Hundreds March to Demand Shut Down of Rikers Island

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."

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.

Photos by JB Nicholas for the Village Voice