As a member of Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, I’ve had my eyes opened and my heart broken on a number of occasions when folly and denial have held in place a prison system that does not work in place. Particularly in the non violent drug offenders held in prison, and a legal system that does not recognize that The War on Drugs is a failure. The expense to human beings, and the tax paying public who pay a huge price for continuing to treat drug offenses with prison has in the past few years received national attention in the glare of the reports on mass incarceration. Even with the common knowledge that prisons do little to rehabilitate, educate or treat mental or physical conditions that bring many to prison, the beliefs and practice of attitudes that support War On Drugs persists, and holds back needed progress.
Why we should care that #SB966 the Drug Reform Bill failed in the California Assembly Public Safety Committee is because the RISE ACT responded to the need for reform, and provided the means. With only four votes needed to pass, of the five Democrats Assembly Members Jones, Quirk, and Lopez voted to pass the bill, and Assembly Members Low and Santiago even though they represent progressive district abstained.
“Despite 30-plus years of data which clearly demonstrates that the ‘War on Drugs’ has been a failure both in practice and in outcome, I am surprised by the lack of motivation on the part of my colleagues to acknowledge this failure and to do something about it,” said Senator Holly Mitchell, who authored the bill.
Witnessing over the past seven years the work of Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, they bring together communities and supporters willing to address and change the inequities many tolerate, deny or justify. But as Emily Harris, Statewide Field Director said: The RISE Act 2017 will be reintroduced. The relentless spirit of the many who supported #SB966 will again face and bring awareness to the injustices that separate thousands of families and overcrowd prisons. And with that, they will bring an even stronger demand that our elected officials respond to the need for change in drug laws, and address and reform the failure of our public policy.