On Monday, civil rights activist Al Sharpton called on black lawmakers to implement new measures to combat recidivist lawbreakers and help district attorneys prosecute crime. The call to action was in response to a recent Siena College poll that found that 93% of New York residents consider crime a serious problem in the state.
According to the New York Post, Sharpton met with New York’s top African-American elected officials, including Mayor Eric Adams, to discuss public safety and criminal justice issues. He highlighted his previous complaints about brazen thefts in retail stores and stated that he supported the foundation of the controversial cashless bail law that releases most defendants accused of misdemeanor and non-felony crimes.
However, he also said the law needs changes to bolster public safety. He explained, “Let me be clear that we’re not retreating from the hard-fought reforms that ended the jailing of men of color on Rikers simply for the crime of being too poor. But there are tweaks that can turn these good reforms into great ones by addressing issues like recidivism, giving our District Attorneys the right tools, and helping the thousands of mentally ill New Yorkers forced out onto the streets.”
Sharpton and Adams agreed that repeat offenders or career criminals must be kept off the streets to improve communities. Sharpton, who has long protested against police brutality, seeks to find a middle ground to combating crime while protecting civil rights. He opposes the defund the police movement, saying it is being pushed by “latte liberals.” He also noted that he would not sit back and allow “Albany Republicans” to “demonize” black leaders trying to find common ground on public safety and criminal justice.
