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PEOPLE & ARTS Friday 24 May 2019
A host of celebrities speak out on criminal justice reform

By MARCELA ISAZA Common, a Grammy, Os-
Associated Press car and Emmy winner, was
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kim touched in particular by
Kardashian West isn't the the cause through his work
only celebrity speaking out on the 2014 film "Selma,"
for prison reform. It's a topic the story of the 1965 voting
that was also very impor- rights marches in Alabama.
tant to slain rapper Nipsey The "Glory" rapper has per-
Hussle, and to Common, formed at numerous con-
Kevin Hart and a host of certs inside California pris-
others who consider the ons and is a frequent visitor
criminal justice system of- to the men of one in Los
ten unfair and dehuman- Angeles County where all
izing. This combination photo shows the late rapper Nipsey Hussle, comedian Kevin Hart, rapper Com- are serving life sentences.
mon and reality star Kim Kardashian West, who are among the high-profile celebrities that are
Hussle served time before speaking out for prison reform. "I think one of the things
he was shot to death on Associated Press that I've experienced from
March 31 and was raising meeting men and women
awareness for changes. ated Press. "We saw first- reflect upon the harm they lawyers, not even being in who were incarcerated
Last October, he head- hand over-sentencing, un- have caused through nar- the right state of mind to was that they wanted to
lined a free #TimeDone fair probation, the policies rative therapy and creative even fight the case or even feel humanized. They want-
campaign concert to bring and stuff, so to see people writing workshops. have enough money to get ed people to know that
awareness to the 70 mil- putting energy into reform- Producer and rapper DJ a lawyer to fight the case," they were human beings,"
lion Americans living with a ing that and just making it Mustard, who is a Gram- he said. Common said. "The plac-
past conviction. a little closer to what's fair, my winner and has col- His cousin was sentenced es that I've been, I've met
In February, while attend- you know what I mean? I laborated with Hussle, has to 80 years to life as a teen- some of the best human
ing the Grammy Awards, think that it's an important a cousin, Theodore, who ager. beings I've ever met in my
Hussle explained why the subject. It's an important is currently incarcerated. "At that time, we didn't life in prison that were do-
topic of prison reform was movement that we should Mustard said prison reform have money to go for a ing life without parole that
among his priorities. all support." is "super important" to him good lawyer and now had actually committed vi-
"I grew up in South Central Hussle was on the advisory because often, people we're fighting and fighting olent crimes and had com-
Los Angeles. You know we board of WordsUncaged, are "accused of something and fighting to get him out. mitted murders, but then
come from gang culture so a nonprofit where prisoners they didn't even do." That's a lot of people's cas- were able to acknowledge
we dealt with the system serving life sentences learn "They take the time for it not es throughout the world," that and try to move past it
a lot," he told The Associ- to reclaim their voices and knowing, not having any Mustard said. and do the work."q

'The Tiger Who Came to Tea' author Judith Kerr dies at 95

By GREGORY KATZ so much back with her joy-
Associated Press ful creations and gentle hu-
LONDON (AP) — Judith mor," Cowell said. "She has
Kerr, a refugee from Nazi inspired generation after
Germany who wrote and generation of children to
illustrated the bestselling read for pleasure."
"The Tiger Who Came to Peter Florence, the direc-
Tea" and other beloved tor of Britain's Hay Festival,
children's books, has died a literary event where Kerr
at the age of 95. made many appearances,
HarperCollins chief execu- said the author "had grace,
tive Charlie Redmayne an- born of wisdom, generosity
nounced her death Thurs- of spirit and the resilience of
day. The publisher said a woman who had been a
she died at her home on refugee from the extremes
Wednesday after a brief ill- of 20th century history."
ness. He said she has "brought
Kerr "was a brilliantly talent- millions of people to books"
ed artist and storyteller who by bringing the Tiger and
has left us an extraordinary Mog to life.
body of work," he said. "When Hitler Stole Pink Rab-
The beguiling story of the bit is one of the great books
tea-drinking tiger has been In this May 23, 2003 file photo British writer Judith Kerr sits in her working room in London, England. of our times. I am so glad to
shared by parents with Associated Press have heard her in Hay so
young children since it was often. We've been blessed.
first published in 1968 and dren embraced. "Mog's Christmas Calam- cape from Nazi Germany And we have her with us
has never been out of print. Her next book introduced ity," which raised more than in the 1930s. forever in print."
It has sold more than 5 mil- Mog the cat, who starred 1 million pounds for a liter- Cressida Cowell, author Kerr was born in Berlin but
lion copies. in some 15 books and de- acy campaign with charity of the "How to Train Your left Germany with her fam-
The book, with its memora- veloped a large following Save the Children. Dragon" series, said Kerr ily in 1933 to escape Nazi
ble illustrations and simple until "Goodbye Mog" was Her third book, "When Hit- was "a true creative hero" tyranny. The family settled
surprises, conveys a sense published in 2002. ler Stole Pink Rabbit", was who will be missed. in England, where she stud-
of wonder and possibil- The popular feline was an autobiographical story "She came to this country ied art and worked as a
ity that generations of chil- brought back in 2015 for based on her family's es- as a refugee and has given scriptwriter at BBC.q