Not much has changed since the federal government declared that a “deep-seated culture of violence” prevailed on Rikers Island. While Mayor Bill de Blasio and his Correction Department Commissioner Joseph Ponte have pledged reform, hundreds of people marched to the foot of the Rikers Island bridge on Saturday to demand a shut down of the jail.
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Athena Soules, from Brooklyn, far left, holding the sign she made: "A just cause that is related to so many other fights for justice. Rikers Island is ridiculous."
Regina Clemons, of Brooklyn: "There's a bunch of reasons to close Rikers. The fact that 79% of the people on Rikers are there simply because they can't afford bail is one of them."
Havly Rodriguez, Erika Gonzalez, Maliha Gul, Kristin Williams and Joyce Wong, from the Bronx.
Kayla Simpson, from Brooklyn: "There are so many things, so many causes, so many people we should be investing in ... money that we use to put people in cages."