Page 8 - Florida Sentinel 3-25-22

Feature
Day Of Empathy Set To Put Spotlight On Need For Prison Reform
BY MONIQUE STAMPS Sentinel Staff Writer
In 2022, the calls for social justice reform are just as strong as the days of Black Lives Matter protests two years ago. National, regional, and local organizations con- tinue the fight for justice. One of the most important tenets of social justice is the reform of the prison systems in America.
On April 2, 2022, the Soci- ety-First Social Network, along with Black Lives Matter Restoration Polk, Dream Corps JUSTICE, the ACLU, as well as many other civil rights organizations, ministries, and advocates, will gather in front of Hardee Correctional Insti- tute in Bowling Green, FL., at noon. The aim of the gathering is to “lift our voices on the Day of Empathy for Dream Corps JUSTICE.”
The Day of Empathy is an
SOCIETY-FIRST Media Director JOSH BROWN, Communica- tion Director JOAN LEWIS, CEO/President DENISE CAFFO, and Society-First Representative CHRIS MINEO.
meaningful criminal justice re- form that keeps our communi- ties safe, our families whole, and our economy strong. The organizations will be announc- ing the Road to Restoration Coalition's collective plan. The plan is to bring a restorative criminal justice system to Florida that will heal rather than destroy. It will begin with the announcement that we are here to bring hope to Hardee's 482 Lifers,” states Joan Lewis, Director of Communi- cation for Society-First.
“We will shine a light on the fact that all of Florida's life sentences are constitutionally illegal, and no longer will we stand silent and allow Florida to add to the 25-30 thousand citizens that they have called irredeemable and have sen-
tenced to die in prison.”
The goal of the Day of Em- pathy is to bring awareness about the lives of prisoners with extended sentences and the number of prisoners that are sentenced to life without
parole.
There will be speeches by
members of the Road to Restoration Coalition, as well as an announcement that at- torneys are ready to represent those with life sentences pro bono (no cost.)
The social gathering will be located at Hardee Cor- rectional Institute, 6901 SR-62, Bowling Green, FL. For more information, email reform@society- first.com or joan.society- first@gmail.com. To call, dial (803) 704-4766.
annual event that mobilizes bi- partisan support for a more humane justice system in the United States.
Dream Corps JUSTICE collaborates with the Empathy Network, Amer-
ica’s largest community of jus- tice-impacted activists, to ad- vocate for fearless solutions to our mass incarceration prob- lem.
“We believe that, without empathy, we cannot achieve
PAGE 8-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2022