New York State Assemblymember Eddie Gibbs has reached a breaking point, claiming that he no longer feels safe working in the legislative chamber after a heated altercation with a Republican colleague last year. Gibbs, a Democrat who became the first formerly incarcerated person to be elected to the state legislature in 2022, says that an incident with Assemblymember Ari Brown, from Long Island's South Shore, has left him feeling threatened and vulnerable.
The confrontation took place during a floor debate in June, when Brown repeatedly used the term "inmate" to refer to Gibbs, who advocates for prisoners and former prisoners. According to Gibbs, Brown's language was not only derogatory but also escalated into physical violence, with Brown hovering over Gibbs and poking him in the nose before being intervened by a sergeant at arms.
The incident has taken a toll on Gibbs' mental well-being, prompting him to refuse to attend legislative sessions, committee meetings, or even return phone calls from colleagues. He believes that he is not safe working in the chamber, citing Brown's threats of assault as evidence.
Gibbs' struggle highlights the challenges faced by non-traditional candidates like himself who are often at odds with the established order in Albany. As Jose Saldana, director of Release Aging People in Prison advocacy group, noted, Gibbs represents a community that has been historically neglected and under-resourced by the state of New York.
The incident also underscores the need for greater accountability from lawmakers, particularly those who have used derogatory language to refer to prisoners and former prisoners. While some have downplayed the severity of the incident, saying that tensions run high in the chamber and "heated exchanges bubble up from time to time," Gibbs' case serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of such behavior.
As Gibbs prepares to leave office after this November's elections, he expressed his desire for peace and an end to the harassment. "I want to find peace, and I just want them to leave me alone." His story raises important questions about the treatment of prisoners and former prisoners in New York State and the need for greater understanding and empathy from lawmakers.
The confrontation took place during a floor debate in June, when Brown repeatedly used the term "inmate" to refer to Gibbs, who advocates for prisoners and former prisoners. According to Gibbs, Brown's language was not only derogatory but also escalated into physical violence, with Brown hovering over Gibbs and poking him in the nose before being intervened by a sergeant at arms.
The incident has taken a toll on Gibbs' mental well-being, prompting him to refuse to attend legislative sessions, committee meetings, or even return phone calls from colleagues. He believes that he is not safe working in the chamber, citing Brown's threats of assault as evidence.
Gibbs' struggle highlights the challenges faced by non-traditional candidates like himself who are often at odds with the established order in Albany. As Jose Saldana, director of Release Aging People in Prison advocacy group, noted, Gibbs represents a community that has been historically neglected and under-resourced by the state of New York.
The incident also underscores the need for greater accountability from lawmakers, particularly those who have used derogatory language to refer to prisoners and former prisoners. While some have downplayed the severity of the incident, saying that tensions run high in the chamber and "heated exchanges bubble up from time to time," Gibbs' case serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of such behavior.
As Gibbs prepares to leave office after this November's elections, he expressed his desire for peace and an end to the harassment. "I want to find peace, and I just want them to leave me alone." His story raises important questions about the treatment of prisoners and former prisoners in New York State and the need for greater understanding and empathy from lawmakers.
the fact that Gibbs feels threatened and vulnerable after an altercation with Ari Brown is super sad, you feel? 
. and it's not just about him, it's about all the other prisoners and former prisoners who are getting treated like this too 
. Gibbs is right that we need greater accountability from lawmakers, especially when it comes to derogatory language and behavior 
. it's time for a change, you know? 
this is so messed up! eddie gibbs is going through all this because of some guy's childish behavior 
, but what really gets me is that he's a former inmate who's now fighting for prisoners' rights 
. it's like, his colleagues should be supporting him, not making him feel like an enemy 
. and now he's refusing to attend sessions or even return calls because he feels threatened? that's just heartbreaking 
. can't we all just get along and treat each other with respect? 
You can't just sit there, Gibbs did take a huge risk by getting into politics after being incarcerated, now he's paying the price 
. The system should be protecting him, not putting him in harm's way 
. This whole situation is a perfect example of how lawmakers need to step up their game and be held accountable for their actions 
.
because he's advocating for prisoners' rights? It's not okay, period. And to make matters worse, Gibbs is feeling like his life is on the line 
.
.
And what about all the other politicians who have no idea how to handle sensitive issues? They'll just keep using derogatory language and making assumptions, like Gibbs did. It's all so... predictable. 
The fact that Brown used the term "inmate" in the first place is already a huge red flag. Can't they see how hurtful it was? 
And now Gibbs' mental health is suffering because of it? It's just not cool, you know? 
I mean, I get it, guys can be heated during debates, but this is on a whole other level... like, personal attacks? Threats of assault? 
Not cool, Ari Brown... not cool at all! 
i'm with eddie on this one, if you're going to come for me in the legislative chamber, then be ready for a fight 
or at least have some respect for your opponent's boundaries. brown needs to apologize and take responsibility for his actions. it's time for us to hold our elected officials accountable for their words and actions 
if someone's trying to make a difference, but they're being bullied and disrespected because of it