WHAT ARE AMERICANS GOING TO DO ABOUT THE INADEQUACIES OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM AND THE BLACK MAN?

[Ikalean Wilkerson]

I want to know when will America rise up against the injustices of Black men being placed in the prison system.  Why is Wesley Snipes going to prison?  Insane!

[Christine R. Rickett]

If everyone who didn't have a job or only a part time job was out rallying in the poorer neighbors for them to get involved in the issues of jobs and incarcerations, the job market would open up real quick and they would send the people here with visas to their homeland too, in order to open more jobs for us. You know why? They would want to keep black folks too busy working so they could not congregate. 

 

Alot of people talk bad of the NAACP but if you go on their site it is and has been something they have been fighting against and are making headway in. Now, the NAACP all over, consist of imperfect individuals just like you and I. As with most Americans, they come together with different ideas on how a situation may be solved, so there will be disagreements but the fact that we volunteer our time to rally, to raise our voices collectively for all people sakes says alot.

 

The point is you can go on their site to see what is being done.

Now, just like many complain about Obama is not working at all, or not enough or not fast enough, many people say the same about NAACP. But, at least they are out there on the frontline trying and not on the sideline complaining.

 

I am happy though that all of you on this site care about the issue. The fact that you are here may indicate if there has to be an uprising, you will be there instead of hiding as many others.

 

John Luke - I say to you as others say to be when I am exausted. Don't give up. Sometimes it seems hopeless but it just seems that way. We have to stay possitive. I say seem because just as we have some people  putting things up on this site to divert attention - well that is my point. There is alot going on out there to cause diversion from the issues, from the real issues. 

 

[Christine R. Rickett]

I took this off of the National NAACP site to share with you. It's work in process but much more still has to be done.

 

BILL WOULD REDUCE SENTENCING DISPARITY FROM 100:1 TO 18:1, HOWEVER, THERE IS MUCH MORE TO BE DONE TO ELIMINATE RACIAL DISPARITIES IN OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

Late in the evening of Wednesday, March 17, 2010, the United States Senate passed, by unanimous consent (without a recorded vote), S. 1789, the Fair Sentencing Act of 2009. Thiscompromise legislation reduces the mandatory minimum sentence for a federal conviction of crack cocaine possession from 100 times that of people convicted of carrying the drug in powdered form to 18 times the sentence. This bill passed the Senate Judiciary Committee by a bipartisan, unanimous vote of 19 - 0 on Thursday, March 11, 2010, paving the way for passage by the full Senate.

The NAACP appreciates all of the hard work that has gone into this legislation, as well as the fact that it is the first time Congress has moved to reduce any mandatory minimum sentence. The NAACP also recognizes and appreciates that everyone involved in the negotiations seems to agree that the current 100:1 sentencing disparity has had a hugely unfair and discriminatory impact on African Americans and other racial and ethnic minorities. The NAACP will continue, however, to push for complete parity between crack and powder cocaine sentencing.

Currently, as a result of 1986 federal law, there is a huge (100 to 1) disparity between the penalty for possession of crack cocaine and powder cocaine. Specifically, a person must possess 500 grams of powder cocaine before they are subject to the same mandatory prison sentence (5 years) as an individual who is convicted of possessing just 5 grams of crack cocaine (despite the fact that pharmacologically, these two drugs are identical). At the time this law was passed, crack cocaine was a fairly new drug and there were concerns (which have subsequently been disproven) that crack is much more addictive, and leads to more violence, than powder cocaine. One of the effects of this law is that small-scale crack cocaine users are punished much more severely than powder cocaine users, their suppliers and distributors.

Everyone seems to agree that crack cocaine use is higher among Caucasians than any other group: most authorities estimate that more than 66% of those who use crack cocaine are white. Yet in 2006, 82% of those convicted and sentenced under federal crack cocaine laws were African American. When you add in Hispanics, the percentage climbs to above 96%. Since enactment of this law, the 100 to 1 ratio has had a devastating and disproportionate impact on the African American and Hispanic communities. Because of the mandatory minimum jail sentence for those convicted of possession of 5 grams of crack cocaine or more, people of color are being put in prisons at much higher rates than their Caucasian counterparts, and the judges have no discretion to mitigate the sentence for first-time or nonviolent offenders or special circumstances.

It is estimated that if passed as written, the legislation reducing the sentencing disparity from 100:1 to 18:11 will result in 4,000 fewer Americans being in jail in 10 years. WE MUST NOW ENCOURAGE THE US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO ACT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE TO ADDRESS THIS GROSS SENTENCING INJUSTICE.

 

PA NAACP to Lead Students, Teachers and Lawmakers Calling for Education Over Incarceration

April 25, 2011

PA NAACP to Lead Students, Teachers and Lawmakers Calling for Education Over Incarceration

(Harrisburg, PA) – On Tuesday, April 26th, the NAACP Pennsylvania State Conference will lead the “Children’s March to Save Public Education”, a rally of students, teachers and legislators protesting Governor Tom Corbett’s proposed 2011-2012 budget. The budget would slash education funding by $1.2 billion, including 52% from higher education, while raising the state’s prison spending by nearly 11 percent and building three new prisons.

Thousands of students and community leaders are expected to gather at the Main Capitol Steps in Harrisburg, PA from 10:30 am until 12:00 pm. There will be press availability from 12:00-12:30 pm at the Main Capitol Steps.

Governor Corbett’s budget would reduce funding for Pennsylvania colleges from $1.5 billion to $836 billion and shave $550 million from basic education funding, including $260 million from Pre-K, kindergarten, and class-size reduction programs. Meanwhile, the budget would increase prison spending by $186 million. On April 7th the national NAACP released a report called “Misplaced Priorities: Over Incarcerate, Under Educate, which urged lawmakers to downsize prisons and shift savings to education. The report received widespread bipartisan support for its endorsement of “smart on crime” policies.

“Governor Corbett proposes cutting $625 million from colleges and universities as he spends $600 million to build two new prisons,” stated NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous. “The governor’s budget betrays a lack of faith in the power of education and the promise of rehabilitation. Investing in human potential is ultimately what will narrow the achievement gap, grow our economy and rebuild our middle class. Today, children from around Pennsylvania are marching on the State Capitol in Harrisburg to remind legislators that they are the future of this state.”

“If we are going to find our way back to being first in the world and, leading other nations in adults with college degrees, we’ll have to stop leading the world in the number of adults and children that we incarcerate,” stated NAACP Pennsylvania State Conference President J. Whyatt Mondesire. “Governor Corbett’s budget callously deprives children and college students of the education resources they need, while ignoring the growing national call to reduce prison spending.”

The rally will be attended by students and community leaders from Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, York, Gettysburg, Reading, Allentown and other school districts around Pennsylvania. Speakers will include Mondesire, who is also president of the Philadelphia Unit of the NAACP; NAACP Director of Criminal Justice Programs Robert Rooks; State Representative and Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus Ronald G. Waters and students, teachers, and education community leaders.

Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities, conducting voter mobilization and monitoring equal opportunity in the public and private sectors.

[Kimbely Furman]

My point exactly.  When you stated about people who hide.  These are the  o nes that complain about this and that but when its time to come forth - they no longer tobe found like a turtles head into its shell. I don't undestand what are they afraid of?  Who do they fear?  Why sing the song The Lord is my strength, whom shall I fear.  Don't sing what you aren't going to do.  Our sons and daughters, uncles, cousins sitting behind bars for years when some are there for no reason, and we are losing our jobs due to bullying white supervisors who hate us for no reason (GO TO WWW.RUFED-UP.COM) and then the blacks who observe these things not willing to speak up when its time for the investigation.  Because of fear of losing thier job.  (SELF PRESERVATION or TRUTH)?  If you know that there is a God like you say you believe there is one, why sit back in fear instead of speaking up for your own.   
?  No they rather for a white bully to remain in position and see thier own people out all due to them not opening thier mouths.  Uncle Toms do stiill exist believe it ya - IM A WITNESS TO THEM.
Christine R. Rickett said:

If everyone who didn't have a job or only a part time job was out rallying in the poorer neighbors for them to get involved in the issues of jobs and incarcerations, the job market would open up real quick and they would send the people here with visas to their homeland too, in order to open more jobs for us. You know why? They would want to keep black folks too busy working so they could not congregate. 

 

Alot of people talk bad of the NAACP but if you go on their site it is and has been something they have been fighting against and are making headway in. Now, the NAACP all over, consist of imperfect individuals just like you and I. As with most Americans, they come together with different ideas on how a situation may be solved, so there will be disagreements but the fact that we volunteer our time to rally, to raise our voices collectively for all people sakes says alot.

 

The point is you can go on their site to see what is being done.

Now, just like many complain about Obama is not working at all, or not enough or not fast enough, many people say the same about NAACP. But, at least they are out there on the frontline trying and not on the sideline complaining.

 

I am happy though that all of you on this site care about the issue. The fact that you are here may indicate if there has to be an uprising, you will be there instead of hiding as many others.

 

John Luke - I say to you as others say to be when I am exausted. Don't give up. Sometimes it seems hopeless but it just seems that way. We have to stay possitive. I say seem because just as we have some people  putting things up on this site to divert attention - well that is my point. There is alot going on out there to cause diversion from the issues, from the real issues.