Mary Yehudah (Facebook)

The #BEYONDRosies campaign extends its deepest condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of Mary Yehudah, the fifth person and the first woman to die at Rikers Island this year. 

This tragedy is both heartbreaking and infuriating. No one belongs at Rikers, especially women and gender-expansive individuals when there is a clear and viable alternative that would end the decades of torture and suffering. Governor Hochul and Mayor Adams must act quickly to transform the dormant Lincoln Correctional site at West 110th Street into a first-of-its-kind trauma and healing justice center for women. This new center can and must replace the Rose M. Singer facility at Rikers, which currently houses women and gender-expansive individuals. 

We need our leaders to step up and do what’s right for the women and gender-expansive individuals at Rikers. Sadly, it is too late for Ms. Yehudah. But they must act before tragedy strikes again.

— Rev. Sharon White-Harrigan 

 Add your name to protect women at Rikers today.