Rally calls on Albany to act now

Criminal justice activists rallied Wednesday to press Democrats now in control of the state Senate to make bold changes like ending bail and solitary confinement for prisoners.

“We want real change,” said Kassandra Frederique, director of the Drug Policy Alliance. “We want to disrupt the status quo.”

She spoke in front of about 30 activists pressing for sweeping reforms during a rally at Foley Square.

The group also called on state lawmakers to pass a bill to release prisoners 55 years and older who have served 15 years of their sentence.

“We need to tear this whole system down,” Frederique said. “That happens with courage. That happens with fortitude. It happens with us.”

The criminal justice activists also called for legislation to allow convicted felons to be granted voting rights.

The majority of their proposed changes have been nixed by the GOP-controlled state Senate for years.

Gov. Cuomo last year vowed to enact a series of criminal justice reforms, including the end of cash bail for nonviolent felonies.

The measure stalled in the Senate.

Criminal justice reformers say Cuomo should have done more to press for change over his past eight years in office.

He has vowed to make criminal justice reform a top priority this legislative session.

He's likely to face some opposition.

Law enforcement groups have traditionally lobbied against ending cash bail reform and the use of solitary confinement for more than 15 days.

That should not get in the way during this upcoming legislation, criminal justice reformers said.

“Our families are suffering and we can't wait,” the activists chanted. “We've got to end mass incarceration in New York State.”