The Justice Roadmap - a coalition of immigration and criminal justice advocates fighting to reverse the long history of criminalization of Black and Brown New Yorkers held “The People’s Briefing” to report on the pandemic behind bars in New York State. They cited the glaring omission from the Governor’s daily press briefings of updates or action related to New Yorkers incarcerated in jails, prisons, juvenile detention centers, and immigration detention in the state. In addition to providing detailed reports, advocates shared urgentdemands and a petition to Governor Cuomo calling for immediate action to save lives. 

Advocates demanded that Governor Cuomo change his extremely narrow criteria for release in order to reduce the number of New Yorkers behind bars immediately. Advocates also demanded that incarcerated people be paid minimum wage for all labor including the production of hand sanitizer for the state, that solitary confinement be ended, and that phone calls and emails be fully available to all people incarcerated and free of charge so people can be in touch with their loved ones.