CHANGE, CLEMENCY AND A SECOND LOOK!
State and national campaign challenging mass incarceration continues
By Ricardo Ferrell
VOD Field Editor
September 2, 2023
Ricardo Ferrell
Ricardo Ferrell, VOD’s Field Editor, proudly announces that the Michael Thompson Clemency Project is inviting families, friends and supporters to the upcoming: ‘Freedom and Justice for All’ rally to be held on Saturday, September 30th, 2023 from 3-5pm, on the steps of the State’s Capitol Building in downtown Lansing.
Anyone who wish to attend can do so free of charge. There will be an open mic for those wishing to briefly tell the stories of their incarcerated loved ones who they believe warrant being considered to have their sentences commuted through the clemency process by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Let your voices be heard LOUD and CLEAR!!!
The time is now! Call for Freedom and Justice for All of our incarcerated men & women in Michigan who lives have been impacted by mass incarceration within the carceral system. This is the hour where we’re calling on our governor to utilize her clemency power.
(L to r) Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit, retired Oregon Governor Kate Brown, Michael Thompson, founder of Michael Thompson Clemency Project, and moderator Hill Harper (now a candidate for U.S. Senator (D-MI) at Lansing forum advocating clemency by category for Michigan prisoners April 17, 2023
In the State of Oregon, former Governor Kate Brown got it right by granting clemency to well over 1,100 people in her state. Gov. Brown is quoted in a previous VOD article stating, “I absolutely believe that the criminal justice system in the U.S. is built on the back of Black and Brown people, and… that the single most powerful tool governors have to embed justice in the system – is the clemency power.” — Kate Brown, retired Governor of Oregon
In a Related Effort:
Alexandra Bailey, Senior Campaign Strategist for the Sentencing Project, Washington, D.C.
The Sentencing Project in Washington, DC is pushing its Second Look Legislation Campaign in Michigan with the help and ingenuity of the phenomenal Alexandra Bailey. Ms. Bailey recognized the dire need for Michigan to take criminal justice reform seriously. So, she has devoted a great deal of her time working towards that end. The many thousands of men & women locked down in our state truly do owe an enormous debt of gratitude for the tireless work that Ms. Bailey and the Sentencing Project have put in and continue to put in on a daily basis. This is the climate for Change, Clemency and A Second Look!!!
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Thank you my treasured friend for extending an invitation to give me the distinct opportunity to be a part of Voice of Detroit. You have consistently provided me with a platform to highlight my literary talents, hone my writing skills, and give me a voice thru Voice of Detroit to bring attention to the countless individuals sitting in prisons in Michigan and across the country who are factually, actually and flat out innocent. Secondly, you’ve been one of my strongest supporters making sure the people knew who Ricardo Ferrell was. You didn’t hesitate one bit to bring me on as a staff writer for VOD nearly 6 years ago. Then you promoted me to become your first Field Editor with VOD. I have been happy, humbled and honored that you immediately recognized my worth and thought enough of me to publish almost all of my work.
Diane Bukowski, you definitely are one of a kind and the 5 decades that you’ve been in this field both advocating for justice and reporting on the many injustices we see across America is commendable to say the least. I am proud to say I’m ready to do the work needed to bring attention to the many men & women who I left behind that are suffering everyday due to being unjustly incarcerated on convictions sustained which has questionable concerns about the integrity of the convictions itself. I am committed to Voice of Detroit and more than ready to make the good noise and let my voice as well as the voiceless be heard loud and clear that enough is enough as for accepting the grave injustices in our carceral system. I solute you Diane for believing in me and more importantly for never giving up on me when I was suffering inside the belly of the beast. But I’m here now my treasured friend let’s raise some righteous and make them change and fix this corrupt and broken criminal justice ⚖️ system.
Much Peace & Love,
Ricardo Ferrell, Field Editor