Join us in reaching out to Western MN constituents and their legislators to broaden the message that opening a private prison is bad for ALL Minnesotans.
Let us know if you need childcare. Questions? Email tommy@takeactionminnesota.org or call him at 651 500 8503.… Continue reading »
Social change in Minnesota is about two things: race and place. We are a state that, geographically speaking, is big. And we are people who are increasingly diverse, especially in terms of race and ethnicity. Each of us experiences life differently based on where we live and the color of our skin.
But there is far more that we share in common. The debate over whether or not to reopen a private prison in southwestern Minnesota threatens to divide rural whites against people of color and Native Americans. And if it does, it’s the owners of that private prison — not our communities — who will profit.
Appleton is a small city in western Minnesota, about 20 miles from the South Dakota border. Incorporated in 1881, it served as a major trade hub, sustained by a booming farm economy for decades. In the early 1990s, the city built a prison, hopeful that it could generate income and jobs, but the gamble didn’t pay off. In 1996, Appleton sold its prison to the largest for-profit prison venture in the country, Corrections Corporation of America (CCA). The prison was open for several years before closing in 2010.
Now with state prisons and county jails over capacity, there is a proposal to reopen the Prairie Correctional Facility.… Continue reading »
James Badue is a member of the Justice 4 All Program at TakeAction Minnesota. He is helping to lead the fight to remove barriers to employment, housing and democracy for Minnesotans impacted by the Justice System. As J4A members gear up to take on new fights, James offers this powerful reflection on the announcement from Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman that there will be no indictment in the shooting of Jamar Clark.
As I sat at the table of Muddy Waters in South side MPLS with Tommy Franklin (Justice 4 All Organizer), Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman’s announcement played live on his laptop. The aggravation of knowing the results before he announced it sat in my chest as I recalled the murder of a friend of mine who was shot and killed by the police on his graduation day. Then Trayvon, Mike Brown, Tamir Rice, Sandra Bland, Walter Scott, Eric Garner, and all the other unknown brothers and sisters who have been murdered by the police with no justice.
In this city, there is no justice, it is just “us”.
Having recently been freed from the walls of imprisonment in 2014, I, like many of us, know what being held accountable for our actions means.… Continue reading »
J4A is hitting the phones again to restore the voting rights for 47,000 Minnesotans. Join us! Register by clicking here.
Questions? Need childcare? Email our Justice 4 All Organizer, Tommy Franklin at Tommy@takeactionminnesota.org or call him at 651-500-8503.… Continue reading »
As a new father, I have learned many tricks for getting my son to fall asleep in the middle of the night. Littering his crib with pacifiers so when he loses one, he can grab another one. Setting the mood with lavender scent and turning on his Ninja Turtle night light that shines stars on the ceiling. Finally, I rock him slowly in my arms, his chest covering my heart, his head on my shoulder, and sing freedom songs.
“We are the children of the ones who did not die.”
“We are the children of a people who can fly!”
“We are fearless, we are strong, we are ready to carry on.”
The last thing my son hears before he falls asleep are the words “We are fearless, we are strong, we are ready to carry on.” My hope is that he learns to always push and fight to help make this world a lil better for all of us. Just like the Leaders of the Justice 4 All Program.
These past few weeks have been busy for the Justice 4 All program. We kicked off the Legislative Session by joining forces with the MPLS NAACP and RTVMN Coalition on Twitter.… Continue reading »
The Minnesota Second Chance Coalition is holding the Second Chance Day on the Hill, annual rally on March 15th, at 10:00 am, at Christ Lutheran Church on Capitol Hill. Join Leaders from the Justice 4 All Program as we rally with our allies and show state lawmakers how important justice reform is to Minnesota. The following statement is from the Co-Chair of the Second Chance Coalition, Josh Esmay.
My name is Josh Esmay; I am the Director of Public Policy and Advocacy at the Council on Crime and Justice, and co-chair of the Second Chance Coalition.
The issue at the heart of the Coalition’s mission- the collateral consequences of criminal records- is one of the most important problems facing our society. In the last 30 years we’ve seen a massive increase in the scope of our criminal justice system. As a result, in Minnesota alone, today an estimated 1 in 4 people have a criminal record. And now, changes in technology have made people’s records incredibly easy to access, causing stigma to permeate nearly every aspect of one’s life, from employment, to housing, to civil engagement and personal relationships. As an attorney, practicing both in the public defender system and at Council on Crime and Justice, I’ve had the privilege of working with many good people whose lives have been devastated by their involvement in the criminal justice system. … Continue reading »
A coalition of Minnesota-based community, faith, labor and civil rights organizations is opposing the public lease of the Prairie Correctional Facility in Appleton, owned by Corrections Corporation of America, a private prison corporation.
The coalition, led by ISAIAH, a faith-based organization of 100 congregations across Minnesota, said that the company has a track record of cutting corners for the sake of profit.
The city of Appleton and Swift County are urging the state to lease the Prairie Correctional Facility to house inmates from Minnesota. Supporters of the lease proposal argue that it resolves issues raised by those who oppose private prison ownership since the state would staff and operate the facility.
Lars Negstad, with ISAIAH, said the organization opposes the lease because it would provide $6 million to possibly $8 million a year to Corrections Corporation of America, benefiting the private corporation and its overall operations.
He said the Appleton economy experienced a bubble that burst when the prison closed.
Leasing the prison risks creating a second economic bubble. It’s not a sustainable economic model for the community, Negstad said.
The group also opposes the state’s purchase of the facility. It would add to the state’s prison bed capacity and work against efforts to reduce the number of people incarcerated in the state.… Continue reading »
At TakeAction Minnesota’s Justice 4 All Program, I have found a home. Since being convicted of a felony more than a decade ago, I have long felt like an orphan to American society. And like many orphans, I ran away. I may not have always been conscious of it, but I was running. By running, I was postponing my truth. Joining the fight as the new Justice 4 All Organizer has allowed me to give my truth a makeover.
Trying to overcome the stain of your criminal background is like being sequestered in a deep sea submarine, with no clear idea of when you’ll resurface. Or, it’s as if you’re climbing a mountain, and you’re clever enough to find the least treacherous path to the top, only to discover that your entry to the top is not granted, because you left something at the bottom of the mountain. You’re then told that you must go back down the mountain, pick up your criminal record, and climb back up the most difficult route-the nearly impossible route-and if you do that, only then will you barely be considered being let all the way to the top. Now, it is very likely that, we, the formerly incarcerated, left with no other choice, will assess that alternative plan and deem it unworthy, that there is little to no opportunity or incentive to reroute and climb the mountain all over again.… Continue reading »
Emily Terrell is a Leader with the Justice 4 All Program at TakeAction Minnesota. As a
photographer she aims to document the progressive movement and as a counselor she 
works with young women in the Juvenile Justice System leading restorative practices. See her work on display this Wednesday, Feb 17th at an event sponsored by the MPLS NAACP.
I believe that stories are powerful. Spending time with people, hearing their stories, and collectively finding meaning within them is what I do, and it is my life’s work.
It is why I was excited to partner with Justice 4 All on the Restore the Vote project. Because there are 47,000 stories in Minnesota that are not being heard by our body politic. 47,000 faces, names, histories, experiences, hurts, successes and perspectives that are excluded from the decision-making process.
Through the Restore the Vote project, I wanted to capture some of those faces, some of those perspectives, and make sure that the stories were told, even if they can’t do it at the ballot box, yet.
Justice 4 All and their community partners engaged the state of Minnesota in a rigorous campaign last session. I was invited to the Restore the Vote Panel and Exhibit hosted by the Minneapolis NAACP to share photography that highlights the stories of real people, people who are not able to have a voice in their democracy and who’re still fighting to change this, with the support of many allies, because we still haven’t won.… Continue reading »
Last week the Justice 4 All Program was supportive of an event at Lino Lakes led by a group of incarcerated men called the B.R.I.D.G.E Trust. This group is led by Kevin Reese who, even though he is incarcerated, has organized not just the men at the prison, but several community partners, the MN Dept. of Corrections (DOC) and the Governor’s office to take note of the powerful work they are leading to advance prison reform.
It is my pleasure to share Kevin Reese’s wisdom on the issue of Voting Rights Restoration with you. Please share with your people.
My name is Kevin Reese, and I’m 28 and I’ve been in prison since I was 18. I take full responsibility for my actions that led me here. The state of Minnesota sentenced me to 22 years to pay my debt to society, and paying my debt is what I’ve been doing. I’ve completed every mandate that the judge placed in front of me, and tapped into every resource the prison can offer.
Now I want to pose the question: after I pay my debt is it too much for me to ask for my receipt? And on that receipt can we acknowledge that, jobs, community, and family are the cornerstones to keeping people from ending up back in prison?… Continue reading »
A Minnesota commission has heard both support and concern for easing the penalties for possession and drug dealing ahead of an impending vote on drug-sentencing changes.
The Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission received emotional testimony Wednesday as members weighed a proposal for drug-crime leniency. The main plan before them would cut two to three years off sentences for first-degree drug sales and reduce the severity levels assigned to first-degree drug possession and second-degree drug crimes. There would also be flexible sentences for other crimes and considerations for treatment for chemically dependent defendants.
People with prior felony convictions spoke of their trouble escaping addictions that made them into criminals. Faith leaders and other backers of an overhaul said drug laws have been too draconian and exacerbated racial disparities in the prison system.
Randy Anderson, a three-time felon in recovery for a cocaine addiction, told the panel that the assumption that all dealers are dangerous is ludicrous. At the height of his addiction, he was charged with possessing more than 1,000 grams of cocaine.
“I didn’t burglarize, I didn’t assault anyone, hell, I even paid my taxes,” Anderson said.
Robert Small, executive director of the Minnesota County Attorneys Association, said law enforcement is worried about sending the wrong message to drug dealers and users.… Continue reading »
My name is Nicole, and I’m a working mother of two who wants the best for my family and all others who’ve been impacted by the criminal justice system. That’s why I decided to connect with the Justice For All Program at TakeAction as soon as I found out about it.
On Election Day, I was invited to participate in the #RestoreTheVoteMn Twitter storm led 
by Jason Sole. The goal was to help raise awareness of disenfranchisement laws in Minnesota. As someone who has been through the justice system, I was more than happy to join forces with others like myself and community advocates who all fully understand the scope of this problem.
Currently in Minnesota, there are at least 47,000 men and women who are denied the right to vote, even after completing their time in prison. That’s 47,000 of our fellow Minnesotans who remain voiceless during our democratic process. I strongly believe that disenfranchisement laws in this state are wrong and serve no purpose other than the continued oppression of a sect of people who are told to rehabilitate themselves yet, continue to face obstacles at every turn.
I’m reminded of this every day, as I work hard to live with dignity alongside my family.… Continue reading »
Two years ago last week in front of an audience of 300 people, Target announced their support for Ban the Box and the adoption of the policy for their company. Justice for A
ll (J4A) leaders and our allies fought long and hard to make that happen and earlier this week we had another victory with President Obama.
On Monday, Nov 2nd, 2015, President Obama issued an Executive Order to Ban the Box for all Federal jobs. This is something we have been working on with allies for months. Last week we had the opportunity to tell Senior Advisor to the President Valarie Jarrett the Target story and backed it up with 100,030 pettition signatures and letters from men incarcerated at Lino Lakes.
Fred Hampton once said “Those who dare to struggle, dare to win. Those who dare not struggle… Don’t deserve to win.” I am proud to say, that in J4A we dare to struggle and that is why we win.
Why do we take on BIG fights (Target, the White House, Restoration of Voting Rights)? We dare to struggle because anything else would be submission to a Justice System that targets our families for profit and demolition.
We dare to struggle because even when we win we know there is more work to do.… Continue reading »
Join our phone bank to pass the Working Families Agenda in Minneapolis!
Right now, the Working Families Agenda in Minneapolis — an ordinance that includes earned paid sick leave, advance notice of work schedule & protections against wage theft– is being considered by the Minneapolis City Council. We need your help to ensure it passes this year.
Far too many working people, especially women and people of color, are being forced to live in poverty and without workplace protections. We have the opportunity to change this in Minnesota.
Come join a team of folks who want to make sure working families are treated with dignity in Minneapolis. Let’s phone bank to pass the Working Families Agenda. It’s grassroots at its best!
Training is provided.… Continue reading »
We can change who benefits in our economy when we change who decides in our democracy. It is because we believe in this simple idea that we as members of TakeAction Minnesota spend so much time, attention and energy at the State Capitol during legislative session.
Because we want a state where all of us can thrive, prosper and live life to the fullest, TakeAction Minnesota and our member organizations work on a number of issues that are the essence of what we all need to be whole people, fully alive. Each of us needs health care we can depend on and work that is dignified. We need a voice in the decisions that affect us and a criminal justice system that is just that – just – for all people regardless of the color of our skin or class. We need quality schools, clean water, and healthy food.
Contrary to what we read in the paper or see on TV, there is more to what happens at the legislature than what Republicans and Democrats say about each other. Legislative session is where the people’s interests – our interests – collide with those of powerful corporations and wealthy elites. Since legislative session wrapped up last week, now is a good time to take stock of how we – the people – fared in the decisions that our elected leaders made.… Continue reading »
Last weekend, strong, bi-partisan language that would restore the right to vote to 47,000 Minnesotans stalled at the Capitol.
Thousands of Minnesotans like you took action this year to move this campaign forward — Minnesotan’s like Debra, who fought every week to honor the memory of her son.
Debra’s family is just one of many that knows the pain of being isolated from the community — and also the joy of being part of our democracy. Her story is why we fought this year, and why we’ll keep fighting.
“I am in the fight to restore the vote for my son.
He was a great child, and as he grew older he had run-ins with the justice system that resulted in his incarceration. After his release, he did all he could to show everyone that he was a better man, father, and citizen. But the system wouldn’t allow that. He could not sign a lease to stay and support his family. He could not vote to change discriminatory laws. Because of his criminal record he faced barriers to moving on with his life. For years, my son battled depression, expressing tear-filled frustrations to me because of his unfair treatment.
In 2012, after waiting what seemed like a lifetime, a little blue slip of paper came in the mail.… Continue reading »
Nathanal Doehling is a Leader with the Justice 4 All Program at TakeAction Minnesota. He has been through the Justice System and is dedicated to making sure all people have a fair shot at a job and a voice in their Democracy. Here’s a blog by him on the campaign to restore the vote:
It is no accident that over 47k people have been locked out of their Democracy. It is no accident that over 20k of those people are people of color. Since we know it’s not an accident and those who make the laws know it’s no accident, let’s correct the language being used. The system is not broken. It is working the way it was intended to. Locking up people of color and locking us out of our Democracy.
But a problem that is people made can be people solved. People on all sides of the political spectrum using our vote and our voice is the only way we can change the way things are.
But sometimes this problem can feel bigger than an elephant.
How do you eat an elephant? One bite a time! How do you eat a donkey? One bite at a time! I don’t see me eating any elephants or donkeys but I do know that the system has made a meal off of our communities for too long.… Continue reading »
With the right to vote being questioned in states throughout the nation, representatives from neighboring states are calling on Congress to amend the Constitution to ensure citizens’ rights to vote.
Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) and Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI) gathered this past Thursday (April 9) with organizers in North Minneapolis to rally support for an amendment that would end what they called an assault on voting rights throughout the nation. The pair of Democratic representatives said they are trying to build bipartisan support for the proposed amendment, but say most challenges to voting are coming from the Republican right.
“Coming from Wisconsin we have some of the best to show for in the past in this area (of protecting the right to vote), and some of the worst in the current,” said Pocan, referring to current Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who pushed through legislation in the state calling for all voters to have government issued identification in order to cast ballots. “The fact is we have politicians trying to select the voters rather than voters selecting the politicians and the people most affected are often minorities, the elderly and students – people who don’t typically vote Republican.”
Ellison, who was among those who championed the defeat of a bill to restrict voting in Minnesota in 2012, said there needs to be uniform protections to preserve the right to vote in America.… Continue reading »
This week leaders from the Justice 4 All Program will be hosting a rally for the 47,000 Minnesotans being denied the vote by our Justice System. Jason Sole is a Professor at Metro State University and a respected trainer and advocate for Justice Reform. Jason has a compelling story to tell that you can read in his book “From Prison to PHD.”
Below are remarks Jason made in support of voting rights restoration. I invite you to read his story and come out and join us as we rally this week to make these 47,000 voices heard.
As a young black man in America, I got into trouble and tried to defend myself in the only ways I knew how. I felt there was nowhere for me to run for protection. I paid the price and took responsibility for my actions, but now, even though I’ve been on probation since 2006, I will not be able to vote until 2026.
Across the world, we are hearing people screaming that Black lives matter. But according to Minnesota, with respect to voting, Black and Native American lives don’t matter at all because we are the most disenfranchised.… Continue reading »
Right now, 47,000 Minnesotans are denied the right to vote. Parents who can’t vote for the candidates on their children’s school board. Neighbors who can’t control who represents their interests on city council and have no control over important mayoral and government races. Our family members that have moved forward, while the system is doing what it does best: holding folks back.
A bill to change that has strong bipartisan support at the Capitol, but has stalled in the State House. It’s time to bring the noise to our legislators’ doors.
Join us at the Capitol on April 16th, 2015 as we rally to make 47,000 voices heard. Time to restore the vote!… Continue reading »
There are enough Minnesotans being denied the right to vote to theoretically line the highway between MPLS and St. Cloud. These are people working and paying taxes. Parents who can’t vote for school board, people who have spent time in a cell but can’t vote for Judges responsible for sentencing. And for what? What do we gain as a society from stopping these 50,000 Minnesotans from influencing who governs them?
Last month, over 100 people from communities impacted by the justice system took to the phones at TakeAction Minnesota to fight for the restoration of voting rights. These were new partners like Minneapolis Mad Dads, Better Futures MN, Change Equals Opportunity (C.E.O.), Ujama Place and NdCAD. Progressive allies like the Communication Workers of America (CWA) and the Restore the Vote Coalition.
Together we made over 12,000 calls to connect Minnesotans to their legislators asking them to support the restoration of voting rights. Out of the folks who took action with us, one third knew someone with a criminal record.
We have strong bi-partisan support with over 30 Republican legislators signed-on on to the bill, and communities are asking elected officials at the Capitol to do the right thing and give every day Minnesotans a voice in their democracy.… Continue reading »
Join the Justice 4 All Program as we support the Restore the Vote MN Coalition and hit the phones. Minnesotans across the state need to talk about the restoration of voting rights for 47,000 Minnesotans.
House File 342 and Senate File 335 will restore voting rights for everyday people living in our community, paying taxes but are being silenced on Election Day. We have strong bipartisan support and can win if legislators know how important this issue is to us.
Join the Justice 4 All Program as we conduct part II of our orientation to help develop a vision for our community. We will be specifically focusing on the perception of our communities (Dominant Narrative) and how to effectively use our personal stories to show the realities of where we live!
Today I’m sending a letter to Sandra Johnson, the Bloomington City Attorney who has charged 11 people for protesting at the Mall of America last December. I wanted to share it with you here. Take a look, and join us in encouraging Ms. Johnson to drop the charges by sharing this with your friends and family on Facebook and Twitter. Always feel free to get in touch and let me know what you think.
…
March 5, 2015
Sandra Johnson, City Attorney
City of Bloomington
1800 West Old Shakopee Road
Bloomington, MN 55431-3027
Dear Ms. Johnson,
I ask that you to use your legal authority and moral responsibility to work toward racial justice and choose not prosecute the 11 members of #BlackLivesMatter who peacefully protested at the Mall of America on December 20, 2014.
The #BlackLivesMatter movement has done much to reveal the profound impacts of our nation’s racism. It is a forum where new and emerging community leaders all across the country, people who are most harmed by these structural inequities, have said the killing of black people by police must stop. It is also a space where white allies can stand in solidarity against these injustices. I am one of those white allies. … Continue reading »
In the ubiquitous epic Shawshank Redemption convict Andy Dufresne counsels: “Remember Red, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things and no good thing ever dies.”
Unlike Andy, Take Action Minnesota leader Larcell Mack could not escape his 17-year prison sentence with a rock hammer and a sultry Raquel Welch poster. An errant, ricocheting bullet killed a fleeing associate and changed his life.
He did hard time taking advantage of every rehabilitation tool available. He finished his GED and then Associate degree. Along the way, he eagerly completed courses in Microsoft Office, drafting, carpentry, painting and floor covering. After his release, Mack passed all milestones, becoming active in his church and community and is now a workforce counselor dedicated to making a difference…
Justice 4 All, a Twin Cities-based organization, promotes giving the thousands of Minnesotans with criminal records a second chance at becoming productive members of society.
Justin Terrell, program manager for Justice 4 All, gave a presentation Monday at Bethel Lutheran Church on behalf of his campaign.
“We want to make sure people are stepping out, rather than stepping back into their old ways,” Terrell said during Monday’s presentation during a League of Women Voters meeting.
A total of nearly 60,000 people were turned away from polls in the 2014 election due to felony convictions, according to a New York University study.
Unclear voting laws prevent even more felons from voting in Minnesota, said Jessica Rohloff, leader of League of Women Voters.
Click here for the full article and video from the event.… Continue reading »
This past election 60,000 Minnesotans were denied the right to vote because of the Justice System. These are folks living in the community, paying taxes (if they can find a job), and being turned away at the polls because they are on probation or parole for a felony conviction.
Let me put it this way — that is enough people to fill Target Field one and half times. If you add up how many African Americans in MN have had their right to vote taken away, it is enough to fill half the Twins Stadium!
Fifty years ago, Martin Luther King Jr. marched from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama to demand African Americans have a fair shot at the ballot box. Fifty years later we are still fighting for the same thing.
Join us at Second Chance Day on the Hill where we will rally and meet with elected officials (Republicans and Democrats) and ask them to support the Restoration of Voting Rights for our Minnesotans across the state.
For more about Justice 4 All visit http://50.87.249.163/~takeacu7/work/criminal-justice-reform/
For more info about #RestoreTheVote http://restorethevotemn.org/
Oh yeah, one more thing about jobs. Below is a list of local entry level job opportunities. Please share with folks who need some encouragement in their job search.… Continue reading »
On this Halloween, only four days away from a major election, there are a few things I am pretty darn scared for in our state if every eligible voter in our state DOESN’T get out to the polls by 8pm on November 4th.
Here they are:
1. We will continue to have the worst-in-the-nation voting gap between voters of color and white voters. We will not hear the voices, demands, and needs from people of color. Our votes = our representation. No vote. No representation.
2. More of us losing our voting rights. Right now, people living in our community who have served their time but are still on probation/parole do not have the right to vote. If we don’t vote, that will just be the beginning of silencing as many voices in our community as possible.
3. Our kids’ future. Our votes determine what kind of laws and policies we are able to create to make our lives and our future better. Future generations are relying on me and you to vote for them.
4. Our countries prisons have become something someone can profit on. The same people who build those prisons, locking people in our community up and out, are the same ones who rely on progressives like me and you to NOT vote, so they can build more prisons and profit more off of our communities.… Continue reading »
Mass incarceration is hurting our families and communities. But now’s the time to build the power to fight back.
Due to over-policing, harsh drug laws and barriers to jobs and voting, families in our community are being drained of wealth and opportunity. Racial and economic gaps are widening and our community remains largely locked out of our democracy and access to the opportunities we need.
We can change that — but only if we show up to vote. Polls are open at City Hall on Monday, November 3 until 5pm. On Tuesday, November 4 cast your ballot at your neighborhood polling place between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. You can register in-person. Find your polling place here.
Let’s make sure our community’s voices are heard! The lives of people of color getting better depends on US casting ballots to make sure our concerns are priorities for the people we elect. We can’t wait to EXPAND THE VOTE and build community power with you.
Questions or comments? Contact Kandace Montgomery, Justice 4 All Organizer (Northside Based). kandace@takeactionminnesota.org, 207-459-6320… Continue reading »
