We honor the memory of
Stephan Khadu, age 24, who died in DOC custody on September 22 after being found unresponsive at VCBC, our City’s floating jail barge.
Isa Abdul Karim, age 42, who died in DOC custody on September 19. Mr. Karim was disabled and contracted COVID-19 after languishing for 10 days at intake on Rikers Island.
Esias Johnson, age 24, who died in DOC custody on September 7th at Rikers Island after DOC staff repeatedly failed to bring him to his court appearances.
Segundo Guallpa, age 58, who died in DOC custody on August 30th. Mr. Guallpa was found unresponsive in the North Infirmary Unit at Rikers Island in an apparent suicide.
Brandon Rodriguez, age 25, who died in DOC custody on August 10. Mr. Rodriguez was found unresponsive in OBCC on Rikers Island in an apparent suicide.
Robert Jackson, age 42, who died in DOC custody on June 30. Mr. Jackson was found dead in his cell on Rikers Island after a guard abandoned his post.
Jose Mejia Martinez, 34, who died in DOC custody on June 10. He was experiencing an obvious medical emergency and asking for help for over an hour, but no help came. His cellmate discovered him dead in his bed.
Richard Blake, age 45, who died in DOC custody on April 30. He had repeatedly told staff he was not feeling well at OBCC on Rikers Island, but help never came.
Thomas Braunson III, age 39, who died in DOC custody on April 19. He was a new father to a 3-month-old baby girl.
Javier Velasco, age 37, who died in DOC custody on March 19. Mr. Velasco was found hanging in his cell after attempting suicide three days earlier.
Tomas Carlo Camacho, age 48, who died in DOC custody on March 2. Mr. Camacho was found unresponsive in a mental health observation unit on Rikers with his head through a cuffing slot on his cell door. He died at the hospital after being granted “compassionate release.”
Wilson Diaz-Guzman, age 30, who died in DOC custody on January 23. He was found hanging from a sprinkler head in his cell.
We honor all who have died before and those who have died after contracting COVID-19 or experiencing trauma in custody who are not included in DOC’s count. We work in service to all of those at risk of the same fate.
Being in custody in a New York City jail puts people at risk of death and serious harm, including subjection to internationally recognized forms of torture.
We demand the release of every person currently in custody.
We demand the release of all who come before the courts of New York City.
Sending a person to any City jail facility is a potential death sentence.
