Youth advocates call for justice reform in Mott Haven
Youth advocates in Mott Haven rallied outside of Horizon Juvenile Center before marching in honor of Youth Justice Action Month.
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Youth advocates rallied outside of Horizon Juvenile Center on Tuesday to mark Youth Justice Action Month.
Ray Sean Dixson said he was incarcerated at the center at 14 years old. He said the experience led him to a cycle of injustice.
"From there it turned into a lifelong battle of incarceration of not being rehabilitated. No programs, really. No helping me sustain and grow from youth to adulthood. Everything was just punishment, punishment, punishment," said Dixson.
He joined other advocates from teens to adults, asking for three bills to be passed.
The #Right2RemainSilent Act, The Youth Justice and Opportunities Act, and the Youth Justice Innovation Fund Act. All the bills would protect young New Yorkers caught in the criminal legal system.
"These youth are our future, and we can guide them right now in a positive direction and they can do so many wonderful things. And these are the things that I wish that I had when I was a youth," said Dixson.
The call for justice continued from the juvenile center to St. Mary's Park. A staff attorney at The Legal Aid Society said the new legislations would stop the harmful narrative of young people.
"No one can really articulate what is needed better than they could. They know what their communities need. They know what's important to help them succeed in life," said staff attorney Theresa Moser.
The #Right2RemainSilent Act was passed in the Assembly but has not yet passed in the Senate. The other two bills still remain in committees in the Legislature, expected to be voted on once the session resumes in January.
