By Nelson A. King
Public Advocate Jumaane Williams
on Tuesday called on Mayor
Bill de Blasio and Gov. Kathy
Hochul to visit Rikers Island Correctional
Facility immediately,
urging them to address “crisis
conditions” there.
“Rikers is an emergency environment,
one in which the humanity
and health of everyone inside are
being disregarded,” said Williams.
“I was shaken during yesterday’s
tour, and I am scared for the wellbeing
of everyone who lives or
works on Rikers.
“Corrections staff and incarcerated
people alike are in constant,
imminent danger,” he added. “It
is a humanitarian crisis rapidly
descending toward even greater
disaster.
“I implore the mayor and the
governor to go to Rikers today,
immediately,” Williams continued.
“See what I saw, hear what
I heard, and you will know the
moral, human obligation using
every tool available to provide disaster
relief. It will not be easy – but
any hesitation by leadership to act
now amounts to responsibility for
the consequences of inaction.”
The public advocate also urged
Hochul to sign the Less is More
Act, and put it into effect immediately.
On the city level, he said lowlevel
offenders should be granted
supervised release, adding that
early and compassionate release
options should be exercised, and
that technical parole violations
should not be grounds for incarceration.
He also said court proceedings
must be accelerated, and alternatives
to incarceration should be
the priority.
In addition, Williams said the
Department of Correction must
engage in stabilization efforts “to
show staff the city is invested in
their safety and security. Staff
must return to work.
“The warnings were repeated
for a long time, and they were
downplayed or ignored,” Williams
claimed. “Now, we must simultaneously
move to get more staff
back onto the island and more
incarcerated people off of it.”
Sen. Roxanne J. Persaud and emcee Kamla Millwood, behind podium, surrounded by clergy, Lion Club members
and others at a 9/11-20 Years Remembrance which she hosted in Canarsie Park, Brooklyn. Photo by Tangerine Clarke
Caribbean Life, SEPTEMBER 17-23, 2021 3
Sen. Persaud in partnership
hosts first 9/11 remembrance
By Tangerine Clarke
An outpouring of tributes from elected
officials on Saturday, Sept. 11 commemorated
the loss of 2,977 people from
around the world, including the Caribbean,
who died in the terrorist attacks
20 years ago at the World Trade Center.
New York State Senator, Roxanne J.
Persaud, of the 19th Senatorial District,
hosted a 9/11 – 20 Years Remembrance
event in Canarsie Park, Brooklyn, in
partnership, with Assembly Members
Nick Perry and Jamie Williams, District
Leader Frank Seddio, Council Member
Alan Maisel, and Community Leaders
SueAnn Partnow and Melba Brown.
Sen. Persaud recalled the horrors
of 9/11 in being on lockdown for many
hours at her then office at 1 Police Plaza,
and walking across the Brooklyn Bridge
covered in soot, with thousands of people
before finding refuge at the Marriot
Hotel.
She said Sept. 11 is also the day of her
mother’s birthday, as she mourns the
loss of a friend, and sympathize with a
relative who lost a child.
“For many of us there are lots to
remember other than the towers coming
down, and the lives that were lost,”
said Sen. Persaud whose cousin’s flight
to the US had to be diverted to Puerto
Rico.
She extended condolences to immediate
past president of WIADCA, Jean
Joseph, whose nephew Fitzroy St. Rose
perished in the attacks, and read the
names of nationals submitted by the
Guyana Cultural Association NY Inc.
before thanking her staff, all the organizations,
elected officials, and the community,
for participating in the day of
remembrance.
“We are here on this solemn day to
remember what happened 20 years ago
at the World Trade. There was agony and
tears. Families lost their loved ones,”
said Assembly Member Nick Perry.
“The whole world was attacked in
that event, even though it happened
on American soil. It was an attack on
our freedom and democracy, an attack
on the liberties that we enjoy here in
the United States of America, and we
endeavor as Americans to spread as the
message for the world of how people
should live with opportunities to develop
and enjoy life, with equal treatment for
all, not withstanding the color of your
skin, or the texture of your hair,” said
Perry.
“We have to reflect on the good that
came out of that devastating attack on
our freedom. America pulled together
on that day and for a long time thereafter.
It showed our resilience, and the
people that we are, and should always
endeavor to be, caring for each other,
looking out for each other, grieving with
each other with you’ve lost loved ones,
living as a country looking out for each
other, and banding together as a county,
as neighbors, as a village that cares for
everyone.”
“Sept. 11 brought out the best in us.
It was the worse of times, but America
was together that day. We don’t have
that now we are broken up into sections
of interest that is very concerning to
me, and I am sure to a lot of your here,”
stated Perry.
He called for communities to get back
into the spirit of togetherness, and not
be blue or red, black or white, but to be
Americans, loving each other and caring
for each, and most of all, looking out for
“our country.”
“I urge you, as we reflect on the tragedy
of Sept. 11, to remember the good
we get for looking out for each other. My
condolences to all who lost loved ones.
We pray for those families who lost loved
ones, and thank, bless, and praise our
heroes, those who survived and those
who died,” he said, and called on God to
bless America.
Assembly Member Jamie Williams
showed emotion as she remembered
families left behind, noting the sacrifices
that had to be made, children left
without fathers.
“No one should have to be going
through this. Where there is despair
there is hope,” she said. Williams called
for continued support and resources to
be offered to families, before reading
prayers from Saint Francis of Assisi.
Frank Seddio, who carried the Stars
and Stripes, said the flag has stood
behind him every time he remembered
victims lost.
Chaplain Faith Williams, 69the Pct.
Clergy Council performs a Praise
Dance “You Are My Strength.” Photo
by Tangerine Clarke
Williams
urges mayor,
governor to
visit Rikers
immediately