North Carolina is one of two states in the nation where all 16- and 17-year-olds are prosecuted as adults --even for low-level, non-violent offenses. Black youth are more likely to be arrested for minor offenses and treated more harshly than white youth at all stages of the justice system. They bear the brunt of policies that prosecute youth as adults.
Below is the email we sent to North Carolina ColorOfChange members today. We're asking them to call on their state legislators to vote this month to stop prosecuting children in the adult criminal justice system. Please take a look and pass along to someone you know in North Carolina. Together, we can get the state legislature to do what's right and raise the minimum age.
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Last night, ColorOfChange joined forces with Kevin Powell (activist, award-winning writer, and The Guardian blogger), Akila Worksongs and MoveOn.org to host an event demanding justice for Trayvon Martin. Here's why House of the Lord Church in Brooklyn was packed: Hip-hop artist & activist Jasiri X performed his powerful track, "A Song for Trayvon," live.
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Today, President Barack Obama spoke about the Trayvon Martin tragedy. After explaining that he would expect all parents to understand the anguish the boy's parents are experiencing, President Obama said, "If had a son, he'd look just like Trayvon." Please watch, share with your friends and family and join us in demanding justice.
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Just now getting up to speed and want to make sure you have all the facts of this heartbreaking story straight? Mother Jones has been following the case closely and updating daily. It's a great resource that we suggest you check out.
Their reporting has pulled together key pieces of information, including the chilling 911 recordings that have been made public, details of Trayvon's last phone call, and information about the so-called "Stand Your Ground" laws.
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More than 2,000 people rallied Wednesday night at the #MillionHoodies March in New York City. ColorOfChange Executive Director Rashad Robinson joined Trayvon Martin's parents, Sabrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, and local organizers to demand that the killer of the 17-year-old Florida boy be brought to justice.
As Rashad shared with the crowd, every day at ColorOfChange "...we hear stories from mothers about the fears they have for their young Black boys in America... the criminal justice system that does not see them as humans, does not see their humanity."
Check out our photos from this week's rally. And if you haven't already joined the campaign, please do here:
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This absolutely Breaks my Heart. I have a son who just turned 18 and everyday I worry about him making it to his 30th Birthday; because like so many other Mothers and Fathers of Black Male children you PRAY they are not accused, detained, incarcerated are even Killed because of the color of their skin and the Extreme Prejudiced of others. -- Amirah B., Desoto, TX
The senseless killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin been a tragic reminder of the fears Black folks face every day in the U.S. Today, we were so moved by the powerful and insightful comments our members have left along with their petition signatures, we wanted to share some of them here:
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UPDATE: (03/21/12) DOJ announces it will investigate, ColorOfChange responds.
Today, ColorOfChange has launched a campaign calling on the Department of Justice to investigate the killing of Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman. Please join us.
You'll also want to check out this video created by hip-hop activist Jasiri X. In it, he tells Trayvon's story and puts to words and music what many of us are feeling as we watch this devastating story unfold in Florida. Please watch it and ask your family and friends to do the same.
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Youth incarcerated at a privately-run correctional facility in Mississippi will no longer have to live in a nightmarishly abusive and violent environment. They will no longer be regularly subjected to beatings, sexual abuse, and long periods of solitary confinement. Earlier this week, a settlement was announced in a federal lawsuit that demands that children who are housed at the facility be moved elsewhere. The facility is run by the GEO Group, the nation's second-largest operator of private prisons.
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This February we've celebrated Black History Month by highlighting some of ColorOfChange's most dynamic campaigns -- moments that captured national attention and spoke directly to the Black experience in America. We recalled our founding moment in the aftermath of Katrina, the multidimensional movement to free the Jena Six, and the effort to save Troy Davis' life and challenge our broken criminal justice system.
Let us know in the comments section what you thought of our Black History Month series. And if you aren't already a member, please join us here.
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Troy Davis captured our hearts and minds. Once just one of the more than 1,300 Black people on death row, Davis' case had drawn both grassroots support and the attention of noted political and religious leaders in recent years because of the many indications that Davis may well have been innocent. ColorOfChange members were outraged by Davis' situation and heartbroken when we were unable to help save his life. But his case remains a source of motivation and inspiration as the movement to eradicate racial bias in the criminal justice system continues.
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