The campaign
About Us
A movement that began among men held at Rikers Island in civil proceedings, and the families standing with them.
Free the Rikers 7 is about the story of seven men incarcerated at NYC's Rikers Island Correction Facility who sparked a movement to bring We the People together to bring awareness to the injustice in our justice system. It's about a movement to hold these directly responsible for the custody and care of our rights and freedom accountable when they misconduct themselves in a manner that threatens or destroys the exact rights and freedoms they swore to uphold. Whether you are African, Asian, European, Middle Eastern, Hispanic, or Latino descent, whether young or old, rich or poor, male, female, or any religion, denomination, it is about We the People coming together to protect the rights and liberties of ourselves, our families, and our children. It's about protection. It's about protecting the constitutional, civil, and human rights of every citizen and human being across America. It's about coming together in support with compassion, peace, love, human decency, and justice within a justice system where too many times the unadulterated power of our judges within itself is unjust. It's about our demand to release every man and woman currently imprisoned across the country who has not committed, been charged, or even accused of a crime. It's about our demand to free the Rikers 7 now.
What this campaign does
We publish each man's own account of what happened to him, word for word, with nothing rewritten, shortened or cleaned up. Court records, legal context and verification notes are kept in separate, clearly labeled sections so a reader can always tell who is speaking.
We then ask one question of every agency, court and official involved: produce the record that shows the process required before taking a person's physical liberty actually occurred.
What we are asking for
- The petition and summons in each case
- Proof of service and mailing records
- The transcript or recording of every hearing
- Evidence considered on ability to pay
- Written findings of willfulness
- The record of counsel requested, assigned or waived
- The contempt and commitment orders
- The current authority for each person's confinement
How you can help
Read the files. Sign the petition. Send a sworn statement if you have firsthand knowledge. Share a case page with a journalist, attorney, oversight body or elected official. Write to freetherikers7@gmail.com.
Free the Rikers 7 now.