UAW Region 9A Opposes Proposed Bail Reform Rollbacks
The United Auto Workers (UAW), Region 9A represents more than 37,000 workers all across New York State in numerous sectors. Not only does our union exist to empower workers, but the UAW has been active in elevating the civil rights and liberties of all Americans.
The UAW has proudly advocated for women’s rights, the late UAW President Walter Reuther fought alongside Dr. Martin Luther King for civil rights, and the UAW actively fights for our queer and trans siblings. Naturally, our region stood in solidarity with the legislators and advocates who fought to pass the historic bail reform legislation in last year’s budget. We urge the legislature and Governor Cuomo not to roll back bail reform in this year’s budget.
Prior to January 1, 2020, New York’s bail laws upheld one of the most pernicious vestiges of Jim Crow. Human beings who were presumed innocent were caged simply because they did not have the means to pay for their freedom. This needlessly plucked thousands of workers, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, and cousins out of their communities. The overwhelming majority were black and brown humans, and low-income individuals. Those targeted lost their jobs and were often rendered homeless. Children were torn away from their families. Young people with limitless potential like Kalief Browder and Layleen Polanco Xtravaganza lost their lives.
The bail reforms passed at the end of last session went a long way to correct these injustices, and the reforms are among the most significant civil rights victories in New York’s history. However, these laws did not make New York a national leader, they simply brought New York in line with the numerous other states who reformed their bail laws long ago. New York was sadly lagging in providing the basic human right of liberty based solely on an individual’s means.
It is shameful and offensive that our elected officials are trying to roll back these reforms during a global pandemic. The infection rate on Rikers Island is currently the highest in the world. While the Board of Corrections, public health experts, and Correctional Health Services are calling for significantly decreasing the population at Rikers, rolling back bail reform would only operate to fill our local jails. It is insulting that many of our elected leaders are considering rolling back bail reform with new provisions of law that the public has never seen, when advocates and directly impacted community members are not in Albany to comment.
Criminal legal system reform is a civil rights issue. Leaders that consider themselves progressive must fight for the most marginalized New Yorkers who are impacted by regressive bail laws. We demand nothing less.