From Inquest:
On a rainy Monday morning in April, a group of umbrella-wielding protesters took cover underneath some scaffolding in Midtown Manhattan, just blocks away from New York governor Kathy Hochul’s New York City office. The protesters carried signs displaying the faces of loved ones who have been incarcerated for decades. “Hochul bring them home,” read the words underneath.
Stanley Bellamy, a tall, slim community organizer wearing a black kufi and a thick gold ankh around his neck, addressed the huddle, thanking them for coming out in the cold and the rain. “We left our brothers and sisters inside. She has the executive power” to release them, he said, gesturing toward the governor’s office. Cheers erupted.
The rally, organized by Release Aging People in Prison, brought together activists, abolitionists, and allies who want their elderly relatives and friends in prison released. The crowd had gathered to urge Hochul to use her power to pardon and commute prison sentences. Continue reading >>>
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