Jose Hamza Saldana - Jose is director of the Release Aging People from Prison Campaign and the People's Campaign for Parole Justice. He leads the campaign to abolish life without parole in NY, advocates for clemency for aging people in prison, and has raised awareness about prison conditions throughout the pandemic. Jose himself spent 38 years in prison. 

Serena Martin-Liguori - Serena is the Executive Director of New Hour for Women and Children--Long island. She is an active campaign organizer and has worked on parole justice, anti-shackling laws, and sentencing reform. She is formerly incarcerated and a survivor of solitary confinement. 

Jared Trujillo - Jared is a policy attorney at NYCLU, former public defender, and former president of Association of Legal Aid Attorneys--the public defender union in NYC. He is an active campaign organizer and works on sentencing reform, parole reform, and decriminalization of sex work. He is a former sex worker and was recently highlighted on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.panel, presented by the Public Interest Law Student Association, National Lawyers Guild of St. John's, and SJU Defenders, featured three activists currently on the frontlines of the decarceration movements in New York State: Jose Hamza Saldana, Serena Martin-Liguori, and Jared Trujillo, who will be joining us to discuss the work they are currently engaged in opposing our carceral criminal system. We look forward to seeing you there!