVE DIED OF THE VIRUS IN FACILITIES
January 25, 2022: Press Release GREENE PRISON, THE SITE OF ONE DEATH, HAS THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF COVID CASES IN THE STATE • ADVOCATES CALL FOR CLEMENCY AND PASSAGE OF …
AMID COVID CRISIS AT FISHKILL PRISON, ANOTHER NEW YORKER HAS DIED OF THE VIRUS IN THE FACILITY
January 19, 2022: Press Release CONFIRMED COVID-19 CASES HAVE INCREASED 140% AT THE HUDSON VALLEY PRISON • ADVOCATES CALL FOR CLEMENCY AND PASSAGE OF ELDER PAROLE AND FAIR & TIMELY …
ON MLK DAY, ADVOCATES APPLAUD NYS BLACK, PUERTO RICAN, HISPANIC AND ASIAN LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS FOR INCLUDING PAROLE JUSTICE IN ‘THE PEOPLE’S BUDGET’ PLAN
January 17, 2022: Statement BUDGET PROPOSAL INCLUDES ELDER PAROLE AND FAIR & TIMELY PAROLE BILLS
ADVOCATES RESPOND TO NY STATE COMPTROLLER REPORT FINDING CONTINUING RISE IN THE NUMBER OF OLDER ADULTS IN NY PRISONS AMID CRISIS OF DEATH BEHIND BARS
January 13, 2022: Press Release THE REPORT FOUND A GROWING AGING POPULATION IN PRISON EVEN AS THE OVERALL POPULATION DECLINED
NY LAWMAKERS, FORMER PAROLE BOARD COMMISSIONER, NAACP-NY STATE & NEW YORKERS IMPACTED BY MASS INCARCERATION HOST FIRST MAJOR DAY OF ACTION FOR PAROLE REFORM IN 2022
January 11, 2022: Press Release As Part of a Virtual Advocacy Day with 750 Participants from Across NY State, Speakers Called for Action to Pass the Elder Parole and Fair …
ADVOCATES’ STATEMENT ON FIRST DAY OF 2022 LEGISLATIVE SESSION & GOV. HOCHUL’S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS
January 5, 2022: Press Release Governor Kathy Hochul delivered her first State of the State address and the Legislature began its 2022 session. The Governor’s address includes one of the …
AHEAD OF 2022 LEGISLATIVE SESSION, MANHATTAN & BROOKLYN DISTRICT ATTORNEYS, NY LAWMAKERS & FAMILIES WITH LOVED ONES IN PRISON CALL FOR PAROLE JUSTICE
January 4, 2022: Press Release Amid the Omicron Crisis Behind Bars, Statewide Coalition Held Press Conference Calling for Passage of the Elder Parole and Fair & Timely Parole Bills on …
ON EVE OF 2022 NY STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION & STATE OF STATE ADDRESS, ADVOCATES RESPOND TO ANOTHER INCARCERATED PERSON DYING OF COVID-19
January 3, 2022: Press Release ADVOCATES CALL ON STATE LAWMAKERS TO PASS ELDER PAROLE AND FAIR & TIMELY PAROLE BILLS ON DAY ONE TO ADDRESS COVID-19 SURGE AND PROMOTE JUSTICE
INCARCERATED PERSON AT ATTICA DIES OF COVID-19, ADVOCATES DEMAND NEW YORK LEADERS TAKE ACTION
December 29, 2021: Press Release FIVE INCARCERATED PEOPLE HAVE DIED OF COVID IN NY STATE PRISONS IN DECEMBER AMID OMICRON SURGE
ADVOCATES DECLARE COVID EMERGENCY IN NY STATE PRISONS AFTER ANOTHER DEATH, CALL ON GOV. HOCHUL AND LAWMAKERS TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION
December 21, 2021: Press Release THE NUMBER OF ACTIVE COVID-19 CASES IN NY STATE PRISONS HAS INCREASED 35% SINCE DEC. 10
FOLLOWING COVID DEATH AT CENTRAL NY PRISON, ADVOCATES DEMAND CLEMENCY & PAROLE JUSTICE
December 21, 2021: Press Release THE NUMBER OF ACTIVE COVID-19 CASES IN NY STATE PRISONS HAS INCREASED 33% IN ONE WEEK
AMID COVID SPIKE & FOLLOWING ANOTHER DEATH IN NY WOMEN’S PRISON, ADVOCATES DEMAND CLEMENCY & PAROLE JUSTICE
December 20, 2021: Press Release THE NUMBER OF ACTIVE COVID-19 CASES IN NY STATE PRISONS HAS INCREASED 30% IN ONE WEEK
FAMILIES SEPARATED BY MASS INCARCERATION HOLD RALLY WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS AND FAITH LEADERS AND DELIVER HOLIDAY WISHLIST OF CLEMENCY & PAROLE JUSTICE
December 14, 2021: Press Release SPEAKERS ADDED THE NAMES OF THEIR INCARCERATED LOVED ONES TO OVERSIZE HOLIDAY CARDS BEFORE DELIVERING THEM TO GOV. HOCHUL • SPEAKERS STOOD BEHIND A FULLY …
December 9th, 2021, 12pm • Zoom press conference • New York State Legislators & Advocates to Unveil Justice Agenda for 2022
December 9, 2021: Media Advisory Justice Roadmap 2022 Will Enable Needed Changes to New York’s Criminal Legal and Immigration Systems
ADVOCATES RESPOND TO GOV. HOCHUL’S CEREMONIAL PARDONING OF A TURKEY BEFORE GRANTING CLEMENCY TO A SINGLE INCARCERATED NEW YORKER
November 24, 2021, Press Release THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE LANGUISHING IN NY STATE PRISONS HAVE PENDING CLEMENCY APPLICATIONS
AHEAD OF THE HOLIDAYS, FAMILIES SEPARATED BY MASS INCARCERATION JOIN ELECTED OFFICIALS & FAITH LEADERS TO URGE CLEMENCY & PAROLE JUSTICE
November 23, 2021: Press Release SPEAKERS STAND BEHIND FULLY SET HOLIDAY TABLES WITH EMPTY CHAIRS, SYMBOLIZING MISSING INCARCERATED LOVED ONES RALLIES OCCURRED THE WEEK OF THANKSGIVING, A DAY ORIGINATING WITH …
ADVOCATES HIGHLIGHT STATE’S FAILURES TO PROTECT INCARCERATED OLDER PEOPLE FROM COVID-19 AND OTHER HEALTH CRISES
November 22, 2021 AS NY ASSEMBLY CONSIDERS THE FULL SPECTRUM OF STATE’S PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR OLDER ADULTS AMID THE PANDEMIC, ADVOCATES URGE REFORMS TO END THE CRISIS OF AGING …
FILM EXPOSING INJUSTICE OF PAROLE RELEASE HEARINGS IN NY STATE PREMIERS ONLINE ON THE NEW YORKER’S WEBSITE
November 18, 2021, Press Release THE FILM, WHICH FEATURES RAPP MEMBERS AND FORMER PAROLE COMMISSIONERS WHO EXPOSE THE BOARD’S LAWLESS ADDICTION TO PUNISHMENT, MAKES THE CASE FOR REFORM