Proposition 6 Press Conference San Francisco City Hall

 My name is Jamilia Land.  I am the co-founder of the Abolish Slavery National Network.  We are a national coalition working tirelessly to remove involuntary servitude from state constitutions. 

To date, we have successfully removed this language in Alabama, Tennessee, Vermont, Oregon, and are proud to announce that this year, both California and Nevada are on the ballot.  Four years ago, I walked the halls of this building searching for a legislator to take up the proposal my ex-husband and I had drafted, which became ACA III. At the height of COVID, I realized something had to be done.  As progressive as California claims to be, we have allowed constitutional slavery to persist through the use of involuntary servitude. We even codified it in our penal code.  California Penal Code Section 2700 states that every able-bodied incarcerated person in a California prison must perform as many hours of labor as prescribed by the director of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.  If that doesn’t sound like legalized slavery, I don’t know what does.  I want to take a moment to thank the incredible men and women standing behind us today, representing hundreds of years of people forced into involuntary servitude.  It is time for California to get on the right track and declare that we will no longer prioritize forced labor over rehabilitation.  This is a monumental effort. Beyond California and Nevada being on the ballot this year, we also have Senate Joint Resolution 33, which aims to close the loophole left by the Thirteenth Amendment.  It is time for this state and this country to say no more.  Vote yes on Proposition 6. 

I cannot stress enough how important this election is—it is one of the most critical of our lifetime. On the ballot, we have the first African-American woman running for president of the United States. We also have the opportunity to get on the right side of history by eliminating involuntary servitude from our state constitution.

I urge you to spread the word, educate your communities, and make it known that California is a progressive state. We will no longer stand for forced labor in our prisons or anywhere else.

Prisoners are people too, and they deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.

While chattel slavery may have ended long ago, its remnants persist today in the form of forced labor within our carceral system.

Looking at the incredible individuals standing behind me—representing hundreds of years of combined incarceration and forced labor—I cannot help but emphasize the urgency of this moment. These individuals were denied the ability to provide for their families because the state of California forced them to work.

We are not doing this anymore.

Vote yes on Proposition 6.

 My name is Jamilia Land. I am the co-founder of the Anti-Violence Safety and Accountability Project and the Co-Director of State Operations for the Abolish Slavery National Network. We are part of a national coalition that has successfully worked to remove unjust clauses from state constitutions.  Let me start with a question: How many of you have ever stepped inside a prison? How many of you have a loved one or community member who has been incarcerated and needed support? These questions highlight the myths we need to address, and I want to thank Jay for shedding light on some of them.  We have been socially indoctrinated to believe that work is equivalent to rehabilitation. It is not. We live in a state that prides itself on being one of the most progressive in the country and entered the Union as a free state. Yet, our laws do not reflect that reality.  Our Constitution still permits involuntary servitude as a form of punishment, and we have codified this practice in our Penal Code. Penal Code Section 2700 mandates that every able-bodied person incarcerated in California prisons must perform as many hours of faithful labor as prescribed by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. If this isn’t legalized constitutional slavery, I don’t know what is.  Are you aware of an agency called CalPIA, the California Prison Industry Authority? CalPIA produces a wide array of goods, including this podium I’m standing at, the chairs in this room, and even the desks in your offices. This system goes beyond wages; it’s about humanizing a population that has been relegated to the darkest corners of subhumanity since this country’s founding.  We live in a nation whose Constitution once declared that people who look like me and many of us in this room were only 3/5 of a human being for purposes of representation. This socially constructed notion has long devalued our lives.  Let’s be clear: this issue isn’t just about wages. It’s about dignity and humanity. California has an opportunity to right these wrongs, to humanize the men and women behind carceral walls, and to show the world that we are truly a progressive state. It’s time to put an end to legalized constitutional slavery once and for all. Thank you. 

 Calvin Alonzo Coleman's story is a heartbreaking testament to the deep flaws in our justice system. Wrongfully convicted in a 10-2 Jim Crow jury verdict, he has languished behind bars for over 22 years for a crime he did not commit. The U.S. Supreme Court has deemed the trial scheme unconstitutional, yet Calvin's pursuit of justice remains elusive. The evidence supporting his innocence is staggering—eyewitnesses initially excluded him during the 9-1-1 call, and the State allowed these witnesses to later falsely testify against him. Crucial exonerating details were deliberately kept from Calvin and his defense, perpetuating an egregious miscarriage of justice. Louisiana's State History of railroading individuals has earned international condemnation, leaving countless lives shattered by unfathomable injustice. Calvin, a lifelong Freedom Fighter, epitomizes resilience and dedication in the face of an unjust system. His voice, amplified through platforms like Abolition Today and abolitionist conferences, echoes the urgent need for reform. Calvin's enduring struggle serves as a stark reminder that our fight against wrongful convictions is not just for him but for all those who have suffered unjustly. It's time to rectify the profound injustice inflicted upon our brother Calvin—a man who has endured far too long for a crime he did not commit. #JusticeForCalvinColeman #EndWrongfulConvictions #WrongfullyConvicted #EndNonUnanimousJuries