Rikers Must Close

6 Items | Curated by Rikers Public Memory Project Archive

Narrators responses to “why Rikers must close?” and “why Rikers should be remembered?”

DeWayne John Roe was incarcerated at Rikers several times, including an 18-month stint. We captured his story as part of our oral history program. He discusses the importance of closing Rikers and reinvesting in communities, detailing the excessive financial costs of keeping the jail complex open.…
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Listen to Edwin's story here. Edwin Santana experienced Rikers as a teenager and as an adult. We captured his story as part of our oral history program. He discusses his activism in the campaign to close Rikers, noting "Close Rikers is not a statement. It's a conversation, a conversation that…
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Born and raised in the Bronx, Victoria Bell is a justice advocate who now lives in Harlem. We captured her story as part of our oral history program. She discusses her experience as a trans woman at Rikers Island, describing the humiliation and abuse she endured. (video made with…
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Summary: Natasha White first arrived at Rikers at the age of 16 and cycled in and out numerous times. We captured her story as part of our oral history program. Natasha discusses the campaign to close Rikers and how her advocacy work helped restore her self-confidence. She describes Rikers as…
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Carole Eady-Porcher served several terms at Rikers Island, including one when she was homeless and pregnant. She is now an activist working to close Rikers. We captured her story as part of our oral history program. She talks about what trauma-informed care could look like for people caught in…
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Carole Eady-Porcher served several terms at Rikers, and she gave birth while detained there. Her story is part of our oral history collection. She is now an activist working to close Rikers, which she thinks should be remembered as a violent, traumatizing place (part 2 of 2) (video made with…
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