FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 23, 2019
Contact: Melissa Mansfield (mmansfield@skdknick.com)
STATEMENT FROM NEW YORKERS UNITED FOR JUSTICE WELCOMING JAY-Z, VAN JONES & MEEK MILL’S REFORM ALLIANCE TO THE NY CRIMINAL JUSTICE SPACE
Khalil A. Cumberbatch and Topeka K. Sam Are Co-Founders of Just-Launched Statewide Criminal Justice Reform Campaign
** KHALIL AND TOPEKA AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS TODAY**
“We are thrilled today to welcome our good friends and collaborators Van Jones, Meek Mill and Jay-Z to the space. For too long, New York State has been far behind and held back by an outdated, flawed criminal justice system that preys on the poor and communities of color from Brooklyn to Buffalo.
“We launched New Yorkers United for Justice, a statewide coalition pushing critical reforms statewide and look forward to standing with REFORM ALLIANCE and scores of activists and advocates to push the legislature and the governor to adopt the strongest pretrial reform package possible, including bail reform; right to a speedy trial; reforming asset forfeiture and reforming a parole system that we as formerly incarcerated New Yorkers know firsthand stifles the reentry process. We also hope they’ll join us in pushing for expungement of marijuana sentences and further action on clemencies. The time is now.”
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