By the time Keith Jesperson was given the nickname the Happy Face Killer by a newspaper reporter, he was four years into a chilling series of murders that began in 1990.
Gracie Mansion protesters demand Rikers Island reforms, justice for NYC jail prisoners during Human Rights Week march Nicholas Williams, Dave Goldiner
Dozens of protesters marched on Gracie Mansion Saturday to demand the speedy closure of Rikers Island and justice for incarcerated victims of brutality behind bars.
More than 50 activists and ex-inmates called on Mayor de Blasio to improve conditions at Rikers and end what they called a history of abuse.
“Rikers is a human rights crisis,” said organizer Darren Mack of Freedom Agenda NYC. “We are here today standing with family members of people who had died on Rikers. We are here today with survivors of Rikers Island.”