Today, Assemblyman Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square) joined with Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay (R,C,I,Ref-Pulaski), Senate Minority Leader John Flanagan, law enforcement leaders, prosecutors and hundreds of dedicated police officers at a rally to fight for public safety and demand bipartisan action to repeal the dangerous bail laws that are causing widespread violence and chaos across the state.

“Enough is enough,” said Ra. “Every single day, we’re seeing good people get hurt because dangerous, serial offenders can simply walk out of their arraignment and back into our communities. We know it’s wrong, and we believe that Majority politicians do too. We just need them to put politics aside and finally do the right thing,” said Ra.

A delegation of local law enforcement officials from Long Island joined with hundreds of law enforcement officials from across the state.

“Some of the stories we’re hearing are absolutely sickening. Criminals who have committed homicides, sex crimes and assaulted police officers have been let out. When they re-offend, the harm they cause is even more tragic because it was preventable,” said Ra.

Ra noted the disastrous changes to the bail laws undermine so many of the state’s efforts to promote public safety and help New Yorkers turn their lives around.

“We’re spending hundreds of millions of dollars to combat the heroin and opioid epidemic. Last week, we saw ruthless, high-level traffickers operating a sophisticated, $7 million fentanyl ring walk right back onto the street after their arraignments. It’s an issue I brought up with Majority politicians immediately after the legislation passed, and they said they were willing to consider amendments. They changed their mind because of politics. It’s sad, but it’s not too late to get this right,” said Ra.

Ra was so appreciative for all of the law enforcement officials who traveled a great distance to come to Albany.

“This shows you that these brave men and women truly care about their communities. They want to do their job. In Albany, we should be supporting them. We should be making their lives easier. The governor and Senate and Assembly Majority politicians have done the opposite. We need to reverse course immediately,” said Ra.