Tomorrow: Russell Simmons, Hundreds of New Yorkers to Rally at Gov’s Office to End Rockefeller Drug Laws

On Wednesday, hundreds of people — including Russell Simmons, Meile Rockefeller, the families of those in prison for drug offenses, people who were formerly incarcerated, doctors, lawyers and advocates — will rally at Governor Paterson’s Manhattan office to urge him and legislative leaders to end the Rockefeller Drug Laws.

The Rockefeller Drug Laws mandate extremely harsh sentences for sale or possession of small amounts of drugs. Most of the thousands of people incarcerated under Rockefeller are low-level drug offenders, and most come from just a handful of low-income New York City neighborhoods. Ninety percent are black or Latino even though most people who use and sell drugs are white.

In 2002, Paterson, then a state senator, was arrested in an act of civil disobedience promoting a proposed overhaul of the Rockefeller Drug Laws outside of the New York City offices of then-Governor George Pataki. Now hundreds of people will gather outside his office to demand an end to the outdated, discriminatory laws.

What:
Rally to end New York’s Rockefeller Drug Laws

When:
Wednesday, March 25, 1 p.m.

Where:
Governor Paterson’s office, 633 3rd Ave., between 40th and 41st

Who:
Russell Simmons
Meile Rockefeller, Nelson Rockefeller’s granddaughter
Drop the Rock
New York Civil Liberties Union
Correctional Association of New York
Drug Policy Alliance
The Fortune Society
Exponents
Mothers of the Disappeared
Center for Community Alternatives
Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Providers (ASAP)
The Bronx Defenders
Women’s Prison Association
Families Rally for Emancipation and Empowerment (FREE)
JusticeWorks Community