[ad_1]
WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley referred to as on Congress to go the Abolition Modification. He was joined by Price Rises and MoveOn, who offered a petition with over 200,000 signatures from throughout the nation echoing the decision. This occasion occurred simply earlier than Structure Day (September 17) and 157 years after the passage of the thirteenth Modification, which abolished slavery for many. The exception within the thirteenth Modification makes slavery authorized “as punishment for a criminal offense,” forcing predominantly Black and brown individuals to work for little to no pay behind jail partitions. It’s time to Finish the Exception and abolish slavery for all.
Watch the occasion right here
“This nation was based on the attractive ideas of equality and justice—ideas which have by no means been suitable with the horrific realities of slavery and white supremacy,” mentioned Senator Merkley). “The loophole in our Structure’s ban on slavery not solely allowed slavery to proceed however launched an period of discrimination and mass incarceration that continues to today. To stay as much as our nation’s promise of justice for all, we should get rid of the Slavery Clause from our Structure. We should go the Abolition Modification.”
“In states throughout this nation, there are individuals laboring in jail—in Texas, choosing cotton at a internet loss for the state—as a result of the cruelty is the purpose. In 5 states, incarcerated individuals are not even paid for his or her labor,” mentioned Dyjuan Tatro, #EndTheException advocate and previously incarcerated particular person. “That’s an abomination in the US of America, and we have to finish slavery—totally, lastly, and with out exception.”
“Because the nation celebrates Structure Day on September 17, we should not overlook that many nonetheless lack the constitutional rights that many people maintain sacred, together with our proper to be protected against slavery. There are at the moment a whole lot of hundreds of incarcerated individuals throughout the nation—disproportionately Black and brown—who’re pressured to work inside prisons and jails for little to no pay beneath the fixed risk of torturous punishment as a result of exception within the thirteenth Modification that also permits slavery for use as punishment for crime,” mentioned Price Rises Government Director Bianca Tylek. “This exception has enabled the criminalization, incarceration, and re-enslavement of Black individuals all through historical past. And in the present day, it nonetheless permits those that work in our nation’s prisons and jails to be exploited by a rigged system—one which was designed to prioritize revenue over individuals. I hope that folks take note of the tales of those that have suffered beneath the exception and that lawmakers transfer urgently to go the Abolition Modification. Together with invoice sponsors Senator Merkley and Congresswoman Williams, we’re calling on Congress to take motion this 12 months. It’s well past due that our nation’s leaders put an unequivocal finish to slavery for all. Slavery is unsuitable, on a regular basis.”
“The truth that prisons in most states are nonetheless in a position to power labor on incarcerated individuals, oftentimes for the revenue of personal firms, is merciless and exploitative. Jail labor is without doubt one of the worst points of a felony authorized system that dehumanizes tens of millions of individuals each single day. MoveOn members have been lobbying their members of Congress to finish this antiquated, inhumane follow as soon as and for all,” mentioned MoveOn Marketing campaign Supervisor Arvin Alaigh.
###
MoveOn is a people-powered power for progress. MoveOn mobilizes the left to elect Democrats and enact progressive change. We’re the homebase for tens of millions of members who refuse to just accept the established order and are moved to take motion. For greater than a technology, MoveOn has been a bulwark in opposition to the unconventional proper, channeling our voices to finish wars, defend democracy, and advance justice for all.
[ad_2]
Source link