Press Statements

For Immediate Release April 2, 2021 NYS Senate and Assembly Cave to Cuomo on Down Payment to End Homelessness and Overdose in Budget Negotiations New Yorkers Homeless and Struggling with Drug Use Highlight Their Decade Long Fight for Tax Increases in Solidarity with the Needs of All of New York, Only to be Left Out […]

For Immediate Release April 1, 2021 Contact: Nick Encalada-Malinowski / nick@vocal-ny.org or 347-259-4835 VOCAL-NY Applauds NYS Legislature for Passage of the #HALTsolitary Confinement Act — Slams Governor Cuomo for Years of Opposition Today NYS has finally ended a globally recognized human rights abuse, but thousands were forced to suffer as the Governor refused to support

For immediate release March 31, 2021 Contact: Jawanza Williams, jawanza@vocal-ny.org, 917-488-4961 ‘No Thanks to Cuomo’ #Marijuanajustice Becomes Legal in New York After Decades-long Fight by Activists and Community Leaders Gov. Cuomo Signed the Legislation Wednesday Morning, in an Attempt to Distract From Personal Scandals and Calls for Resignation Activists Rallied Outside the Capitol Building Wednesday

For immediate release February 9, 2021 Contact: Nick Encalada-Malinowski / nick@vocal-ny.org or 347-259-4835 VOCAL-NY Civil Rights Union Launches 2021 Legislative Campaign Platform to Push New York State Legislature To Acknowledge the Humanity of Incarcerated People & Enact Immediate Reforms  NEW YORK — Today the VOCAL-NY Civil Rights Union launched our legislative platform for 2021, which

For Immediate Release January 8, 2021 Contact: Nick Encalada-Malinowski 347-259-4835 / nick@vocal-ny.org Democracy Reform in New York State Incomplete Without Addressing Felony Disenfranchisement              Albany, NY – Today, the New York State Senate will meet for the first Elections Committee agenda of the new legislative session. The agenda includes legislative

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:  Tatiana Hill 330-333-9964 / tatiana@vocal-ny.org Nick Encalada-Malinowski 347.259.4835 / nick@vocal-ny.org VOCAL-NY Slams NYPD “Community Panels”, Demands Independent Process New York City (November 23, 2020) – In response to NYPD’s “Community Panels” related to police reform, VOCAL-NY released the following statement, attributable to the leaders of of VOCAL-NY’s Civil Rights Union “Last month

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jawanza Williams, 917-488-4961, jawanza@vocal-ny.org    Mayor de Blasio and City Council Pass Budget to Maintain Police Power Over Black and Brown Communities In the Face of Mass Social Uprising, Leaders Fail to Defund Police and Deliver Investments to Communities   New York City (June 30, 2020) – In response to the

For Immediate Release June 28,  2020 Contact: Jawanza Williams 917-488-4961 / jawanza@vocal-ny.org  VOCAL-NY Slams Reported Budget Deal of Cost Shifting & Manipulation of Defund NYPD Demand  Calls Budget Proposal a Stark Betrayal and Demands Council Members Turn it Down New York, NY — The proposed budget deal between Mayor Bill de Blasio & Speaker Corey

For Immediate Release | May 28, 2015 Contacts: Jason Walker, Jason@vocal-ny.org, 917-200-1153, or Jennifer Flynn, Jennifer@vocal-ny.org, 917-517-5202 All HIV+ New Yorkers should be able to access housing and welfare benefits to support long-term health New York, NY: Dozens of people living with HIV/AIDS and HIV service providers will descend upon New York’s City Hall with 3 demands of City

Vigil at One Police Plaza Held to Remember Friends and Family Members Lost to Overdose and Encourage NYPD to Join Overdose Prevention Efforts **Photos available at (http://www.flickr.com/photos/vocal-ny/sets/72157631340332490/with/7901612448/)** NEW YORK, NY – VOCAL-NY invited elected officials, family and friends of overdose victims, harm reduction specialists and treatment providers to participate in the 12th annual International Overdose