Charged podcast episode on parole violation and Rikers

Earlier this week my wife told me I should start listening to Emily Bazelon's currently-running Charged podcast, particularly Episode 5. I just listened to it, and I now see why my wife recommended it - Bazelon tells the story of one of her experts, Cadeem Gibbs, being jailed for parole violation after his last meeting with his parole officer in real time while they were making the podcast, and his journey that almost exactly replicates Antonio Battle's - same unofficial courtroom at Rikers in the same unofficial holding facility with the same crowd of elderly, mentally ill, and/or recovering men confused as to how they even ended up back there, same bureaucratic missteps and blunders, same complete and unashamed lack of accountability for those missteps.

I highly recommend giving it a listen, and thinking on the hundreds, perhaps even thousands of innocent people, almost all of color, who have been dragged back to Rikers Island without ever committing a crime. Read or reread the Gothamist piece I sent a couple weeks ago that documents the administrative decisions that led to this injustice. And remember MLK's oft-quoted words:

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly."

Re/Creation is now running a fundraiser from July 12-31 with limited edition t-shirts and coffee mugs featuring Antonio Battle’s work. Please considering buying one (or more!). All funds will go to Antonio as he continues to struggle and strive in his work and in his reentry.