(Note--  The  Candles for Clemency vigil scheduled for April 18th has been postponed as the Governor's office is negotiating on this issue. A new date will be announced)

FNYC is now a co-sponsor of the "Candles for Clemency" movement. These are periodic vigils being held by progressive groups from across the state to call for Governor Cuomo to grant clemency to those who are serving extended or unending sentences in state jails for either questionable or minor charges. New York state has a long history of racism in jury trials, particularly upstate. Put simply, if you were black and facing a jury in past decades in certain parts of the state, you were much more likely to get found guilty or to be denied proper representation. You were also more likely to get the severest of sentences that were possible. This, combined with mandatory minimum sentencing guidelines and hardline judges, has resulted in state prisons that are now packed with people, again vastly disproportionately those of color, who are either innocent or have served way beyond any reasonable sentence for whatever they were convicted of doing.

Candles for Clemency calls for the Governor to start a clemency program and help give some of these people who have been locked up forever a second chance at life.  As of this date, Governor Cuomo has issued zero (0) clemencies during his years in office.

We are proud to join the National Organization of Women (NOW), Village Independent Democrats, Chelsea Reform Democratic Club, the Jim Owles Democratic Club, the McManus Democratic Club, Greater New York for Change (GNYC) and many others to participate in candlelight vigils to bring attention to this vitally important issue.

The next candlelight vigil will be on Saturday, April 18th at Andrew Cuomo's home in Mt, Kisco. Details and transportation info will be forthcoming.