Saturday, Gulf Coast residents, along with people across the nation, came together to bring awareness to the movement for prison reform in the United States.
August 22nd is ‘National Day of Freedom and Justice,’ a day dedicated to the efforts of prison reform. In honor of the day and its cause, many gathered at Jones Park in Gulfport for a rally hosted by the Parchman Project and Mississippi Rising Coalition.
One of the attendees, Rico Forbes, president of the Republic of New Africa, spoke out about his own experience with the United States prison system. “The argument that I have with this government is that I was convicted twice for the same crime: bank robbery. The Fifth Amendment states that our citizens should not be twice put in jeopardy.”
Gregory Barabino, the president of the NAACP of Hancock County, cites a disconnect between lawmakers and constituents as a reason for the lack of progress with prison reform. “We need legislation and we need representation from the people that these laws and the culture of prison that it affects. So, that’s why we’re trying to get our voice heard out here.”
The rally featured a bell-ringing that happened at the same time all across the nation. The gesture is supposed to signify solidarity in the fight for constitutional rights and freedom for those incarcerated in the United States. Forbes said, “We need some champions to deal with this injustice that is taking place. I mean if there is a law, the law should be for all and not for a few.”
“The biggest point that needs to be made is that we need to organize because if you want to change legislation and fight leaders that don’t have our interests– we need to organize and we need to come together and try to make things change,” said Barabino.
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August 25, 2020 at 03:35AM
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National Day of Freedom and Justice Rally - WXXV News 25
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