In the years since the 2020 global uprising for Black liberation, it should be unthinkable that an American city would use public funds to build the world's largest jail. But look no further than New York City.
The world’s largest jail, known as “the Jailscraper,” is being built in New York City's Chinatown, and is one of four new jails expected to replace Rikers Island.
Expected to be a third of the height of the Empire State Building, New York City’s new mega jail is being built near the Chung Pak low-income senior residence. Activists believe the construction will have harmful environmental impacts on Chinatown's largely immigrant and working-class population, where more than a quarter of residents live in poverty.
Sign the petition: Stop the construction of the world's largest jail!
Riker’s Island has an extensive history of human rights abuses. In 2022 alone, 18 people died, and the facility has faced intense scrutiny after viral images depicted incarcerated people sitting in their own feces for hours at a time. Activists and community members argue those same practices will be carried over to the new facility.
As Democracy Now’s Amy Goodman reported on Dec. 5, it’s not just a problem of past leaders, but of current ones.
Unfortunately, Mayor Adams instead supported the jail plan he inherited when he took office, despite previous public commitment to ending it.
Daily Kos is joining residents and advocates of Chinatown, and other proponents fighting against the Jailscraper, to demand that no new jails be built in New York City.
We acknowledge that jails are inherently anti-Black and promote violence against the LGBTQ+ community, women, immigrants, and low-income people. We call on New York City Mayor Eric Adams to stop the institutionalizing of hate in government and instead invest in harm reduction, violence prevention programs, community care, and crisis management.
Join us in our fight to end the construction of new jails by signing the petition calling on New York City to invest in people first.
The world’s largest jail, known as “the Jailscraper,” is being built in New York City's Chinatown, and is one of four new jails expected to replace Rikers Island.
Expected to be a third of the height of the Empire State Building, New York City’s new mega jail is being built near the Chung Pak low-income senior residence. Activists believe the construction will have harmful environmental impacts on Chinatown's largely immigrant and working-class population, where more than a quarter of residents live in poverty.
Sign the petition: Stop the construction of the world's largest jail!
Riker’s Island has an extensive history of human rights abuses. In 2022 alone, 18 people died, and the facility has faced intense scrutiny after viral images depicted incarcerated people sitting in their own feces for hours at a time. Activists and community members argue those same practices will be carried over to the new facility.
As Democracy Now’s Amy Goodman reported on Dec. 5, it’s not just a problem of past leaders, but of current ones.
Unfortunately, Mayor Adams instead supported the jail plan he inherited when he took office, despite previous public commitment to ending it.
Daily Kos is joining residents and advocates of Chinatown, and other proponents fighting against the Jailscraper, to demand that no new jails be built in New York City.
We acknowledge that jails are inherently anti-Black and promote violence against the LGBTQ+ community, women, immigrants, and low-income people. We call on New York City Mayor Eric Adams to stop the institutionalizing of hate in government and instead invest in harm reduction, violence prevention programs, community care, and crisis management.
Join us in our fight to end the construction of new jails by signing the petition calling on New York City to invest in people first.