IMAGINE JUSTICE

We hope everyone is staying safe and healthy right now during these uncertain times. We wake up everyday thinking about and praying for our most vulnerable including the people inside our nation’s prisons and jails as COVID-19 continues to spread around the country and globe. 

‘We’re Left for Dead’: Fears of Virus Catastrophe at Rikers Jail - https://nyti.ms/2UwvZLP via NY Times

An Explosion of Coronavirus Cases Cripples a Federal Prison in Louisiana - https://wapo.st/3bDGvGB via Washington Post

“It Spreads Like Wildfire”: The Coronavirus Comes to New York’s Prisons - https://bit.ly/2UO4zQA via New Yorker

Orange County Inmate’s Death May Be Linked to Coronavirus Outbreak - https://lat.ms/340F7vp via LA Times

‘Jails Are Petri Dishes’: Inmates Freed as the Virus Spreads Behind Bars - https://nyti.ms/2UxsyEL via NY Times

“As many as 100,000 incarcerated people in our jails and prisons will die from the coronavirus, unless the US acts now.” - https://bit.ly/3c4LFf5 via Business Insider

“One inmate used an alcohol pad that a barber had given him after a haircut to sanitize a frequently used Rikers Island jailhouse phone. Another used a sock to hold a phone during a 15-minute call. A third said he and others have used diluted shampoo to disinfect cell bars and table tops. In the nearly two weeks since the coronavirus seeped into New York City’s jail system, fears have grown of the potential of a public health catastrophe in the cellblocks where thousands are being held in close quarters.” - https://nyti.ms/2UwvZLP via NY Times

When Purell is Contraband, How Do You Contain Coronavirus? - https://bit.ly/2yonERL via The Marshall Project

Spread of Coronavirus Accelerates in U.S. Jails and Prisons - https://reut.rs/2xD2gHY via Reuters

One of the Largest Single-Site Jails in the US Grapples with 134 Coronavirus Cases - https://abcn.ws/2JvxhjH via ABC News

Older Inmates Sue Texas Prison System Over Coronavirus Policies and Practices - https://bit.ly/39DQZok via Texas Tribune

COVID-19 Poses a Heightened Threat in Jails and Prisons - https://bit.ly/34nb80R via WIRED

“Prisons and jails are amplifiers of infectious diseases such as COVID-19, because the conditions that can keep diseases from spreading — such as social distancing — are nearly impossible to achieve in correctional facilities. So what should criminal justice agencies be doing to protect public health?“ - https://bit.ly/3e8ZP0G via Prison Policy

“As coronavirus cases rise in America’s jails, some states have instituted early release. But advocates say that isn’t enough.” - https://bit.ly/2JPyfHV via VOX

Exciting! We’re thrilled to announce that Academy Award, Golden Globe, Emmy and Grammy-winning artist, actor and activist Common will embark again on the Hope & Redemption Tour alongside his new nonprofit organization Imagine Justice. Imagine Justice’s Hope & Redemption Tour: Central Valley will take place from October 10 - October 13.

"This work and this Tour is deeply rooted in my love for people and my commitment to helping create a world where we all can thrive. I believe that all of us deserve the tools, access, resources and opportunities needed to navigate our lives and cultivate our best selves,” said Common.

Starting on October 10, Common will visit and perform inside three different prisons in three days throughout California’s Central Valley to instill hope, love and humanity in the men and women who are incarcerated. In addition to the live concerts in various correctional facilities, Common will take part in a series of community events to engage, build with and inspire local communities and organizations. The Tour will conclude on October 13 with a special visit to a California Division of Juvenile Justice youth facility and a meeting in Stockton with Mayor Michael Tubbs and local community leaders.

“I’m very grateful to go on this journey again to instill hope in our brothers and sisters who are incarcerated and engage youth leaders in California as we go on Imagine Justice’s Hope & Redemption Tour: Central Valley,” said Common.

The Tour is supported by the Anti-Recidivism Coalition and The California Endowment’s Building Healthy Communities initiative centered on community power-building for health and racial justice in South Kern County, Fresno, Merced, Stockton and other communities throughout the state.

For two years, Academy Award and Grammy Award Winning Artist and Activist Common has dedicated countless hours advocating for criminal justice reform and instilling hope in the men and women in prison as part of his Hope & Redemption Prison Tour. As part of his Tour, Common has visited numerous prisons to listen and connect with the men and women inside. 

“Visiting these prisons and speaking with the men and women inside during the Hope & Redemption Tour had a profound impact on me. It is my duty to lend my voice to the voiceless and stand with the men and women in prison who have been silenced for so long. We need a justice system that is a tool for rehabilitation rather than a weapon for punishment.” Common. 

One of the issues that Common will focus his time and energy on with Imagine Justice is advocating for voting rights for people with felony convictions. Below is some of the research that Imagine Justice has compiled around this issue:

The Racist Origins of Felon Disenfranchisement - https://nyti.ms/2J7QCp2 via The New York Times

“The United States stands alone among modern democracies in stripping voting rights from millions of citizens on the basis of criminal convictions. Across the country, states impose varying felony disenfranchisement policies, preventing an estimated 6.1 million Americans from casting ballots. To give a sense of scope — this population is larger than the voting-eligible population of New Jersey. And of this total, nearly 4.7 million are people living in our communities — working, paying taxes, and raising families, all while barred from joining their neighbors at the polls.” Erin Kelley - http://bit.ly/2HAm0iK via Brennan Center for Justice

Voting Rights for Felons: A Curated Collection of Links - http://bit.ly/2J70UFL via The Marshall Project

“Public opinion surveys report that eight in ten U.S. residents support voting rights for citizens who have completed their sentence, and nearly two-thirds support voting rights for those on probation or parole. In recent years, heightened public awareness of felony disenfranchisement has resulted in successful state-level reform efforts, from legislative changes expanding voting rights to grassroots voter registration initiatives targeting individuals with felony convictions. Since 1997, 24 states have modified felony disenfranchisement provisions to expand voter eligibility.” Jean Chung - http://bit.ly/2vpYHDv via The Sentencing Project

50 years ago today, Thurgood Marshall makes history and is confirmed as the first African-American Justice on the US Supreme Court. Here are some of our favorite Thurgood Marshall quotes:

“We cannot play ostrich. Democracy just cannot flourish amid fear. Liberty cannot bloom amid hate. Justice cannot take root amid rage. America must get to work. We must dissent from the indifference. We must dissent from the apathy. We must dissent from the fear, the hatred and the mistrust. We must dissent from a nation that has buried its head in the sand, waiting in vain for the needs of its poor, its elderly, and its sick to disappear and just blow away. We must dissent from the poverty of vision and the absence of moral leadership. We must dissent because America can do better, because America has no choice but to do better.” Thurgood Marshall

"To protest against injustice is the foundation of all our American democracy." Thurgood Marshall

“America’s diversity offers so much richness and opportunity. Take a chance, won’t you? Knock down the fences that divide. Tear apart the walls that imprison. Reach out, freedom lies just on the other side. We should have liberty for all.“ Thurgood Marshall

“In recognizing the humanity of our fellow beings, we pay ourselves the highest tribute.” Thurgood Marshall

Imagine Justice is finally here! Join us tonight at 6 PM PST for a historic night full of music, activism, art and more featuring Common, J. Cole, Van Jones, Goapele, DeVon Franklin, Los Rakas, Bryonn Bain, Syncopated Ladies and two very special surprise guests. If you didn’t get a ticket to the sold out Imagine Justice, watch the official live stream here: https://youtu.be/WHGNliSQXII

“As an artist, I believe it is my duty to fight injustice wherever it appears and take a stand for my fellow brothers and sisters. I believe it is my responsibility to use my platform to amplify the courageous voices of the movement and support the most marginalized members of our society” Common on organizing Imagine Justice.

Centered at the intersection of art and activism, Imagine Justice will spark meaningful dialogue around mass incarceration, provide audiences with an enriching and unforgettable cultural experience, and amplify messages of hope, justice, change and love. The Imagine Justice concert taking place on Capitol Mall in Sacramento, CA on August 21 is an opportunity to bring diverse audiences together for a historical event and a special platform for artists to advocate for justice reform.

Op-Ed by Common: Our Criminal Justice System Needs an Overhaul: https://usat.ly/2uYf2yR

Common to Host Free Community Concert With J. Cole & More to Advocate For Criminal Justice Reform: http://bit.ly/2wsuzqa

Oscar-Winning Artist And Activist Common To Host Historic Community Concert In Sacramento, “Imagine Justice” With Special Guest J. Cole To Advocate For Justice Reform: http://prn.to/2uJog1x

Massive Crowd Expected for Free Common Concert Monday Evening in Downtown Sacramento: http://bit.ly/2uTlzuz

We’re thrilled to announce that we will now be live streaming Imagine Justice for audiences at home and anyone who didn’t get a chance to register for the sold out show in time! We’re excited to broadcast Imagine Justice exclusively on Common’s YouTube channel. The Imagine Justice show will feature live musical performances by Common, J. Cole, Goapele, Los Rakas, Syncopated Ladies, and a surprise special guest. Imagine Justice and the official live stream will start at 6:00 PM PST: http://bit.ly/StreamImagine.

"As an artist, I believe it is my duty to fight injustice wherever it appears and take a stand for my fellow brothers and sisters. I believe it is my responsibility to use my platform to amplify the courageous voices of the movement and support the most marginalized members of our society" Common on organizing Imagine Justice.

Centered at the intersection of art and activism, Imagine Justice will spark meaningful dialogue around mass incarceration, provide audiences with an enriching and unforgettable cultural experience, and amplify messages of hope, justice, change and love. The Imagine Justice concert taking place on Capitol Mall in Sacramento, CA on August 21 is an opportunity to bring diverse audiences together for a historical event and a special platform for artists to advocate for justice reform.

Common to Host Free Community Concert With J. Cole & More to Advocate For Criminal Justice Reform: http://bit.ly/2wsuzqa

Oscar-Winning Artist And Activist Common To Host Historic Community Concert In Sacramento, "Imagine Justice" With Special Guest J. Cole To Advocate For Justice Reform: http://prn.to/2uJog1x

Massive Crowd Expected for Free Common Concert Monday Evening in Downtown Sacramento: http://bit.ly/2uTlzuz

OSCAR-WINNING ARTIST AND ACTIVIST COMMON TO HOST HISTORIC COMMUNITY CONCERT IN SACRAMENTO WITH SPECIAL GUEST J. COLE TO ADVOCATE FOR JUSTICE REFORM

Grammy and Oscar-Winning Artist and Activist Common will be joined by a number of special guests including J. Cole, Goapele, Van Jones and more on Capitol Mall in Sacramento to host a community concert, Imagine Justice, to advocate for justice reform on Monday, August 21: http://bit.ly/2txr78l.

For the past year, Common has dedicated countless hours advocating for criminal justice reform and instilling hope in the men and women in prison as part of his Hope & Redemption Prison Tour. On March 28-31, Common kicked off the Tour by playing four shows in four different prisons in four days. Since then, Common has visited the California State Capitol to meet with various legislators about criminal justice reform bills, participated in a number of community events and visited numerous state prisons throughout Southern California.

“Visiting these prisons and speaking with the men and women inside during the Hope & Redemption Tour had a profound impact on me. I believe it is my duty to lend my voice to the voiceless and stand with the men and women in prison who have been silenced for so long. We need a justice system that is a tool for rehabilitation rather than a weapon for punishment,” said Common.

On August 21, Common will continue his advocacy work in justice reform with a community concert on Capitol Mall in front of the California State Capitol where he and special guests including J. Cole will take to the stage for an inspiring and empowering evening of music, activism and art. The next day, Common will join multiple organizations in the State Capitol for several meetings with the Governor, numerous caucuses and other legislators to discuss a number of upcoming bills. Following his visit to the State Capitol, Common will travel to the historic Folsom State Prison to perform for the men in prison with Goapele and Mike Epps.

Doors open for Imagine Justice at 4:00 PM and the featured programming will kick off at 6:00 PM. Imagine Justice will include live performances by Common, J. Cole, Goapele, Los Rakas, Syncopated Ladies and more. The concert will feature guest speakers DeVon Franklin, Bryonn Bain and Van Jones.

Admission to the event is available to the general public, but people interested in attending must register HERE - space is limited. Over 15,000 people have already RSVP’d for Imagine Justice and more than 25,000 attendees are expected to join Common and friends on Capitol Mall on August 21.

Imagine Justice is supported by the Anti-Recidivism Coalition, which provides support for formerly incarcerated young people and advocates for justice reform. Organizations partnering on the event include: All of Us or None, Always Knocking, Blackout for Human Rights, Boys and Men of Color Alliance, Californians for Safety and Justice, California Alliance for Youth and Community Justice, Communities for a New California Education Fund, Congregations Organized for Prophetic Engagement (COPE), Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ), East Asian Youth Center- Sacramento, Ella Baker Center, Equality California, La Familia, Legal Services for Prisoners with Children, PICO, Presente.org, Sacramento ACT, Sacramento Building Healthy Communities, Sacramento City Unified School District – Youth Development Support Services, Sacramento Reinvestment Coalition, Self-Awareness and Recovery (SAR), Sol Collective, Youth Justice Coalition.

The free Imagine Justice show taking place on Capitol Mall in Sacramento, CA on August 21 is an opportunity to bring diverse audiences together for a historical event and a platform to advocate for justice reform. Imagine Justice is a concert and a call to action to change the justice system in the United States, which imprisons more of its people than any country in the world. Read the articles below to learn more about America’s justice system and RSVP to Imagine Justice here: http://bit.ly/2txr78l

The Black Family in the Age of Mass Incarceration - http://theatln.tc/2wxYhqu via The Atlantic

TED Talk: We Need to Talk About an Injustice - http://bit.ly/2vD5kRl via TED

Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie 2017 - http://bit.ly/2wl29Mi via Prison Policy Initiative

Why Mass Incarceration Defines Us As a Society - http://bit.ly/2hAqkD6 via Smithsonian Magazine

Everything You Think You Know About Mass Incarceration is Wrong - http://bit.ly/2vaxzWX via The Marshall Project

The Destructive Lie Behind "Mass Incarceration” - http://ti.me/2uwZ0qh via TIME Magazine

Confronting Mass Imprisonment and Restoring Fairness to Collateral Review of Criminal Cases - http://bit.ly/2vaqiGK via Harvard Civil Rights Law Review

EXCITING: On August 21, join Grammy and Oscar-Winning Artist and Activist Common as well as a number of amazing special guests for a historic concert, Imagine Justice, at the Capitol Mall in Sacramento. Come together with Common and friends for a night of music, art, food and more. Imagine Justice is free and open to the public. Special guests for Imagine Justice will be announced in the coming weeks. Attendees must RSVP for the event here: http://bit.ly/2txr78l

Common Plans Free Sacramento Concert to Promote Criminal Justice Reform: http://bit.ly/2uzV4tm via Sacramento Bee

Common Planning Free Sacramento Concert: http://bit.ly/2uzalK3 via Capitol Public Radio