I watched the Justice Votes 2020 forum held on Oct. 28 in New Jersey’s Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site, a former prison, sponsored by The Marshall Project and hosted by Voters Organized To Educate—the first presidential town hall hosted by formerly incarcerated leaders, with an audience of formerly incarcerated people and criminal justice organizers and activists. Since this not only was a groundbreaking event, the first of its kind, but was covering the criminal justice (or injustice) system, I made it my business to tune in.
From the announcement of the event:
“This historic town hall marks an important step toward centering the voices of those directly impacted by mass incarceration, and in recognizing us as citizens with an equal stake in our political system,” said Lawrence Bartley, director of News Inside, who himself regained his rights as a citizen after being released on parole. “In 2018, a friend asked if my parole officer had informed me of my right to vote. When I responded that she had not, he made a call on my behalf. Hours later, someone from the parole office came to The Marshall Project’s office building and delivered a pardon signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo that temporarily restored my right to vote. I was elated and felt like I had taken another step toward complete freedom.”
Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Tom Steyer have confirmed their participation in today’s town hall. While many Democratic candidates have made criminal justice reform a part of their platform, supporting policies such as ending cash bail or the federal use of private prisons, only a few agreed to discuss their policy positions with people who have been directly involved in the criminal justice system.
