Dan, a member of Katal, understands the challenges of being on parole & having your basic liberties stripped away. Thanks to the #LessIsMoreNY Act, Dan was granted early release from parole. This allowed him to move forward! Read more stories below 👇 lessismoreny.org/stories/

Eid Mubarak to all our Muslim friends!

Queer people are not yet afforded the same acceptance as cis & hetero people, and beyond that, their lives are at the mercy of the law and in danger of incarceration for simply existing. Pride extends beyond June and will continue until there is truly no threat of harm.

JULY 20: Join us for the launch of MEND, a new publication celebrating the creative work of justice-impacted people. Celebrate with us from 12 to 1:30pm in the Community Room at the Syracuse Central Library, or tune in via Zoom: buff.ly/44rgk1O

We asked our currently incarcerated members to talk about the differences between how prison is shown on TV & movies and how it actually is. James, one of our members, talked about the aspects of prison life that simply cannot be acted out on-screen. #PicturingPrison

We're excited to be part of Project MEND, which features works from our incarcerated members and two of our formerly incarcerated members as editors of the journal! Join us at the launch party on Thursday to celebrate their art!

Thank you to everyone who came to support the launch of Project MEND! Our members Brian and Troy (pictured) served as editors for the journal, which features a submission from one of our currently incarcerated members, Michael. ▶️ Read it here: surface.syr.edu/mend

We're hiring a full-time Community Organizer! Check out the details here: weareunchained.org/jobs

This Black August, we celebrate the lives and work of Black liberation activists through their written contributions. George Jackson's collection of letters on radical political philosophy and prison organizing is among the first of its kind and remains a core reading today.

Timothy, one of Unchained's currently incarcerated members, describes the difference between Law & Order and what he actually experienced over the course of his case. This small tidbit alone shows how mechanical and impersonal the court can be at the expense of justice.

Assata Shakur's autobiography is an essential read for anyone interested in Black Liberation and prison abolition. Her experiences underscore the oppressive nature of our criminal legal system and the power of collective collaboration. #BlackAugustBooks #BlackAugust

Mumia Abu-Jamal, who continues to spend life in prison though no longer on death row, dives into the ways prison doesn't act as a means of "correction" and instead does lasting social, educational, and psychological damage on incarcerated individuals.

Robert, an incarcerated member of Unchained, discusses the positive impact movies like Just Mercy can have on incarcerated individuals and urges that people impacted by incarceration should prioritize education in order to advocate on their own behalf. #PicturingPrison

Elaine Brown's memoir provides an inside look at her experience with Black Power, feminism, and how she found herself leading the Black Panther Party from 1974-1977 despite many who detested the idea of a woman leading the Party.

Tom Wicker, a reporter and columnist for the New York Times, was among the few observers summoned by the prison activists to mediate the uprising and aftermath. In his book, Wicker details his experiences being confronted by the racist and abusive realities of the prison system.

Amy Jacques Garvey, a pioneering Black journalist and wife of Marcus Garvey, led the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) founded by Marcus while he was incarcerated and continued promoting Garveyism, Black liberation, and Black Nationalism after his death.

As #BlackAugust comes to a close, we turn to bell hooks' exploration of love with regard to Black history and culture. Collective liberation must be rooted in love for one's community and for oneself, as love is the foundation of solidarity and justice. #BlackAugustBooks

Great piece from Vincent Schiraldi on City & State NY this morning about #LessIsMoreNY and what research tells us about the (lack of) effectiveness of probation and parole. cityandstateny.com/opinion/2023/0…

TODAY, 11A ET: Join our webinar to learn more about how impacted communities want savings from the Less Is More New York parole reform to be spent. Phara Souffrant Forrest A Little Piece Of Light Katal Center for Equity, Health, & Justice The Legal Aid Society Columbia Justice Lab MoreJustNYC Julia Salazar (@juliasalazar on bluesky) Register here: columbiauniversity.zoom.us/webinar/regist…

The assault wasn't reported for several days after it occurred. The Sheriff's Office neglects to acknowledge is the commonality of these events and how often violence against incarcerated people is overlooked or swept under the rug.