I knew that our community needed a very clear voice. and I think we deserved representation that rejected lobbyist funds and put our voters and our community first.
Alexandria Ocasio-CortezRead
In terms of closing Rikers, we have to close Rikers, but we have to ensure that we're not just taking - that we're not continuing to incarcerate the same level of people. It doesn't do us much good if we close Rikers and then take that same amount of people and just distribute them to be incarcerated elsewhere.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the need for genuine reform in the justice system rather than merely relocating incarcerated individuals.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez speaks to the importance of closing Rikers Island, a notorious jail known for its harsh conditions, while highlighting that merely shifting incarcerated individuals to different facilities does not achieve the goal of true systemic change. The essence of her statement is that social progress must involve reducing incarceration rates and addressing underlying issues in the criminal justice system, rather than just moving prisoners around.
Themes
JusticeReformIncarcerationSystemic ChangeRikers
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used during a discussion about prison reform at a community meeting.
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