PHILADELPHIA, PA — Today, leaders of the #EndTheException coalition — including Worth Rises, Mural Arts Philadelphia, Anti-Recidivism Coalition, and more — hosted a public event in honor of Constitution Day that gathered hundreds of people at Philadelphia’s Independence National Historical Park in support of the Abolition Amendment (SJR 21 and HJR 53). The proposed legislation, sponsored by U.S. Senator Jeff Merkely and U.S. Congresswoman Nikema Williams, would end the exception in the 13th Amendment that, to this day, allows slavery to be used as criminal punishment and enables the exploitation of prison labor across the country.
The full-day public event marked the culmination of the 13-day #ExceptForMe activation series, which brought national attention to the narratives of current and formerly incarcerated people who have been forced to labor under the exception clause. Coalition lead Worth Rises unveiled a 20-foot multimedia installation that spelled out “EXCEPT” in postcards with the images and labor stories of 13 formerly incarcerated people. Attendees were encouraged to remove the postcards off the wall and send them to their Congressmembers to urge support for the Abolition Amendment. The one-day installation was included in a broader art exhibit, showcasing the art and voices of incarcerated people, hosted by Mural Arts Philadelphia. The event also included a panel discussion with national and local formerly incarcerated advocates and educational activities throughout the day.
“Constitution Day commemorates the adoption of the U.S. Constitution — the nation’s most powerful grant of rights upon us as citizens — but the exception in the 13th Amendment is a stain we must remove. To do so, we must see and listen to the people who have been forced to labor under the exception and hidden from our view behind prison walls. This was the idea behind our #ExceptForMe digital and in-person activation series,” said Bianca Tylek, Executive Director of Worth Rises. “I hope that people pay attention to the 13 stories we brought to light in this series and seek out the stories of the millions more still suffering under the exception. Slavery never ended, but it’s time that it does. We join our bill sponsors Senator Jeff Merkley and Congresswoman Nikema Williams in urging Congress to move urgently to pass the Abolition Amendment. It’s way past due that our nation’s leaders put an unequivocal end to slavery for all.”
"Bound people have for centuries provided the labor that has catapulted the development of this country. From slavery to the prison industrial complex, we have displaced, devalued, and used a captive force to build the wealth of this country,” said Akeil Robertson-Jowers, lead artist and coordinator of the Mural Arts Restorative Justice Guild Program. “Mural Arts Philadelphia and national partners stand in recognition of this and are working to bring this underrepresented labor into the light by coordinating with incarcerated people and artists to celebrate their labor, which silently underpins our system. We advocate to advance legislation that pays incarcerated workers equitably, and hope that this project will begin a new conversation about how we compensate the people we charge with some of the most undervalued jobs in our society. Mural Arts is fully committed to this reckoning in the names of the communities decimated by the absence of so many of their loved ones to the prison system.”
On Friday evening, Worth Rises also projected images, with the help of The Illuminator, onto the lawn of The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia demanding an end to the exception, to ensure the issue of prison slavery remained at the forefront of the city’s Constitution Day celebrations. The three images read: “THE 13TH AMENDMENT ABOLISHED SLAVERY. EXCEPT FOR ME.” Then “SLAVERY IS STILL LEGAL. END THE EXCEPTION.” And finally, “PASS THE ABOLITION AMENDMENT!”
In addition to the weekend actions, the 13-day #ExceptForMe activation series illustrated the destructive, real-life impact of prison slavery through powerful original videos featuring the labor stories of formerly incarcerated people, wild postings, film screenings, and a petition delivery on Capitol Hill alongside Senator Merkely and Congresswoman Williams. The delivered petition included over 215,000 signatures. Click here to access photos and videos from all events.
“The fact that prisons in most states are still able to force labor on incarcerated people, oftentimes for the profit of private corporations, is cruel and exploitative. Prison labor is one of the worst aspects of a criminal legal system that dehumanizes millions of people every single day. MoveOn members have been lobbying their members of Congress to end this antiquated, inhumane practice once and for all,” said Arvin Alaigh, Campaign Manager at MoveOn.
Since its introduction in Congress, the Abolition Amendment has garnered growing bipartisan support, with 172 cosponsors in the House and 14 in the Senate. In both chambers, the legislation has support from Judiciary Committee leadership, namely Congressmember Jerry Nadler (D-NY-10) and Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL). At a press event during the petition delivery, Sen. Merkley called for the passage of the Abolition Amendment and pointed to the growing, widespread support behind efforts to remove the exception clause from various state constitutions and the U.S. Constitution.
“We have 5 more states that are considering [removing the exception clause] this November… Every time it has been tested so far, citizens have overwhelmingly said yes, get it out of our constitution,” said Sen. Merkley. “We need to get it out of every state constitution, but why would we take it out of state constitutions and leave it in the U.S. Constitution? The time has long passed that this should have happened. This campaign, #ExceptForMe… is one that’s so important to our nation. It speaks to current-day abuses. It speaks to historic, horrific abuses. It speaks to the heart of a nation that’s striving towards a vision of nondiscrimination and freedom and opportunity. So let’s get it done.”
“Coerced or compelled labor can only foster abuse, dehumanization and discrimination, none of which is conducive to rehabilitation and reentry," said Celina Chapin, Manager of Policy and Advocacy at Anti-Recidivism Coalition. "This Constitution Day, we must affirm the wisdom and justice of our Constitution by coming together and working to remove from it the exception that allows slavery to flourish in this land and in this time, more than 150 years after the passage of the 13th Amendment.”
The #EndTheException coalition is comprised of more than 80 advocacy organizations and state allies including Worth Rises, Mural Art Philadelphia, Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC), Vera Institute of Justice, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), LatinoJustice PRLDEF, Civil Rights Corps. The coalition is part of the Abolish Slavery National Network.
To learn more about #EndTheException and the Abolition Amendment, visit: https://endtheexception.com/
ADDITIONAL COALITION MEMBER AND PARTNER QUOTES:
“This Constitution Day is a reminder that when it comes to the abolition of slavery in this country we have unfinished business and the exception clause to the 13th amendment must be abolished and repealed. Incarcerated people should no longer be deemed “slaves of the state” and should have their full rights and dignity restored to them. Only by setting an example of treating human beings with dignity can we expect them to see dignity in others. As a native Philadelphian, in the birthplace of the constitution, I can say if a state refuses to abolish the last vestiges of slavery, that state itself should be abolished.” — Robert Saleem Holbrook, Executive Director of the Abolitionist Law Center
“Rehabilitation has never been the aim of any prison. The only true positive outcome that may arise out of being caged is personal transformation, and even that possibility is denied when incarcerated individuals are infused with the idea that they are slaves, worth nothing other than to provide the labor necessary to keep them caged. The voices of those whose labor has been coerced, sometimes at the penalty of death, must be heard this Constitution Day. Remove the Exception from the Constitution!” — Jorge Renaud, National Criminal Justice Director at LatinoJustice PRLDEF
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About Worth Rises
Worth Rises is a non-profit advocacy organization dedicated to dismantling the prison industry and ending the exploitation of those it targets. Follow @WorthRises on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
About Mural Arts Philadelphia
Mural Arts Philadelphia is the nation's largest public art program, dedicated to the belief that art ignites change. Mural Arts aims to empower people, stimulate dialogue, and build bridges to understanding with projects that attract artists from Philadelphia and around the world and programs that focus on youth education, restorative justice, mental health and wellness, and public art and its preservation. Follow @muralarts on Twitter and Instagram, @MuralArtsPhiladelphia on Facebook, and phillymuralarts on YouTube.
About Anti-Recidivism Coalition
The Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC) works to end mass incarceration in California. To ensure our communities are safe, healthy, and whole, ARC empowers formerly and currently incarcerated people to thrive by providing a support network, comprehensive reentry services, and opportunities to advocate for policy change. Through our grassroots policy advocacy, we are dedicated to transforming the criminal justice system so that it is more just and equitable for all people. Follow @antirecidivism on Twitter, and @antirecidivismcoalition on Instagram and Facebook.