Celebrities seek to end mass incarceration with campaign
Dr. Boyce Watkins and Russell Simmons are teaming up to combat mass incarceration.
By gathering a coalition of supporters, the men hope to highlight to seriousness of the prison industrial complex and its affects on people of color.
“Rehabilitation and even punishment are acceptable in themselves, but when a nation builds an entire economy around the unjust incarceration of millions of its citizens, that nation is serving as a tool for its own demise.” the statement reads. “Families are destroyed when citizens are given extraordinarily long prison sentences for even the smallest crimes, and the failed War on Drugs has created an entire generation of lost children, who’ve grown up without the support and guidance of two loving parents.”
Watkins & Simmons have called on other notable black figures to join the movement. Omar Epps, Jamie Foxx and Tyrese are a few who have signed up for the cause.
In their appeal to President Obama, they call for an end to the war on drugs. “Mr. President, it is evident that you have demonstrated a commitment to pursue alternatives to the enforcement-only “War on Drugs” approach and address the increased incarceration rates for non-v*****t crimes…We encourage you to continue your efforts to revamp the policies of the last 30 years that have seen the prison population skyrocket.” the letter states.
Watch the video for more information:
Anyone interested in supporting/joining the initiative can sign up here.
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