On Friday (March 31), New York Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Twitter that his administration is taking steps to close the infamous Rikers Island prison facility. De Blasio drew praise for his actions from Jay Z and John Legend, keeping in line with a growing sentiment against mass incarceration.
Mayor de Blasio is working in conjunction with Speaker of the City Council Melissa Mark-Viverito in closing Rikers, which will happen over time according to a media announcement.
Jay Z published a rare tweet in support of the move, referencing Kalief Browder, the troubled young man who was imprisoned in Rikers. Browder spent three years on the island and took his own life once he was released. Browder was the subject of the Time: The Kalief Browder Storydocumentary with Jay Z serving as a co-executive producer.
Kalief is a prophet. His story will save lives . You guys watching and your compassion made this happen. Thank you . pic.twitter.com/Vvnt9tDBeR
— Mr. Carter (@S_C_) March 31, 2017
John Legend followed with a pair of tweets and has long been a vocal critic of prison overpopulation.
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“Thanks to @NYCMayor, @NYCCouncil, Judge Lippman, @CloseRikers & @glennEmartin for your commitment to end #massincarceration,” Legend wrote in the tweets. “In closing Rikers, New York City takes a crucial step towards ending #massincarceration. Now the hard work begins.”
Others that have spent time behind bars at Rikers Island include Tupac and Bobby Shmurda.
The tweets from Mayor Bill de Blasio and John Legend can be viewed below.
Rikers Island is an expression of a national problem. The mass incarceration era did not begin in New York City but it’s going to end here.
— Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) March 31, 2017
Thanks to @NYCMayor, @NYCCouncil, Judge Lippman, @CloseRikers & @glennEmartin for your commitment to end #massincarceration. https://t.co/13T4aFlaVR
— John Legend (@johnlegend) March 31, 2017
In closing Rikers, New York City takes a crucial step towards ending #massincarceration. Now the hard work begins.
— John Legend (@johnlegend) March 31, 2017
