There’s a time in every
movement when it becomes a truly national movement. And you can tell when that
happens by certain people and organizations getting involved. Most of you have heard
all about the various new groups, foundations, and political figures getting
involved in bail reform and pretrial justice lately, but I’m talking popular
culture here.
Like last week, when someone
from HBO called to ask about bail for a weekly comedy show. I asked what in the
world could possibly seem funny about locking up so many people for lack of
money, and she said that their show specializes in taking “grim” subjects and
making jokes about them. I believe her, and it may be one of the best ways to
get the attention of the American people.
Another way is for our American
stars and celebrities to get involved. That’s what Oscar and Grammy Award
winning singer-songwriter John Legend is doing. I first saw him say something
about mass incarceration at this year’s Oscars. And if you aren’t sure about
his commitment, look at this story, describing his new campaign to end mass incarceration:
http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/john-legend-launches-campaign-end-mass-incarceration.
Or just run his name along with the words “jail reform” and see what comes up. The
story says that he’s putting together other artists to help him out, in addition
to organizations committed to ending mass incarceration, and so I really hope that
my pretrial friends reach out to him.
John Legend has a giant
following, and the people who want to leave bail the way it is, keeping poor
and minority folks in jail for lack of money, are going to have their hands
full when someone famous and with common sense and empathy for others gets
full-on involved.
John recently told some
people in Texas to “value every life even if people make a mistake.” Exactly,
John. Well said.
