High profile endorsements for former public defender Tiffany Cabán continue to flow in as Linda Sarsour, a leader and founder of the Women’s March, put some of her movement’s momentum behind the candidate for district attorney.
Sarsour mentioned the need for justice reform that ends mass incarceration for black and brown communities at the event in Diversity Plaza on Thursday which follows the recent death of Richard Brown, who served as DA for 28 years.
“I have dedicated the last two decades of my life specifically to criminal justice reform and police accountability,” Sarsour said. “People know me from many other things, but I’m here because I’m committed to a justice system that fights for all people, a system that is restorative in its justice and not penalizing… I’m talking to the Muslims: this is our candidate. I’m going to make sure that Tiffany Cabán wins.”
Claiming that Queens cannot continue to be run on the same “machine” and compared Cabán’s bid for DA to the victory of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez over long-time former Congressman Joe Crowley last year.
“I’ve represented over 1,000 clients in court who could not afford to defend themselves, who found themselves on Rikers because they could not afford bail, jumped a turnstile, struggled with mental health issues or substance abuse,” Cabán said. “Everyday I spent in court affirmed that our justice system is the single most powerful driver of the continued… marginalization of the same groups we have historically marginalized.”
Cabán is facing six other candidates in the race for DA.
Borough President Melinda Katz, Councilman Rory Lancman, Mina Malik, retired judge Gregory Lasak as well as prosecutors Jose Nieves and Betty Lugo.
The primary for Queens district attorney will be held June 25.
