LVN Community Conversation 4

Jenny Goldberg, Yonette Grogan, James Young III, and Mr. G discuss correctional officers that harass visitors, outrage turned action, and meaningful systemic change at Rikers. The conversation is facilitated by Tamika Graham, who has also contributed to the Rikers Public Memory Project Oral History Program.

Originally from Miami, Jenny Goldberg now lives in Brooklyn. An active oral history interviewer with the Rikers Public Memory Project, she has friends who have spent time at Rikers. In addition to her work with RPMP, Goldberg has done volunteer work with people serving long sentences in state prison. As someone trained in mental health and social work, she has observed the intense trauma that courses through people's stories about Rikers. "I'm always struck by how vivid [their] memories of Rikers are, even after doing 20 years upstate," she says. She is focused on moving people in her social circle beyond outrage and toward action, supporting the community organizing work of directly impacted people. (Summary written by: Annie Anderson)

While Yonette Grogan was visiting her daughter's father at Rikers, she was sexually harrassed by a male officer. A month later, during another visit, the same officer sexually assaulted her and then pushed her and her young daughter, who was with her. She believes she was targeted for choosing not to flirt or become friendly with the officers, which many female visitors do in order to gain special visitation privileges. Grogan has since filed a lawsuit against Rikers. (Summary written by: Annie Anderson)

James Young III is from the Bronx. He served time at Rikers from the age of 14 to 17. He felt like he had been kidnapped from his family and from society. While adult violence against young people in a school, home, or hospital setting would be called child abuse, at Rikers it was routine. When Young was 15, correctional officers broke several of his ribs and then left him in solitary confinement for 250 days. Young started an organization in the Bronx that educates and engages young teenagers. "Because I was once a lost soul," he says, "I'm trying to give back that value to them souls that's lost right now that don't even know they lost." Young discusses the importance of restorative justice and trauma intervention and awareness programs. (Summary written by: Annie Anderson)

Mr. G worked as a volunteer teacher at Rikers Island, leading debate classes. One night, he and everyone else at Rikers was locked down after an escape attempt. After being stuck on the island for five or so hours, he reflected on his status as a "free person." The experience shifted his perspective on captivity and made him wish that policymakers "got at least a sense of what it's like to feel on the other side before they make their decisions about how to manage our justice system and how to deal with incarceration." In this interview, he asks: "Who holds the power? Who is the district attorney? Who writes the laws? Who allocates funds?" He believes that meaningful systemic change is possible through electoral politics and grassroots organizing. He thinks Rikers should be remembered as "a collective social and moral failure." (Summary written by: Annie Anderson)