POST 5 Mass Incarceration and the Center for Constitutional Rights
The Center for Constitutional rights is an organization and movement that dedicates their work to fighting oppression, mass incarceration, and injustice. The goal of the Center for constitutional rights is to derail oppression systems. The mission statement of the organization reads, “We live in a world that legitimizes the systemic oppression of poor people, people of color, and other vulnerable communities through the law.” I contacted the organization to learn more about their perception of mass incarceration and for a quick interview. I was led to Chandra M. Hayslett, the communications director for Center for Constitutional rights. Chandra Hayslett’s job with the organization is to lead the advocacy and legal departments. She has received multiple awards such as the Responsible Journalism Award from the New Jersey Press Association, Best New Diversity Initiative by the PR Council, and more! She has a Bachelor’s degree in Arts in African-American Studies form Tennessee university and a was a managing supervisor at G&S communications.
I proceeded to ask Chandra, “What do you think the main cause of mass incarceration is?” I awaited her answer and noticed a long pause. Chandra then assured, “Systematic Racism.”
Systematic Racism is defined as “a form of racism practiced in social and political institutions and reflects disparities, which include health care, criminal justice, housing and other societal factors” (McBrady, 2017).
I asked Chandra about the Center for Constitutional rights organization and what they do to fight the issues that they face in regard to mass incarceration. She referred to three main points of “Litigation, Advocacy, and Narrative shifting.” She explained that they use advocacy through public leadership, campaigns and more. She explained that their goal is to use social media to express the voices of those impacted and truths to the world.
I continued to question Chandra about what makes a community vulnerable, Chandra referred to the mission statement and explained that the communities targeted are usually ones with minimal access to law resources. She also explained that there is an imbalance of power and this leaves people susceptible and an easy target to injustice, racial inequality, and mass incarceration.
I ended the interview with hopes of action. I inquired, “Where and how are the donations used to fight oppression and systematic racism.”
She explained, “If you look at our website, we have fourteen different issue areas, and people can designate what issue they want their money to be allocated for.”
I proceeded with a final question, “What can we do to stop mass incarceration.”
Chandra replied, “We must reform the criminal justice system.”
Chandra feels that the problem of Mass Incarceration is systematic and must be tackled within the criminal law enforcement system. She explained that advocacy, and campaigns are amongst things we can do to fight the oppression.
To complete my study, I developed a survey to test the occurrence rate of racial inequality and its effect on people. I asked five questions to 25 people:
“1. I feel nervous or scared when I see the police.
2. I have been pulled over for an insufficient reason.
3. I have experienced Racism or racial inequality in some way.
4. I am African American
5. I have been or know someone incarcerated.”
75% of the participants feel nervous or scared when they see the police. 60% of the participants felt that they have been pulled over for an insufficient reason. 100% felt that they have experienced racial inequality or injustice in some way and all participants were African American. A giant 87% of the participants know someone who has been incarcerated or have been incarcerated themselves. This survey shows the severity of systematic oppression and it shows that people we see and know in our everyday lives experience racial injustice.
Work Cited:
McBrady, M. (2017, Mar 01). Confronting racism. University Wire Retrieved from https://search-proquest-com.jpllnet.sfsu.edu/docview/2113588356?accountid=13802
“Join Us in the Fight for Justice.” Center for Constitutional Rights, ccrjustice.org/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&id=1.
