On September 3rd, individuals mobilized in Los Angeles and Sacramento, CA, to support Proposition 6 kickoff rallies and press conferences. CJCJ was pleased to join the Sacramento kick off in support of Proposition 6.
Proposition 6 would amend the State Constitution to eliminate all forms of slavery, including involuntary servitude within California, ensuring no person is subjected to inhumane working conditions regardless of their confinement circumstances.
The 13th Amendment to the US Constitution (along with California’s analogous Amendment), which prohibits slavery and involuntary servitude, explicitly excludes those detained due to criminal convictions. This exception has resulted in incarcerated individuals being required to work and forced to deal with unjust working conditions, including no required minimum wage standards, and potential punishment if they attempt to refuse work, even for legitimate reasons. Like incarceration, this modern form of slavery has disproportionately affected communities of color.
Rally to End Forced Prison Labor in California Prisons
Currently, incarcerated people are forced to labor even if they’d prefer to participate in rehabilitation programming such as victim impact programs, anger management, or drug treatment. The majority of people in prison will eventually return to the free community, ideally with as many opportunities for rehabilitation possible. They need these opportunities to acquire the skills needed for successful reentry. Rehabilitation is also a priority for release, and should be the focus of how one’s time is spent incarcerated, if one chooses. Those incarcerated should not be forced to choose between rehabilitation and forced labor, under the threat of punishment for choosing rehabilitation.
Proposition 6 would prioritize rehabilitation over exploitation and increase opportunities for incarcerated individuals, leading to safer communities for us all. Ending slavery through involuntary servitude is a human dignity, racial equity, and public safety issue that is long overdue.
Thank you to all who showed up for this important event! This November is an historic opportunity for those in California to vote to eliminate slavery in California from our constitution. We hope our state catches up to the right side of history on this. CJCJ is proud to support this important proposition. To learn more about Prop 6, you can visit the Prop 6 website. There you will also find footage of the Sacramento press conference with the below speakers. You can also find out about your voter registration status for this and other important items on the November ballot in California here.
Speakers in support of Prop 6 for the Sacramento rally included the below individuals.
Carmen-Nicole Cox (ACLU) — Emcee
Dorsey Nunn, ED Emeritus (LSPC)
Desiree Rojas, President of Sacramento Chapter of Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, tied to AFL-CIO and Change to Win
Jose Ruben Hernandez/Yesenia — Impacted former ICE detainees
Morning Star — Ajumawi Band of Pit River Nation
Rev. Jeremy McCants, EBASE, Imani Community Church
Dorsey Nunn, ED Emeritus (LSPC)
Paul Briley (ED LSPC)
