Criminal Justice Reform Takes Center Stage At DNC
Alicia Keys, #cut50, Rock the Vote and Hill Harper Join Forces to Impact DNC Platform, Programming
The national, bipartisan justice reform network, #cut50, partnered with Alicia Keys, Rock the Vote, We Are Here Movement, Hill Harper and others to ensure that the DNC advanced its new commitment to end “the era of mass incarceration.”
In June, #cut50 director of policy Matt Haney, along with partnering organizations, sent an open letter to the Democratic National Committee. The letter called for “an end to the era of mass incarceration.” Just days later, the DNC announced that “ending the era of mass incarceration” would be officially included in the party platform.
At the DNC itself, #cut50 used the power of cultural arts and technology to make sure that criminal justice reform remained a top priority among party officials.
- On Monday night of the convention, Grammy award-winning singer Alicia Keys spoke on a panel focusing on transforming the justice system. She was joined by #cut50 co-founder Van Jones, U.S. Senator Cory Booker, California Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris, and others. It was hosted by Keys’ “We Are Here Movement,” #cut50 and Politico.
- On Tuesday July 26th, actor Hill Harper spoke on a panel titled, “Gatekeepers of Truth” with soul singer Aloe Blacc. The two discussed how artists can use their work to expose truths and humanize social struggles.
- On July 25-27th, #cut50 and Rock the Vote presented “TRUTH TO POWER; A large-scale pop-up art exhibition.” Additionally, a virtual reality screening was available for viewing throughout the convention in partnership with Benefit Studios’ Day of Empathy Campaign, to help conventioners visualize the daily lives of the millions of incarcerated Americans.
“Now is the time for reforms that focus on rehabilitation and alternative sentencing. We were glad to be at the DNC this year representing the voices of voters and those 2.2 million incarcerated Americans who need criminal justice reforms now,” says Jessica Jackson Sloan, #cut50 National Director.
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#cut50 is a program of The Dream Corps, an non-profit organization that supports economic, environmental and criminal justice innovators. The Dream Corps supercharges changemaking strategies with world-class partnerships, smart digital tools and national media access.
