Changing the Narrative

fromThe Demonization of

People of Color

toFamily Reunification

By Standing TogetherAgainst

Mass Incarceration and Mass Deportation

and Standing TogetherFor

Families and Communities

“The War on Drugs has never been about drugs.”

Its about the “Demonization” of People of Color.

“But drugs are bad… I get that but where are we 30 years later.”

• ‘African-American youth are nearly 5x more likely to be confined than their white peers. Latino and American Indian youth are between 2 and 3 times more likely to be confined.

• The disparities in youth confinement rates point to a system that treats youth of color, particularly African Americans and Latinos, more punitively than similar white youth.’ In 2010, the rate of incarceration for African American youth was 605 per 100,000 population compared to the total rate of 225.

•  • Michigan rates for 2011 reveal a profound racial disparity.

African American youths (under age 21) were detained, incarcerated, or placed in residential facilities at a rate of 660 per 100,000 population compared to a rate of 221 for all youth. (Hispanic youth – 153, White youth – 117, American Indian youth – 111).

We are incarcerating…

…Poor People…

… Juveniles…

… and Children in Detention Centers

We are destroying families

Oscar’s Story

Kandia’s Story

Who benefits?

We pay for it all. What we can save.

This is a holocaustin slow motion.

This is Katrina for our families.

New report says MI can safely reduce prison population by 10,000 By April Van Buren • Jun 18, 2015

What can we do together?

• Divert the Pipe-line.– Treatment instead of Prisons (TIP)– Mental Health diversions

• Reduce the Stay– Sentencing and Parole reform

• Stop the ex-offender penalties– Ban the Box– “Licensing” reform