Independence Day – Land of the Free?
Human Rights Defense Center produces the Prison Legal News and provides information for people involved in the criminal justice system. Whether you are an inmate, family member, friend or professional, the articles are filled with helpful information. They sent an email that we thought was very appropriate for today.
We wish everyone a safe Independence Day and hope you get to spend time with your loved ones, no matter where they are.
Excerpt from email:
Fireworks. Barbeques. Parades. Family. Friends. These are some of the things that come to mind when we think about Independence Day.
The truth is, while some of us will celebrate our “independence” today on July 4, we’re not really free until our communities are liberated from the trauma caused by our nation’s thirst for mass incarceration.
2.2 million people are in prison and jail in the U.S. on any given day. Another 870,000 are on parole, and 3.8 million on probation. Every year, around 11.6 million people cycle in and out of local jails. Not only are all of these people impacted by our criminal justice system, so are their families.
The Human Rights Defense Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that advocates on behalf of the human rights of people held in U.S. detention facilities. This includes people in state and federal prisons, local jails, immigration detention centers, civil commitment facilities, Bureau of Indian Affairs jails, juvenile facilities and military prisons.
HRDC is one of the few national opponents to the private prison industry and is the foremost advocate on behalf of the free speech rights of publishers to communicate with prisoners and the right of prisoners to communicate with those on the outside. HRDC also does significant work around government transparency and accountability issues by filing and litigating public records and Freedom of Information Act requests at the state and federal levels.
Today, before you gather with those you love to enjoy those fireworks, barbeques and parades, please consider making a donation to support HRDC’s work on behalf of the millions of people who are not free.