January 6, 2018
An in-depth look at the United States’ prison system and how it reveals the nation’s history of racism.
After viewing part of the film, we brainstormed actions we can take, including:
Developing skills and resources:
- Join a free 10-week study group in Brattleboro VT, hosted by Lost River Racial Justice (registration is now closed for the group)
- People of all races come together in solidarity to get to know one another
- Bishop Desmond Tutu’s Forgiveness Project
- Read Stamped From The Beginning by Ibram X. Kendri
Working for system change:
- Equal Justice Initiative and Just Mercy, a book by Brian Stevenson, on ending mass incarceration and excessive punishment
- Real Cost of Prisons Project
- Organize to make it legal for people currently and formerly incarcerated to vote
- Many people are incarcerated just because they cannot afford bail: National Bail Out/No More Money Bail
- Poor People’s Campaign, a national call for a moral revival
- Swing Left, Take Back The House (locally, group is forming in Amherst MA), and other work on mid-term elections
- You may want to consider civil disobedience. If you do, prepare yourself by taking a nonviolence training. For local trainings, see The Sojourner Truth School for Social Change Leadership
Offering personal support:
- Experienced mothers offer personal support to incarcerated mothers and mothers-to-be
- Visit people who are incarcerated
- Write letters to people who are incarcerated
- Donate to or volunteer with a group that sends books to people who are incarcerated. Our local group is Great Falls Books Through Bars.