End Mass Criminalization of Black and Brown Youth

End Mass Criminalization of Black and Brown Youth (89)

Can it be that simple?
Has America’s long standing history of racism caught up with us? Has the south risen once again? One has to wonder, or do we merely continue to follow this road of denial and the turning of a blind eye to the proverbial- shall I say it- “Elephant in the room?”

As part of the American Civil Liberties Union’s recent report on police militarization, the Massachusetts chapter of the organization sent open records requests to SWAT teams across that state. It received an interesting response.

Marijuana reform advocates score big on Tuesday, with full legalization measures approved by voters in Alaska, Oregon and Washington, DC

'This historic vote demonstrates support to advance a public safety strategy beyond incarceration to include treatment and prevention.'

Sunday, 02 November 2014 00:00

Public Prisons, Private Profits

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When her daughter was first incarcerated in Arizona's Perryville State Prison, "Rae" sent her money orders bought at the local cash-checking place or from Walmart. But those took too long to clear, leaving her daughter without needed supplies, so she began driving to the post office to buy money orders.

Corrections is the ultimate human service—and it can be done more cheaply and more effectively without locking so many people up.

From the War on Drugs to the militarization of police, these deeply unsettling milestones got us where we are

"Every day that Michael Brown doesn't receive justice, we are reminded that it's open season on black lives in Ferguson. How are we supposed to live everyday knowing that and not go crazy?" - Anonymous protester

When Colorado and Washington State legalized pot for recreational use, those who supported it had a lot of reasons. It’s just as safe or safer than alcohol. It infringes on civil liberties. It diverts police resources away from violent crime at a high cost that yields little benefit. It funnels young people into the criminal justice system, and those young people are disproportionately black or brown.

Profiteers and their political allies don’t give up the ship without mobilizing all their resources for the fight. They will grant small concessions, window dress their past practice, even invite their most intransigent enemies into the tent, but they will not change unless a political force emerges that compels them to do so.

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