Amend the 13th Amendment #NoExceptions

In lue of the long violent summer Los Angeles and the Nation faced in 2020, we see some light appear with the November election cycle seeing several leftist grassroots electoral victories, including Ground Game LA’s own Nithiya Ramen. With some power in an elected official position, these policies of prosecuting killer cops, abolishing ice and ending systematic racism are more obtainable.

Sylvester Ani and several other Sunrise LA organizers met with newly elected District Attorney for Los Angeles County, George Gascon on Friday (12/4) this past week. They talked about the policies he’s unveiling to reform our criminal justice system and to highlight the work of individuals who have been organizing around this for years.

Q: Do you think this call was a sign of George Gascon holding true to his word of bringing grassroots organizations and directly impacted community members to the table?

A: Yes, what most impressed me, was the raw emotion of the organizers who felt they had someone to believe in with Gascon, to help with the plan on the inside.

My biggest take away was his acknowledgement that the 13th Amendment was at the root of the current state of mass incarceration in Los Angeles. His willingness to stand up against the Los Angeles Police Union was impressive and he acknowledged that they would come after him, so he asked grassroots communities to continue organizing and to hold everyone accountable, including himself. He told people to trust the process.

Gascon sent out a series of tweets on Monday all stating blueprint plans for his new role as acting District Attorney. One that really stood out for Sylvester was,

“For decades those who profit off of incarceration have used their enormous political influence-cloaked in the false veil of safety-to scare the public and our elected officials into backing racist policies that created more victims, destroyed budget, and shattered our moral” — George Gascon LA District Attorney

Q:

What examples from this quote have been seen in Los Angeles?

A:

It’s a crime that the Los Angeles City Budget has over 50% going toward the police, where 7% is going to Public Works and 6% going to Parks & Rec. If you strip a community of what it has, and your response is to overpolice those communities, how are those communities supposed to get out of those environments of crime and poverty?

One of my favorite Martin Luther King Jr. quotes, that says “I believe that we can do all we can, we ought to lift ourselves up to by own our bootstraps, but it’s a cruel gest to tell a bootless man to lift himself up by his own bootstraps when LA has been left bootless, after all these years of racist legislation, overcriminalization and over policing.

First off, by this week, I want to finally end slavery and completely remove it from our State’s Constitution. All we are saying to America is be true to what you said on paper, “Everyone is supposed to be Equal”? That means no slaves. Under any circumstance. Once we eliminate the financial incentive to criminalize folks, I’d like to begin drafting the blueprints for what the future of community safety looks like.” — Sylvester Ani

Sylvester and Sunrise LA are making a social media push from now until the end date of the current session of Congress which is January 3rd, 2021. When you get a chance please send out the following

They will be sending out the Amend the 13th Amendment Graphic on all social media platforms 8 AM Wednesday (12/9) morning with the following:

What we want is for America to be true to what is written in the Constitution, For everyone to be created equal there can be no slaves in the United States under any circumstance. No exceptions. We need YOU to like, comment and share this post and tag ten people who you think will do the same. It’s time to amend the 13th Amendment.

#NoExceptions #Amend13 #EndLegalSlavery

Visit https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative to contact your representative in congress

Call/Email your representative & demand they support Representative William Lacy Clay’s & Senator Jeff Merkely’s H.J Resolution 104 to completely abolish slavery/ involuntary servitude under any circumstance on the state/federal level. The end date of the current session of Congress is concluding January 3rd, 2021.

Repost a copy of the 13th Amendment with the hashtag of #NoExceptions everyday until slavery ceases to exist within America

End Legal Slavery Now!