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NEW YORK, NEW YORK- MARCH 23: (SPEECH)(Part 2 of 2) Peggy Herrera, a community leader with Freedom Agenda, speaks about the need for more mental health services as formerly incarcerated advocates, impacted families, and local elected officials rally on the steps of City Hall in midtown Manhattan to call for the permanent closure of the Rikers Island jail complex after two men died while in custody at Rikers on March 23, 2022 in New York City. Advocates for the closure of Rikers Island rallied on the same morning the New York City Council Committee on Criminal Justice preliminary budget hearing was scheduled to be in session. Advocates want divestment from the NYC Department of Corrections (DOC) and shift significant resources to urgent community investments. Despite the DOC’s large workforce and large budget, the Rikers Island jail complex remains in deplorable conditions after decades of neglect, advocates argue. They also call on New York State Governor Kathy Hochul to call for de-incarceration, thereby reducing the inmate population and demand the release of low-level offenders and the elderly and immunocompromised people. Advocates have complained of inhumane conditions at Rikers Island for decades and argue that deaths will continue to mount unless people are de-incarcerated and/or the prison is permanently closed. The event was hosted by Freedom Agenda, Exodus Transitional Community, Legal Action Center, Women’s Community Justice Association and Vocal-NY. (Footage by Tomas Abad/Getty Images)