Rapid Response, Huge Impact: Paterson Signs Anti-Shackling Bill

Last month, Tina Reynolds, the director of WORTH, wrote me asking for funding through our Rapid Response Grant program to organize a rally in front of Governor Paterson's office in Manhattan. Their anti-shackling bill was at a critical juncture, and they needed that extra push to bring it over the top. In a nutshell, the bill prohibits the shackling of pregnant, incarcerated women in labor. You can read about the issue and WORTH's campaign here.

This is just the kind of support that North Star Fund has made possible for three decades: enabling grassroots activists to mobilize quickly and effectively. I approved WORTH's Rapid Response grant, and I'm very glad I did.

WORTH's strategic push has paid off many times over. Their rally received major media attention, including stories in the New York Times, National Public Radio, local TV stations, and several law reviews. Here's the link to the New York Times story on the rally.

Earlier today, Tina Reynolds called the North Star Fund office to tell us the good news: Governor Paterson has just signed the anti-shackling bill into law. Victory. Congratulations Tina to you, the women who make up WORTH's membership and your colleagues at the Correctional Association and all the other groups that were involved in getting the Governor to do the right thing.

Flexibility and readiness are central to successful grassroots activism. An organizer or community member can never be 100% sure when a bill is going to be introduced, public financing pulled, a facility closed or some other form of community crisis will hit. North Star Fund's Rapid Response program was designed to be an effective tool to move resources quickly to where they're needed most urgently. The recent WORTH rally was made possible in part by this rapid response -- a small grant with a huge impact. And that small grant was made possible by donations made by people just like you.