Sophia Opferman / Urban Justice Center – Freedom Agenda / New York, NY
Going into this summer, I am thinking a lot about the role of law in system transformation. Does the law hold a significant role in this work, specifically in criminal justice and mass incarceration? Do those doing the work frequently turn to the law, or do they believe in other methods? In asking these questions, I am repeatedly reminded of the civil rights movement. We know that for decades the law in this country did not dictate an equal or just society and was complacent, if not active, in maintaining one built upon inequality and injustice. It was through nothing short of mass movements and incredible feats of organizing that the civil rights movement was able to force the law to change. Nevertheless, as we know, even in the face of legal transformation, inequality and injustice remain, as does the work of organizers and movement builders.
My first few weeks at the Urban Justice Center have been very much focused on this work. The Freedom Agenda aims to bring as many people impacted by incarceration as possible into the conversation. It seeks to center its work around them and their voices, turning to them as those who truly know the work that needs to be done. In my experience so far, this group is not a monolith, and their shared experiences and knowledge have not resulted in a single outstanding voice but calls for different outcomes and different understandings of what is possible. Some of those who I have gotten the chance to work with so far believe wholeheartedly in the possibility of closing Rikers and broader system transformation. They know firsthand what it is like to experience Riker’s, and as survivors seek to stop the cycle of abuse. For others, I sense a lot of disillusionment, despite a belief in the importance of the work.
Despite varied opinions and levels of hope, the people I am working with are far more often than not willing to do the work. They want to be involved, they want their voices to be heard, and they want to know what they can do and how they can do it. The organizers at the Freedom Agenda are also incredibly dedicated to ensuring that everyone who wants a seat at the table has one.
Criminal justice reform and broader system transformation can, and very much do, in my case, feel like daunting, if not insurmountable, tasks. It can feel like the work is just a drop in the ocean of interests that seek to maintain the status quo. For the members of the Freedom Agenda, like those of the Civil Rights Movement, this is not a deterrent, as someone must do the work. Their commitment to the work inspires me, and I hope to carry it with me throughout the summer and beyond.