#schoolsnotprisons

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.