It’s Time to End the Epidemic of Mass Incarceration
Watch the video to learn more
Dr. Boyce Watkins and Russell Simmons have gathered a coalition of supporters from various walks of life to stand together to correct the serious injustices of the prison industrial complex. 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. 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.
The appeal to President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder is not written as an attack, but with the goal of persuading the Obama Administration to lend its considerable resources to productive efforts to help solve the problem. If you support this initiative and would like to join our efforts, please sign up at this link.
As Dr. Boyce Watkins said, “This is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. We’re in this for the long haul.” So far, the effort has gotten the attention of media outlets world-wide, for it’s the first time such a vast coalition of public figures, scholars, faith leaders and activists have come together for such an important cause. We truly have the chance to make a difference.
Celebrities and public figures who’ve signed onto the letter thus far:
CIVIL RIGHTS LEADERS & ADVOCATES
Julian Bond
Dr. Benjamin Chavis
Rev. Jesse Jackson, Rainbow PUSH
Benjamin Todd Jealous, NAACP
Avis Jones-Deweever, National Council of Negro Women
Maria Theresa Kumar, VotoLatino
Donna Leiberman, NYCLU
Margaret Moran, LULAC
Marc Morial, National Urban League
Ethan Nadelmann, Drug Policy Alliance
Rev. Al Sharpton, NAN
Rashad Robinson, Colors of Change
Anthony Romero, ACLU
Michael Skolnik
Julie Stewart, Families Against Mandatory Minimums
Susan Taylor
Dr. Boyce Watkins
Brent Wilkes, LULAC
Vanessa Williams, National Conference of Black Mayors
Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Hip-Hop Caucus
Renaldo Pearson, Founding Fellow & President, Emerging Millennials Leadership Alliance
ENTERTAINMENT
La La Anthony
Roseanne Barr
Russell Brand
Jim Carrey
Cedric The Entertainer
Margaret Cho
Affion Crockett
Rosario Dawson
Mike Epps
Omar Epps
Jamie Foxx
Tyrese Gibson
Jon Hamm
Hill Harper
Woody Harrelson
Amber Heard
Dule Hill
Ron Howard
J Ivy
Terrence J
Eugene Jarecki
Kris Jenner
Scarlett Johannson
Kim Kardashian
Khloe Kardashian-Odom
Kourtney Kardashian
Sanaa Lathan
LL Cool J
Nia Long
Eva Longoria
AnnaLynne McCord
Michael Moore
Keya Morgan
Jay Pharaoh
Dominic Purcell
Tim Robbins
Chris Rock
Susan Sarandon
Sarah Silverman
Russell Simmons
Vanessa Simmons
Jada Pinkett Smith
Will Smith
Tika Sumpter
Gabrielle Union
Denise Vasi
Estella Warren
Kerry Washington
Pauletta Washington
Marlon Wayans
Jesse Williams
Jeffrey Wright
FAITH COMMUNITY
Bishop James Clark
Bishop Noel Jones
Bishop Clarence Laney
Bishop Edgar Vann
Dr. Iva Carruthers
Deepak Chopra
Father Michael Pfleger
Rabbi Robyn Fryer Bodzin
Rabbi Menachem Creditor
Rabbi Nina Mandel
Rev. Jamal Bryant
Rev. Delman Coates
Rev. Leah D. Daughtry
Rev. Dr. Fredrick Haynes
Rev. Michael McBride
Rev. Dr. W Franklyn Richardson
MUSIC INDUSTRY
David Banner
Eric Benet
Andre “3000” Benjamin
Big Boi of Outkast
Case
Charlamagne tha God
Sean “Diddy” Combs
Chuck D
DJ Envy
DJ Pauly D
Ani Difranco
Jermaine Dupri
Missy Elliot
Estelle
Jason Flom
John Forte
Ghostface Killah
Ginuwine
Keri Hilson
Jennifer Hudson
Ice-T
Luke James
Trinidad James
Lyfe Jennings
Jim Jones
Talib Kweli
John Legend
Ryan Leslie
Joanna “JoJo” Levesque
Kevin Liles
Ludacris
Lil Wayne
Natalie Maines
Angie Martinez
Nicki Minaj
Mya
Q-Tip
Busta Rhymes
Steve Rifkind
Samantha Ronson
Rick Ross
RZA
Timeflies
Katrina “Trina” Taylor
Teyana Taylor
Angela Yee
BUSINESS LEADERS
Sir Richard Branson
Ron Busby, US Black Chamber of Commerce
Daymond John – Founder, Fubu/Host of the TV Show “Shark Tank”
Chip Rosenbloom, Owner St. Louis Rams
Bobby Shriver
ELECTED OFFICIALS
Congressman Tony Cardenas
Congressman Keith Ellison
Congresswoman Marcia Fudge
Congresswoman Barbara Lee
Congressman Bobby Rush
Congressman Bobby Scott
ATHLETES
Brendon Ayanbadejo
Allan Houston – Assistant GM, New York Knicks
Israel Idonije
Lamar Odom
Etan Thomas
Isiah Thomas
Mike Tyson
FASHION INDUSTRY
Tyson Beckford
Selita Ebanks
Kenza Fourati
Kimora Lee Simmons
Veronika Verekova
MEDIA
Chris Broussard
Chuck Creekmur, AllHipHop.com
Ed Gordon
TJ Holmes
Dylan Ratigan
Jim Wallis, Sojourners
Dave Zirin
ACADEMIA & THOUGHT LEADERS
Rick Adams, Chair – Institute of the Black World 21st Century
Michelle Alexander – The Ohio State University
Dr. Carlton Brown, President, Clark Atlanta Univ.
Dr. Ron Daniels – President, Institute of the Black World 21st Century
Prof. Michael Eric Dyson- Georgetown University
Dr. Christopher Emdin – Columbia University
Dr. Michael Fauntroy – George Mason University
Dr. Eddie Glaude – Princeton University
Airickca Gordon-Taylor, Founding director of the Mamie Till Mobley Memorial Foundation
Dream Hampton – Author of the best-selling book, “Decoded”
Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu
Dr. Marc Lamont Hill – Columbia University
Naomi Klein
Dr . Wilmer Leon – Howard University
Dr. Julianne Malveaux
Dr. John E. Maupin, Jr., President, Morehouse School of Medicine
Kevin Powell
Ricky “Freeway” Ross
Dr. Tyra Seldon, Co Chair, Education Over Incarceration (EOI)
Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum, President, Spelman College
Dr. Alicia Taylor-McLaughlin, St. Francis University
Terrie Williams, Author of the best-selling book, “Black Pain”
Dr. John Silvanus Wilson, Jr., President, Morehouse College
Professor Ronald S. Sullivan Jr., Director, Harvard Law School Criminal Justice Institute
Please join our initiative at this link.
p rogers
August 9, 2015 at 10:37 am
Sign me up!
Kory Riley
July 18, 2015 at 1:18 am
I believe in you
Charlie Darrington
July 17, 2015 at 9:58 pm
Please release our people!
Kojo amissah
July 17, 2015 at 5:26 pm
Thank you for getting this started.
Lamont debro
July 17, 2015 at 1:31 pm
I’m down with this.
Tom Hoeg
July 8, 2015 at 2:21 pm
Good Afternoon.
I work closely with the Osborne Association. I am part of the steering committee for the New York Initiative for Children with Incarcerated Parents. We are attempting to designate October an awareness month for these invisible children. We are considering a PSA on the population to be crafted by Jeremy Robbins and his crew from “Echoes of Incarceration”. We need some celerity backing and presence. The idea would culminate in the commitment from the counties and agencies in New York City and State to take a moment in time, a snapshot count, of these children in their jurisdiction to better serve their many needs. Needs as in experiencing a childhood without stigma, making visiting less stressful, and ending mass incarceration. Can you assist me in identifying someone willing to be part of this effort?
Tangie101
March 28, 2015 at 6:52 pm
Was reading that Pimp Snooky received 20 years just for Pimping. Pimping is a crime, but 20 years is a big much.
Dr. Barbara Perry
March 1, 2015 at 9:21 am
I am definitely with the Movement. Far too many of our Black young men are incarcerated for the better part of their life before life even began for lack of proper representation and racist stereotyping. All change MUST be brought about to ensure equal JUSTICE for ALL.
Deontae Horton
February 26, 2015 at 10:05 am
I’m with the movement 100%
lavern cason
February 25, 2015 at 11:41 am
I would like to join this cause, something has got to change in this unjust prison system or it will be creating monsters when these people ever be released. How are these young men being reabilitated? They’re in there cell just about 24 hours aday, no school, no trade and can get a girly magizine quicker than a book. Also being on lock-up for months and even years. Where is the just in that? These imates are still human.
Lavern Cason
Demontre Flemister
February 25, 2015 at 10:12 am
Signing up
Demecco Williams
February 24, 2015 at 8:40 pm
Thank you for this
Sandra Joyce
February 24, 2015 at 7:32 pm
I have to agree and stand with this cause not to keep locking up our black men and women on charges that other would not even get probation.
Kevin D Lampkin
February 24, 2015 at 4:46 pm
I am totally in 100%
Rev. Rosalind Knox
February 24, 2015 at 2:07 pm
Live in the Detroit area however from Wisconsin who has the highest number of black
People incarcerated in the country. Many who have not severe criminal offenses. Sign me up. If you hold a conference or gathering please let me know.
Jeffrey Smith
February 23, 2015 at 10:41 pm
I’m all the way down!
De'Searean Smith
February 23, 2015 at 9:01 pm
This is a very good cause!
De'Searean Smith
February 23, 2015 at 9:00 pm
This is a very good cause. First come awareness then comes the solution!
Myles
February 23, 2015 at 8:33 pm
The best way to end mass incarceration is to have strong responsibile, stable two parent families, instill good character, values and discipline. Single parents can also do the same. Instead having a petition signed by a bunch of celebrities, politicians and so on is to get back to basics and be personally accountable fir your own actions. If you are not going out commiting crimes yoy won’t end up in jail. This is plain straight forward common sense. Enough of making excuses for black criminals as black people and blaming this on the system, racism, etc. As I said we all as black people and human beings must be accountable fir our actions and learn from our mistakes not blame society or white peiople. We do something wrong own up to it.
Shawn
February 24, 2015 at 10:31 am
While some say ignorance is bliss, your brand of ignorance is just plain old fashion “misinformed”. It’s not entirely your fault unless you do nothing to educate yourself on the “real”
The Prison Industrial Complex was designed as an economic stimulus to the ” Haves” and NOT for the rehabilitation of the “Have Not’s”.
With that said, I urge you to look at the number of minorities incarcerated (for nonviolent offences) who have received extraordinary sentences. This does not even take into consideration those who were “profiled” and those who have been wrongfully accused. I also challenge you to pickup AND read some Sociological periodicals if you don’t want to take my word for it.
In this country we have a real problem, but there is Hope!
Instead of falling back on what these “Power Structures” want us to believe, instead of holding on to stereotypes of ancient history, find out the”real” for yourself.
Good Day!
Marvin A. Coney
February 23, 2015 at 2:02 pm
I’m thankful to be able to support a such cause ….I’d really like to see the most important figure in or culture Mr. Dick Gregory apart of such cause thank you and God bless all.
Clarence M. Allen
February 23, 2015 at 11:22 am
The time has come to #EndMassIncaration. REGULATE!You are in here!
Kevin Linder
February 23, 2015 at 9:05 am
Its about time
Natalie Barnes
February 23, 2015 at 8:44 am
I would like to sign I would also like to add as black people if it is on your power and you don’t have good cause please never dodge jury duty. The person on trial will probably look like you. It’s our responsibility. Let this be a movement black people as jurors. Have you served?
GoddessNut
February 23, 2015 at 6:12 am
When we start learning who we are as a people, then this foolishness will stop. That’s one of the very reason we are manipulated by the system. We as black people are the life givers and the leaders of this world. There are many educated black people here. I was recently taking a sociology class, and I was assumed a trouble maker because I was calling them out on their bullshit. They teach a very unsexualized society, which goes against the natural order of our being and that is a part of the chaos as well. We are being robbed and manipulated on a daily basis, with the education system, churches and most of all the economy. We as black people again and other minorities have always been targeted for the war on crime and drugs. It’s part of the population control and genocide that is increasing on our race. In the original Willie Lynch letter, he spoke about unless a phenomena happen that blacks will always be in chaos. See this thing goes back even farther than this before colonial slavery.
carl
February 23, 2015 at 12:30 am
This so called war on drugs has pit brother against brother and aligned all blacks as criminals prohibition didn’t work just as the war on drugs haven’t just created big cartels!
Kenneth & Shirley Brown
February 22, 2015 at 7:09 pm
Prisons should not replace employment and educational institutions.
Dwayne cowell
February 21, 2015 at 9:02 pm
I am 33 yrs young lml.i have been incarcerated more times then I can remember. I have finally come to a decision that being imprisoned is not the solution. I am currently in recovery it’s what I’ve needed all along, I have learned a lot about myself I’m more then willing to participate.
ALANA WILLIAMS
February 21, 2015 at 4:00 pm
Where is petition
Juan D Stamps
February 21, 2015 at 3:16 pm
I’ve been to the penitentiary a few times, and all but one time was because the police put cases on me , and sent me to jail. I took a plea every time, because the cook county jail was worse than slavery, and the penitentiary was like a day care center.
Leonard Shorter
February 21, 2015 at 3:09 pm
I want to sign…. Ex Gang member, but want major change in our community
Toni Beals
February 21, 2015 at 1:46 pm
I have a friend who is serving a 60yr term. I not sure of all the details but I know it shouldn’t be 60yrs. He’s already served at least 10yrs. I’m not saying what he’s done don’t require jail time but not 60yrs. Murderers don’t get that much time.
Norman Mixon
February 21, 2015 at 1:35 pm
This is a splendid gesture but not the solution. THE UNITED STATES is a CORPORATE prison with statues, codes, ordinances, and regulations designed to have you in debt from birth and to keep you there. And CORPORATIONS are now becoming privately own being sponsored by the so called governments that are being paid to keep those cells full. Why, because CORPORATIONS are for profit and are mostly bankrupted using people for their wealth or energies to keep them alive which is impossible because CORPORATIONS only exist ON paper. THE UNITED STATES is a foreign bankrupted CORPORATION that only exist within the 10 square miles of the District of Columbia is nothing but a slave plantation who has stole the people’s birth rights and natural freedoms. The people has no rights and are considered as Debtors. You are either going to pay the national debt out here in so called freedom or within their prisons. Good luck with your petition! But try getting at the true causes and stop acting like the most of you don’t know!
Anthony W. Howard
February 21, 2015 at 1:14 pm
I would love to sign this petition.
lboyles
February 21, 2015 at 8:42 am
I would love to sign this petition….. You see I am living this reality as we speak. My husband is incarcerated in a Oklahoma prison and is servicing a 20 yrs sentence for procession of a credit card of another. He was at a casino and found the debit card, casino card, and drivers license. (He didn’t use it at all) The next day due to a previous matter he went to the DA’s office in the next county over from us he was arrested. They officer searched my husband found those items and he was charged was knowingly concealing stolen property. We went through preliminary and due to what the lady said whose cards belonged (she said she lost her property and couldnt remember where she had it last) the state amended the charger to procession of a debit card of another. After months of court dates we went to trial and the DA told the jury all he had to prove is that my husband had the property and that he didn’t have permission to have it. (He didn’t have to prove that my husband used it) jury came back after 2hrs with not guilty of stolen property but guilty of procession. And he received 20yrs.
Angela McVay
February 20, 2015 at 10:10 pm
I would like to sign the petition
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August 20, 2014 at 12:46 pm
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carol reynolds
August 13, 2014 at 10:33 am
I am very disturbed by comments voiced by Dr Watkins on CNN live today, August 13/14. I am a Canadian living in Canada and can observe this current shooting tragedy from an emotional distance. I feel Dr Watkins comments were not prudent with the potential to increase emotional “boiling points” in certain Black ” communities”. It is imperative comments of wise leadership be expressed
Leonard Shorter
February 21, 2015 at 3:03 pm
I want to sign. Ex Gang member. But want major change in our community.