Tomorrow, members of the Real Reform New York Coalition will be in Albany for a 10 a.m. press conference and special screening of a new documentary about the Rockefeller Drug Laws. Please join us, especially if you're in the Albany area!

Right now, we have Rockefeller Drug Law reform legislation pending in both houses of the Legislature-Assemblyman Jeffrion Aubry has introduced Assembly Bill 6663 (A.6663). Senator Eric Schneiderman has introduced a companion bill in the Senate, 04352. While these bills do not give us what we ultimately want--repeal of these failed, racist laws--they do move us in the right direction. Read our analysis of the bills.

If you haven't taken action yet, please send a message to your representatives in Albany, and to the Governor, urging them to support real reform.

The Assembly is widely expected to pass this legislation TOMORROW, April 18-but as usual, the Senate is resisting any reasonable changes to the Rockefeller Drug Laws. And Governor Spitzer has been strangely silent about the Rockefeller Drug Laws-despite his claims during the election that he supported real reform.

That's why we're joining with Assemblyman Jeffrion L. Aubry to hold this press conference tomorrow and to screen a new documentary film about the Rockefeller Drug Laws, Lockdown, USA. The documentary, first released at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival, received enormous praise from critics and moviegoers alike. This is your chance to see the film before it hits theaters and television.

The press conference and film screening are being sponsored by Assemblyman Jeffrion L. Aubry, Chairman, Assembly Standing Committee on Correction; New York State Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus; Senator Eric Schneiderman; Senator Jose Serrano, Chairman, Minority Task Force on the Arts; and Drug Policy Alliance.

Can you join us?

What: Press conference about the Rockefeller Drug Laws and Assembly Bill 6663; Screening of Lockdown, USA follows immediately after press conference.

When: Wednesday, April 18, at 10 a.m.

Where: LOB Room 711a.

Who: Assemblyman Jeffrion Aubry; Senator Eric Schneiderman; Senator Jose Serrano; the New York State Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus; Cheri O'Donoghue, mother of prisoner serving 7 to 21 years for first-time, nonviolent drug offense under Rockefeller Drug Laws; Albany County District Attorney David Soares; Terrence Stevens, ex-non-violent drug offender, who served nine years under Rockefeller Drug Laws.

Here's what you can do NOW help to win real reform of the Rockefeller Drug Laws:

• Send your representatives and the Governor a fax, urging them to support real reform.
• Forward this action alert to five of your friends, family, or co-workers, urging them to take action by faxing the Governor;
• Join us in Albany tomorrow for the press conference and film screening.

These laws have got to go. Let's get to it!

Sincerely,

gabriel sayegh
Director, State Organizing and Policy Project
Drug Policy Alliance