Formerly incarcerated individuals rallied outside Governor Kathy Hochul’s Midtown office Monday morning after two more men perished in New York City’s jail system last week.
Hosted by a coalition of advocacy groups including #HALTsolitary Campaign, New York City Jails Action Coalition, and Freedom Agenda, attendees looked to both remember the lives lost and take the Governor to task for allowing Rikers Island to continue under previously-reported deterioration.
Herman Diaz, 52, and George Pagan, 49, both died while in custody on Rikers Island last week, bringing the total number of deaths this year to three, which has sent advocates championing the rights of those behind bars into a rage. The apparent abominable conditions on the inside of Rikers Island have long been decried by those serving time, staff members, and elected officials, and were predicted to lead to more deaths unless significant changes were made.
