I was 3,000 miles away when I got the call that made me fall to my knees I got
call that made me fall to my knees I got
call that made me fall to my knees I got a call from my daughter and I couldn’t
a call from my daughter and I couldn’t
a call from my daughter and I couldn’t believe what I was hearing
believe what I was hearing
believe what I was hearing my daughter was such a beautiful person
my daughter was such a beautiful person
my daughter was such a beautiful person she was filled with so much love and
she was filled with so much love and
she was filled with so much love and compassion and she was what I used to
compassion and she was what I used to
compassion and she was what I used to call my little mother Teresa but that
call my little mother Teresa but that
call my little mother Teresa but that call when it came in it just took my
call when it came in it just took my
call when it came in it just took my breath away when you get a call from
breath away when you get a call from
breath away when you get a call from your kid and you can’t control what
your kid and you can’t control what
your kid and you can’t control what you’re hearing you really have to sit
you’re hearing you really have to sit
you’re hearing you really have to sit back and think you have to think about
back and think you have to think about
back and think you have to think about what is actually happening here what am
what is actually happening here what am
what is actually happening here what am i hearing
i hearing
i hearing my daughter was calling me to tell me
my daughter was calling me to tell me
my daughter was calling me to tell me that she was in trouble she was calling
that she was in trouble she was calling
that she was in trouble she was calling in 2012 to be exact to tell me that she
in 2012 to be exact to tell me that she
in 2012 to be exact to tell me that she had been arrested she’d been arrested
had been arrested she’d been arrested
had been arrested she’d been arrested for armed robbery she had gone in with
for armed robbery she had gone in with
for armed robbery she had gone in with two co-defendants because she had been
two co-defendants because she had been
two co-defendants because she had been hooked on a drug and it was called Molly
hooked on a drug and it was called Molly
hooked on a drug and it was called Molly this drug got her so far out there that
this drug got her so far out there that
this drug got her so far out there that even I didn’t know who she was things
even I didn’t know who she was things
even I didn’t know who she was things began to change this was my daughter
began to change this was my daughter
began to change this was my daughter this is what she looked like before it
this is what she looked like before it
this is what she looked like before it all happened and this was my daughter
all happened and this was my daughter
all happened and this was my daughter after let me tell you something the drug
after let me tell you something the drug
after let me tell you something the drug Molly can change your very entire
Molly can change your very entire
Molly can change your very entire existence and it did that for her as
existence and it did that for her as
existence and it did that for her as well
well
well I was so shocked to hear what I was
I was so shocked to hear what I was
I was so shocked to hear what I was hearing and I just I just I couldn’t
hearing and I just I just I couldn’t
hearing and I just I just I couldn’t even imagine and fathom what was
even imagine and fathom what was
even imagine and fathom what was happening that my life and her life was
happening that my life and her life was
happening that my life and her life was changing right before our very own eyes
changing right before our very own eyes
changing right before our very own eyes and all I could say to myself is why why
and all I could say to myself is why why
and all I could say to myself is why why is this happening to us why is this
is this happening to us why is this
is this happening to us why is this happening to a college student a student
happening to a college student a student
happening to a college student a student who was doing so well in life and then
who was doing so well in life and then
who was doing so well in life and then all of a sudden overnight it’s gone I
all of a sudden overnight it’s gone I
all of a sudden overnight it’s gone I don’t know if it’s ever happened to you
don’t know if it’s ever happened to you
don’t know if it’s ever happened to you guys
guys
guys but it definitely happened to me how
but it definitely happened to me how
but it definitely happened to me how many of you guys have someone who’s
many of you guys have someone who’s
many of you guys have someone who’s incarcerated you know someone who’s
incarcerated you know someone who’s
incarcerated you know someone who’s incarcerated or god forbid your own
incarcerated or god forbid your own
incarcerated or god forbid your own incarcerated I’m glad to know one I’m
incarcerated I’m glad to know one I’m
incarcerated I’m glad to know one I’m not alone but two I want to thank you
not alone but two I want to thank you
not alone but two I want to thank you for being bold and three I want you to
for being bold and three I want you to
for being bold and three I want you to realize that I realized some of us won’t
realize that I realized some of us won’t
realize that I realized some of us won’t raise our hand for many different
raise our hand for many different
raise our hand for many different reasons I understand that you know there
reasons I understand that you know there
reasons I understand that you know there is a there is a major major major stigma
is a there is a major major major stigma
is a there is a major major major stigma that goes along with being incarcerated
that goes along with being incarcerated
that goes along with being incarcerated I understand that there’s judgement that
I understand that there’s judgement that
I understand that there’s judgement that occurs and some of us are ashamed some
occurs and some of us are ashamed some
occurs and some of us are ashamed some of us are even embarrassed to admit that
of us are even embarrassed to admit that
of us are even embarrassed to admit that but you know I have to admit even I was
but you know I have to admit even I was
but you know I have to admit even I was that person before my daughter was
that person before my daughter was
that person before my daughter was incarcerated I was that person who
incarcerated I was that person who
incarcerated I was that person who looked at a criminal and said I should
looked at a criminal and said I should
looked at a criminal and said I should be afraid of that person not only should
be afraid of that person not only should
be afraid of that person not only should I be afraid of that person but I also
I be afraid of that person but I also
I be afraid of that person but I also should look at them as once a criminal
should look at them as once a criminal
should look at them as once a criminal always a criminal they’ll never change
always a criminal they’ll never change
always a criminal they’ll never change so don’t give him a second chance just
so don’t give him a second chance just
so don’t give him a second chance just throw him away I was that person and I
throw him away I was that person and I
throw him away I was that person and I am terribly ashamed to admit it but the
am terribly ashamed to admit it but the
am terribly ashamed to admit it but the reality is there’s many of us sitting
reality is there’s many of us sitting
reality is there’s many of us sitting right here in this room sitting out in
right here in this room sitting out in
right here in this room sitting out in the world who think just like that
the world who think just like that
the world who think just like that because it didn’t happen to you it
because it didn’t happen to you it
because it didn’t happen to you it doesn’t affect your world it doesn’t you
doesn’t affect your world it doesn’t you
doesn’t affect your world it doesn’t you don’t even know anybody in your world or
don’t even know anybody in your world or
don’t even know anybody in your world or in your society or in your culture or in
in your society or in your culture or in
in your society or in your culture or in your family where it’s actually
your family where it’s actually
your family where it’s actually affecting you but for me it affected me
affecting you but for me it affected me
affecting you but for me it affected me and so it hit me so deep down in my
and so it hit me so deep down in my
and so it hit me so deep down in my heart that I had to dig deep down to
heart that I had to dig deep down to
heart that I had to dig deep down to myself and say to myself hmm let me find
myself and say to myself hmm let me find
myself and say to myself hmm let me find out for my daughter what’s going on
out for my daughter what’s going on
out for my daughter what’s going on around there so I started asking my
around there so I started asking my
around there so I started asking my daughter questions I started asking her
daughter questions I started asking her
daughter questions I started asking her simply what’s going on in there and she
simply what’s going on in there and she
simply what’s going on in there and she started giving me stories that were
started giving me stories that were
started giving me stories that were unfathomable stories that were just
unfathomable stories that were just
unfathomable stories that were just mind-blowing I could not believe that
mind-blowing I could not believe that
mind-blowing I could not believe that they were in fact true I thought to
they were in fact true I thought to
they were in fact true I thought to myself there’s no possible way no
myself there’s no possible way no
myself there’s no possible way no possible way that what you’re telling me
possible way that what you’re telling me
possible way that what you’re telling me could be true so what that did was that
could be true so what that did was that
could be true so what that did was that led me down a road that opened up
led me down a road that opened up
led me down a road that opened up another door for me and as this door
another door for me and as this door
another door for me and as this door began to open it opened in a way that is
began to open it opened in a way that is
began to open it opened in a way that is unique it’s probably going to blow some
unique it’s probably going to blow some
unique it’s probably going to blow some of your minds but for me it worked in it
of your minds but for me it worked in it
of your minds but for me it worked in it it actually helped me to understand what
it actually helped me to understand what
it actually helped me to understand what my daughter was going through how many
my daughter was going through how many
my daughter was going through how many of you guys have seen the show 60 days
of you guys have seen the show 60 days
of you guys have seen the show 60 days in it’s a jail show on A&E
in it’s a jail show on A&E
in it’s a jail show on A&E anybody 60 days in do you recognize that
anybody 60 days in do you recognize that
anybody 60 days in do you recognize that person right there that’s me I hope you
person right there that’s me I hope you
person right there that’s me I hope you liked my break but that shows sixty days
liked my break but that shows sixty days
liked my break but that shows sixty days in they basically came to me and they
in they basically came to me and they
in they basically came to me and they said to me you know would you like to
said to me you know would you like to
said to me you know would you like to know what it’s like to be in jail and I
know what it’s like to be in jail and I
know what it’s like to be in jail and I said well how would I do that and they
said well how would I do that and they
said well how would I do that and they said well you’re gonna spend sixty days
said well you’re gonna spend sixty days
said well you’re gonna spend sixty days undercover in jail this is gonna be the
undercover in jail this is gonna be the
undercover in jail this is gonna be the real deal and not only is it gonna be
real deal and not only is it gonna be
real deal and not only is it gonna be the real deal we’re gonna document every
the real deal we’re gonna document every
the real deal we’re gonna document every move that you make and you’re gonna go
move that you make and you’re gonna go
move that you make and you’re gonna go in there completely undercover to where
in there completely undercover to where
in there completely undercover to where nobody knows that you’re in they’re not
nobody knows that you’re in they’re not
nobody knows that you’re in they’re not the staff not the inmates not anybody
the staff not the inmates not anybody
the staff not the inmates not anybody how many of you guys would do that 60
how many of you guys would do that 60
how many of you guys would do that 60 days you’re going with me anybody no I
days you’re going with me anybody no I
days you’re going with me anybody no I guess not huh I don’t blame you I would
guess not huh I don’t blame you I would
guess not huh I don’t blame you I would never go again and for the record that
never go again and for the record that
never go again and for the record that would be a no I’m never going back ever
would be a no I’m never going back ever
would be a no I’m never going back ever again I while I was in there you know I
again I while I was in there you know I
again I while I was in there you know I uncovered a lot of different things and
uncovered a lot of different things and
uncovered a lot of different things and some of the things that I learned were
some of the things that I learned were
some of the things that I learned were just they were flabbergasting I mean I
just they were flabbergasting I mean I
just they were flabbergasting I mean I learned that there are three different
learned that there are three different
learned that there are three different types of people that go to jail in
types of people that go to jail in
types of people that go to jail in prison
prison
prison and for the record there’s two different
and for the record there’s two different
and for the record there’s two different types of situations going on here jail
types of situations going on here jail
types of situations going on here jail is for people who go and in two years or
is for people who go and in two years or
is for people who go and in two years or less they may do their time they may be
less they may do their time they may be
less they may do their time they may be they may not do their time but jail
they may not do their time but jail
they may not do their time but jail they’re in and out of prison is for long
they’re in and out of prison is for long
they’re in and out of prison is for long term two years plus and so when they
term two years plus and so when they
term two years plus and so when they sent me to jail I learned that there
sent me to jail I learned that there
sent me to jail I learned that there were three different types of people I
were three different types of people I
were three different types of people I learned so many lessons but but the main
learned so many lessons but but the main
learned so many lessons but but the main lesson was that one that there are
lesson was that one that there are
lesson was that one that there are people that are absolutely guilty have
people that are absolutely guilty have
people that are absolutely guilty have made a mistake they will learn from
made a mistake they will learn from
made a mistake they will learn from their mistakes and they’ll never go back
their mistakes and they’ll never go back
their mistakes and they’ll never go back again I learned that there are people
again I learned that there are people
again I learned that there are people that are true criminals people who will
that are true criminals people who will
that are true criminals people who will actually commit a crime over and over
actually commit a crime over and over
actually commit a crime over and over again they’re a menace to society and we
again they’re a menace to society and we
again they’re a menace to society and we need to watch our backs when it comes
need to watch our backs when it comes
need to watch our backs when it comes down to them I also learned that there
down to them I also learned that there
down to them I also learned that there are people that are innocent in the
are people that are innocent in the
are people that are innocent in the prison innocent falsely accused they
prison innocent falsely accused they
prison innocent falsely accused they really didn’t do it and I know that’s
really didn’t do it and I know that’s
really didn’t do it and I know that’s the famous saying you know I didn’t do
the famous saying you know I didn’t do
the famous saying you know I didn’t do it I didn’t do it but I promise you
it I didn’t do it but I promise you
it I didn’t do it but I promise you there are people in there who really
there are people in there who really
there are people in there who really didn’t do it and so as a part of what I
didn’t do it and so as a part of what I
didn’t do it and so as a part of what I learned I learned that you know you
learned I learned that you know you
learned I learned that you know you don’t know somebody’s story until you
don’t know somebody’s story until you
don’t know somebody’s story until you really know somebody’s story you can’t
really know somebody’s story you can’t
really know somebody’s story you can’t judge a book by a cover
judge a book by a cover
judge a book by a cover why do I say that because I met a young
why do I say that because I met a young
why do I say that because I met a young lady she was a heroin user and she was
lady she was a heroin user and she was
lady she was a heroin user and she was my bunkmate my cellmate the girl that
my bunkmate my cellmate the girl that
my bunkmate my cellmate the girl that slept above me and she had been
slept above me and she had been
slept above me and she had been prostituted since the age of eight years
prostituted since the age of eight years
prostituted since the age of eight years old and the reason why she was on heroin
old and the reason why she was on heroin
old and the reason why she was on heroin was because her parents administered the
was because her parents administered the
was because her parents administered the heroin to her for these gruesome acts to
heroin to her for these gruesome acts to
heroin to her for these gruesome acts to occur and some of us like to say well
occur and some of us like to say well
occur and some of us like to say well when you’re on drugs why don’t you just
when you’re on drugs why don’t you just
when you’re on drugs why don’t you just get off drugs it’s that simple right
get off drugs it’s that simple right
get off drugs it’s that simple right it’s that simple just say no well have
it’s that simple just say no well have
it’s that simple just say no well have you ever considered the fact that some
you ever considered the fact that some
you ever considered the fact that some people have a disease it’s called
people have a disease it’s called
people have a disease it’s called addiction some people were raised in a
addiction some people were raised in a
addiction some people were raised in a culture they have no idea they don’t
culture they have no idea they don’t
culture they have no idea they don’t know anything else other than what
know anything else other than what
know anything else other than what they’ve been taught she was eight years
they’ve been taught she was eight years
they’ve been taught she was eight years old for God’s sake and being prostituted
old for God’s sake and being prostituted
old for God’s sake and being prostituted and being given heroin and so as an
and being given heroin and so as an
and being given heroin and so as an adult what does she do she comes in and
adult what does she do she comes in and
adult what does she do she comes in and out of the system in and out of system
out of the system in and out of system
out of the system in and out of system in and out of the system that’s heroin
in and out of the system that’s heroin
in and out of the system that’s heroin that’s what it does to you you know what
that’s what it does to you you know what
that’s what it does to you you know what else I learned I learned about why we
else I learned I learned about why we
else I learned I learned about why we should care about mass incarceration the
should care about mass incarceration the
should care about mass incarceration the reason why we should care about mass
reason why we should care about mass
reason why we should care about mass incarceration I want to show you a few
incarceration I want to show you a few
incarceration I want to show you a few more pictures there oh by the way that’s
more pictures there oh by the way that’s
more pictures there oh by the way that’s me down at the very bottom you see me at
me down at the very bottom you see me at
me down at the very bottom you see me at that bottom row you love my mugshot they
that bottom row you love my mugshot they
that bottom row you love my mugshot they could have picked the best shot ever 60
could have picked the best shot ever 60
could have picked the best shot ever 60 days in A&E thank you so much why should
days in A&E thank you so much why should
days in A&E thank you so much why should we care about mass incarceration
we care about mass incarceration
we care about mass incarceration you know mass incarceration is killing
you know mass incarceration is killing
you know mass incarceration is killing us spiritually financially and socially
us spiritually financially and socially
us spiritually financially and socially and until we really get a hold of the
and until we really get a hold of the
and until we really get a hold of the fact that it is a humanity issue and it
fact that it is a humanity issue and it
fact that it is a humanity issue and it is it is a human rights issue we won’t
is it is a human rights issue we won’t
is it is a human rights issue we won’t begin to understand you know people’s
begin to understand you know people’s
begin to understand you know people’s rights are being consistently broken and
rights are being consistently broken and
rights are being consistently broken and taken away from them and and don’t get
taken away from them and and don’t get
taken away from them and and don’t get me wrong I don’t condone it I don’t
me wrong I don’t condone it I don’t
me wrong I don’t condone it I don’t condone crime not at all I do believe
condone crime not at all I do believe
condone crime not at all I do believe that when you’ve done something wrong
that when you’ve done something wrong
that when you’ve done something wrong you do need to pay the price but the
you do need to pay the price but the
you do need to pay the price but the crime other time must fit the crime my
crime other time must fit the crime my
crime other time must fit the crime my daughter what for what she did for a
daughter what for what she did for a
daughter what for what she did for a first-time offender she should have
first-time offender she should have
first-time offender she should have never gone to prison for ten years ten
never gone to prison for ten years ten
never gone to prison for ten years ten years she was 18 years old first offense
years she was 18 years old first offense
years she was 18 years old first offense yes she was guilty yes she turned
yes she was guilty yes she turned
yes she was guilty yes she turned herself in they didn’t have to spend the
herself in they didn’t have to spend the
herself in they didn’t have to spend the tax dollars to find her she turned
tax dollars to find her she turned
tax dollars to find her she turned herself in because she was taught to do
herself in because she was taught to do
herself in because she was taught to do what was right she was born and raised
what was right she was born and raised
what was right she was born and raised in a family where I was in firm belief
in a family where I was in firm belief
in a family where I was in firm belief that she was going to turn out to be the
that she was going to turn out to be the
that she was going to turn out to be the good ol American Dream but you know
good ol American Dream but you know
good ol American Dream but you know sometimes we will be pinched and woken
sometimes we will be pinched and woken
sometimes we will be pinched and woken up from that dream and before you know
up from that dream and before you know
up from that dream and before you know it you’re in a nightmare it can happen
it you’re in a nightmare it can happen
it you’re in a nightmare it can happen to you
to you
to you it can’t happen but human rights are
it can’t happen but human rights are
it can’t happen but human rights are being violated I witnessed it with my
being violated I witnessed it with my
being violated I witnessed it with my own two eyes
own two eyes
own two eyes let’s take a look I’m volunteering to go
let’s take a look I’m volunteering to go
let’s take a look I’m volunteering to go to jail for 60 days
I have a child that is incarcerated I
I have a child that is incarcerated I wanted to know what it felt like to be
wanted to know what it felt like to be
wanted to know what it felt like to be on the other side my biggest fear is
on the other side my biggest fear is
on the other side my biggest fear is that the prison system will fail my
that the prison system will fail my
that the prison system will fail my daughter that she’ll come out as a true
daughter that she’ll come out as a true
daughter that she’ll come out as a true criminal I hope that I can impact that
criminal I hope that I can impact that
criminal I hope that I can impact that system
when I first came in it was like that
when I first came in it was like that most eerie feeling that I’ve ever had I
most eerie feeling that I’ve ever had I
most eerie feeling that I’ve ever had I would have never expected American jails
would have never expected American jails
would have never expected American jails to look like that on the inside that was
to look like that on the inside that was
to look like that on the inside that was like some stuff to either see in a
like some stuff to either see in a
like some stuff to either see in a foreign country it’s disgusting
foreign country it’s disgusting
foreign country it’s disgusting if nothing else I’ll say disgusting
if nothing else I’ll say disgusting
if nothing else I’ll say disgusting after years building up my mental stream
after years building up my mental stream
after years building up my mental stream I felt like it’s being torn down in a
I felt like it’s being torn down in a
I felt like it’s being torn down in a matter of hours minutes I could never
matter of hours minutes I could never
matter of hours minutes I could never have understood what my daughter was
have understood what my daughter was
have understood what my daughter was going through ever
going through ever
going through ever until I walk one minute in her shoes
until I walk one minute in her shoes
until I walk one minute in her shoes being in jail it’s a financial issue you
being in jail it’s a financial issue you
being in jail it’s a financial issue you know it’s a financial issue I didn’t
know it’s a financial issue I didn’t
know it’s a financial issue I didn’t know what it felt like until I walked in
know what it felt like until I walked in
know what it felt like until I walked in those shoes when I saw from my own two
those shoes when I saw from my own two
those shoes when I saw from my own two eyes that human rights are being
eyes that human rights are being
eyes that human rights are being violated I had to think well what else
violated I had to think well what else
violated I had to think well what else is happening it’s a financial issue you
is happening it’s a financial issue you
is happening it’s a financial issue you see one out of 35 people are
see one out of 35 people are
see one out of 35 people are incarcerated one out of 25 children
incarcerated one out of 25 children
incarcerated one out of 25 children have parents who are incarcerated 80
have parents who are incarcerated 80
have parents who are incarcerated 80 billion dollars a year it costs to
billion dollars a year it costs to
billion dollars a year it costs to incarcerate 2.5 million people we should
incarcerate 2.5 million people we should
incarcerate 2.5 million people we should care about mass incarceration it’s
care about mass incarceration it’s
care about mass incarceration it’s affecting you where do you think the 80
affecting you where do you think the 80
affecting you where do you think the 80 billion dollars comes from your
billion dollars comes from your
billion dollars comes from your pocketbooks my pocketbook
pocketbooks my pocketbook
pocketbooks my pocketbook everybody’s pocketbook eighty billion
everybody’s pocketbook eighty billion
everybody’s pocketbook eighty billion dollars hmm I think 80 billion dollars
dollars hmm I think 80 billion dollars
dollars hmm I think 80 billion dollars could probably pay the price of every
could probably pay the price of every
could probably pay the price of every teacher in America for the next year why
teacher in America for the next year why
teacher in America for the next year why don’t we take the time to possibly think
don’t we take the time to possibly think
don’t we take the time to possibly think about using this as a way to kind of
about using this as a way to kind of
about using this as a way to kind of better of society to see what else we
better of society to see what else we
better of society to see what else we could do to make things better because
could do to make things better because
could do to make things better because at this present time we’re not doing
at this present time we’re not doing
at this present time we’re not doing what we need to do with the money that
what we need to do with the money that
what we need to do with the money that we’re spending but we’re expecting
we’re spending but we’re expecting
we’re spending but we’re expecting different results
different results
different results I think Einstein said it best when he
I think Einstein said it best when he
I think Einstein said it best when he said you know we keep doing the same
said you know we keep doing the same
said you know we keep doing the same things but we keep expecting different
things but we keep expecting different
things but we keep expecting different results that’s called insanity and I
results that’s called insanity and I
results that’s called insanity and I feel like we’re walking in a space of
feel like we’re walking in a space of
feel like we’re walking in a space of insanity when it comes down to mass
insanity when it comes down to mass
insanity when it comes down to mass incarceration mass incarceration is not
incarceration mass incarceration is not
incarceration mass incarceration is not just a humanities issue and a community
just a humanities issue and a community
just a humanities issue and a community issue it’s also I’m sorry a financial
issue it’s also I’m sorry a financial
issue it’s also I’m sorry a financial issue it’s also a community issue and
issue it’s also a community issue and
issue it’s also a community issue and ultimately a family issue did you know
ultimately a family issue did you know
ultimately a family issue did you know that 77 percent of those who’ve been
that 77 percent of those who’ve been
that 77 percent of those who’ve been incarcerated are actually coming back
incarcerated are actually coming back
incarcerated are actually coming back out to society no matter what they’ve
out to society no matter what they’ve
out to society no matter what they’ve done no matter how long they’ve been in
done no matter how long they’ve been in
done no matter how long they’ve been in or no matter what the impact is to the
or no matter what the impact is to the
or no matter what the impact is to the society as a whole they’re coming back
society as a whole they’re coming back
society as a whole they’re coming back and since they’re coming back we have to
and since they’re coming back we have to
and since they’re coming back we have to be more than aware that they’re going to
be more than aware that they’re going to
be more than aware that they’re going to affect our neighborhoods so we have to
affect our neighborhoods so we have to
affect our neighborhoods so we have to care about mass incarceration because it
care about mass incarceration because it
care about mass incarceration because it is a community issue we have to
is a community issue we have to
is a community issue we have to realize and start to think differently
realize and start to think differently
realize and start to think differently we have to start to think of felons as
we have to start to think of felons as
we have to start to think of felons as not just a burden to our society but the
not just a burden to our society but the
not just a burden to our society but the potential that we could change the way
potential that we could change the way
potential that we could change the way the the correctional systems are being
the the correctional systems are being
the the correctional systems are being handled we should think about are they
handled we should think about are they
handled we should think about are they coming out corrected the answer is no
coming out corrected the answer is no
coming out corrected the answer is no they’re coming out worse off than when
they’re coming out worse off than when
they’re coming out worse off than when they went in why because there’s
they went in why because there’s
they went in why because there’s absolutely no programs in place we
absolutely no programs in place we
absolutely no programs in place we should start thinking about mental
should start thinking about mental
should start thinking about mental health programs about re-entry programs
health programs about re-entry programs
health programs about re-entry programs we should start thinking about all the
we should start thinking about all the
we should start thinking about all the different ways that we could actually
different ways that we could actually
different ways that we could actually begin to be a change have you ever
begin to be a change have you ever
begin to be a change have you ever thought about this if you woke up
thought about this if you woke up
thought about this if you woke up tomorrow and you were told you have no
tomorrow and you were told you have no
tomorrow and you were told you have no money you have no place to go you have
money you have no place to go you have
money you have no place to go you have no one to ask now put yourself there
no one to ask now put yourself there
no one to ask now put yourself there imagine it with me you have nobody not
imagine it with me you have nobody not
imagine it with me you have nobody not grandma sue sue not Billy Bob not uncle
grandma sue sue not Billy Bob not uncle
grandma sue sue not Billy Bob not uncle uncle sure nobody but yet you are told
uncle sure nobody but yet you are told
uncle sure nobody but yet you are told to be a productive citizen what are you
to be a productive citizen what are you
to be a productive citizen what are you gonna do what do we expect people to do
gonna do what do we expect people to do
gonna do what do we expect people to do when they have no where to lay their
when they have no where to lay their
when they have no where to lay their heads know where to get a meal no way to
heads know where to get a meal no way to
heads know where to get a meal no way to get a job that’s what we’re doing to
get a job that’s what we’re doing to
get a job that’s what we’re doing to these people we are saying come back to
these people we are saying come back to
these people we are saying come back to society but you figure it out but don’t
society but you figure it out but don’t
society but you figure it out but don’t do anything wrong but come on back
do anything wrong but come on back
do anything wrong but come on back that’s what we’re saying why should we
that’s what we’re saying why should we
that’s what we’re saying why should we care about mass incarceration we should
care about mass incarceration we should
care about mass incarceration we should care about mass incarceration because
care about mass incarceration because
care about mass incarceration because you know because the bottom line is is
you know because the bottom line is is
you know because the bottom line is is that we are our brothers keepers we are
that we are our brothers keepers we are
that we are our brothers keepers we are our brothers keepers and our sisters
our brothers keepers and our sisters
our brothers keepers and our sisters keepers it is up to us to be the leaders
keepers it is up to us to be the leaders
keepers it is up to us to be the leaders and the forerunners in the world of
and the forerunners in the world of
and the forerunners in the world of change not just talk about change but be
change not just talk about change but be
change not just talk about change but be about change because I never expected
about change because I never expected
about change because I never expected this to happen to me I am not the face
this to happen to me I am not the face
this to happen to me I am not the face of incarceration neither is my daughter
of incarceration neither is my daughter
of incarceration neither is my daughter but it is happening the opioid crisis is
but it is happening the opioid crisis is
but it is happening the opioid crisis is it is here it is now it is happening so
it is here it is now it is happening so
it is here it is now it is happening so what can you do
what can you do
what can you do oh I’m so glad you asked me again what
oh I’m so glad you asked me again what
oh I’m so glad you asked me again what can I do well what you can do is you can
can I do well what you can do is you can
can I do well what you can do is you can remove the stigma and talk honestly
remove the stigma and talk honestly
remove the stigma and talk honestly about it see in today’s time there’s no
about it see in today’s time there’s no
about it see in today’s time there’s no real ways that we can talk about this
real ways that we can talk about this
real ways that we can talk about this and not feel totally uncomfortable
and not feel totally uncomfortable
and not feel totally uncomfortable I mean I’m screaming and I’m standing up
I mean I’m screaming and I’m standing up
I mean I’m screaming and I’m standing up can’t imagine what you’re doing in your
can’t imagine what you’re doing in your
can’t imagine what you’re doing in your shoot and you’re just in your chairs
shoot and you’re just in your chairs
shoot and you’re just in your chairs right now I’m really uncomfortable
right now I’m really uncomfortable
right now I’m really uncomfortable talking about this subject because most
talking about this subject because most
talking about this subject because most people as soon as you start talking
people as soon as you start talking
people as soon as you start talking about this subject then the first thing
about this subject then the first thing
about this subject then the first thing they want to do is shut it down they
they want to do is shut it down they
they want to do is shut it down they want to ignore it they want to push it
want to ignore it they want to push it
want to ignore it they want to push it away as the dirty dark subject but we
away as the dirty dark subject but we
away as the dirty dark subject but we have to start talking about this thing
have to start talking about this thing
have to start talking about this thing openly and honestly so that we can find
openly and honestly so that we can find
openly and honestly so that we can find the solutions to the problems don’t we
the solutions to the problems don’t we
the solutions to the problems don’t we talk about other problems and don’t we
talk about other problems and don’t we
talk about other problems and don’t we find solutions this is a problem we need
find solutions this is a problem we need
find solutions this is a problem we need to find a solution
to find a solution
to find a solution what about educating ourselves if you
what about educating ourselves if you
what about educating ourselves if you haven’t already done this and and I’m
haven’t already done this and and I’m
haven’t already done this and and I’m proud of you if you have but if you
proud of you if you have but if you
proud of you if you have but if you haven’t already done this the best way
haven’t already done this the best way
haven’t already done this the best way that you can educate yourself is just
that you can educate yourself is just
that you can educate yourself is just like I did you can stand up and you can
like I did you can stand up and you can
like I did you can stand up and you can sign the justice declaration when I went
sign the justice declaration when I went
sign the justice declaration when I went to that justice declaration calm and I
to that justice declaration calm and I
to that justice declaration calm and I started learning about things I learned
started learning about things I learned
started learning about things I learned about advocacy I learned about lobbying
about advocacy I learned about lobbying
about advocacy I learned about lobbying I learned about what I could personally
I learned about what I could personally
I learned about what I could personally do to make a difference because the
do to make a difference because the
do to make a difference because the problem does feel like it’s this big but
problem does feel like it’s this big but
problem does feel like it’s this big but these people which is the Prison
these people which is the Prison
these people which is the Prison Fellowship I’m in no connection with him
Fellowship I’m in no connection with him
Fellowship I’m in no connection with him but they did help me to pull myself
but they did help me to pull myself
but they did help me to pull myself through and make me understand
through and make me understand
through and make me understand specifically what it was that I needed
specifically what it was that I needed
specifically what it was that I needed to learn and do to become a change agent
to learn and do to become a change agent
to learn and do to become a change agent so my question to you is will you sign
so my question to you is will you sign
so my question to you is will you sign the check the justice declaration will
the check the justice declaration will
the check the justice declaration will you sign it if you will you’ll find out
you sign it if you will you’ll find out
you sign it if you will you’ll find out all the information that you need and
all the information that you need and
all the information that you need and you won’t feel overwhelmed
you won’t feel overwhelmed
you won’t feel overwhelmed you’ll feel what I felt and that’s
you’ll feel what I felt and that’s
you’ll feel what I felt and that’s freedom the freedom to know that we live
freedom the freedom to know that we live
freedom the freedom to know that we live in America the land of the free and the
in America the land of the free and the
in America the land of the free and the home of the brave the freedom to know
home of the brave the freedom to know
home of the brave the freedom to know that I personally had to go to jail to
that I personally had to go to jail to
that I personally had to go to jail to lose my freedom so that other people
lose my freedom so that other people
lose my freedom so that other people could be free so that you all can
could be free so that you all can
could be free so that you all can understand and hear the truth coming
understand and hear the truth coming
understand and hear the truth coming from someone who has a biased opinion or
from someone who has a biased opinion or
from someone who has a biased opinion or who is who sees all sides will you say
who is who sees all sides will you say
who is who sees all sides will you say will you stand with me and be the change
will you stand with me and be the change
will you stand with me and be the change that we need to be will you stand with
that we need to be will you stand with
that we need to be will you stand with me thank you
thank you thank you
thank you thank you okay
”
Be First to Comment