Thank you all for a wonderful 2018 convergence:Photos from this years 2018 Social Justice Forum courtesy of Andrew Courtney Nada Khader
The Social Justice Forum is this Sunday April 22nd at the Pace Law School!! Here is video footage from the 2017 social forum: we hope you are excited and inspired by last year to make it even better this year! Spread the word and check out the Facebook event: www.facebook.com/events/826655807515066/ It’s going to be sunny and 60 degrees, so get ready for a wonderful day! #socialjustice #communitybuilding #solidarity
MEMO OF SUPPORT FOR S.4784A/A.3080B
April 17th, 2018
Dear Senator Flanagan, Senator Stewart-Cousins, Senator Klein, and all New York Senators, as well as Speaker Heastie and all New York Assembly Members:
WESPAC is writing to urge the New York Senate and the New York Assembly to pass the HALT Solitary Confinement Act, S.4784A/A.3080B, immediately. WESPAC recently invited Cynthia Williams to speak to our membership about solitary confinement. As an educational non-profit, we support the United Nations definition of solitary confinement as a form of torture.
The Humane Alternatives to Long Term (HALT) Solitary Confinement Act, S.4784A/A.3080B, is a critical bill to remedy the harm of solitary confinement. It would end the torture of solitary confinement for all people in New York prisons and jails, and create more humane and effective alternatives.
Solitary confinement is torture. Thousands of people, disproportionately Black and Latinx people, remain in solitary in New York each day: 22 to 24 hours a day in a cell without any meaningful human contact or programs. People continue to spend months, years, and decades in solitary (including upwards of 30+ years) in New York. These conditions cause devastating physical, mental, and behavioral impacts. The entire United Nations, including the US, passed rules prohibiting solitary beyond 15 days for any person, because it otherwise would amount to torture.
While Governor Cuomo has touted reforms to solitary, New York still has a higher percentage of people in solitary (5.8%) than the national average (4.4%) and much higher than states that have significantly limited solitary (less than 1% to 2%). HALT is the only legislation in NY that would address this problem, place total time limits on solitary, and end the torture of solitary for all people.
Sincerely,
Nada Khader. WESPAC Foundation Director
Executive Director
WESPAC Foundation
Cynthia Williams at WESPAC speaking about the urgent need to end solitary confinement in New York State:
