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Prison Reform Advocates Gather to Protest at the Justice Center

Lileana Pearson / WAER News

Several local groups gathered this past Saturday to discuss reforming the justice system in New York State. There was an emphasis on helping women, the elderly, and ending solitary confinement for inmates. Clifford Ryan told his story of how he is hoping to free his relative from solitary.

“He’s been held in solitary confinement for a really, really long time, almost over 8 months, and it serves no purpose but to drive that person insane.”

Ryan said solitary hurts the people outside of jails and prisons, but the main concern is for those on the inside and how solitary could affect them long term.

“We’re concerned of what it could do to continue to deteriorate him mentally. We have concerns, and we want to make sure that he’s not being held in solitary confinement for all that time unjustly.”

He stated that he couldn’t stand being silent and is now pushing local and state law makers for change in the justice system.

Credit Lileana Pearson / WAER News
Many protesters advocated for different reasons, ranging from parole reform to better resources for sexual assault victims in prison.

“The people have to be a voice, and they have to take in consideration that some of those laws don’t reflect justice for people of color, and some of those laws don’t reflect justice as it is today. New York State’s law makers must come to the table and listen to the people.  

Director of the local New York Civil Liberties Union chapter Yusef Abdul-Qadir said a major goal is to pass the Halt Act, which would end solitary confinement for everyone in New York State.

“In this facility, organizers and advocates and NYCLU got together and were able to have a successful lawsuit against the justice center which ended solitary for 16- and 17-year-olds. It was the first federal lawsuit in the country’s history that determined solitary to be cruel and unusual punishment.  I mention this because that’s really important and significant work.  There’s still so much work we’ve got to do.

Along with the Halt Act, Abdul-Qadir and others want make sure victims of sexual abuse have the resources they need. They also want to reform parole, advocating for the release of incarcerated elders and an improved parole process for them.

Dave George from the Release Aging People in Prison campaign and other protesters emphasized their efforts to bring to the public’s attention the amount of injustice that is in the Central New York prison system. George additionally brought to attention racism in the justice system as another problem that needs to be addressed, while stressing the importance of standing in solidarity with those incarcerated.