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10 years is an exceptionally long prison sentence. Even for the most egregious conduct. That’s all.
For anyone calling me “racist,” “sarcastic,” “cynical,” etc. for saying 10 years is a long time in prison even for this horrific murder, get to know my work. Values—decarceration & abolition among them—require consistency.
When we support pain, punishment, torture, harshness, long sentences for one-no matter how much we might despise them or think they "deserve it"-we further entrench an unjust system for all. “All” tends to be people I represent: Black & Latinx people from only certain communities
He wouldve gotten LONGER. Black & Latinx people are treated more harshly than white people across the board, let alone police officers that never face any consequences. Let me ask you: What does calling for a longer sentence for her do for justice for all?
Not blaming ANYONE for being upset. Theres nothing not upsetting, horrific, tragic, racist, unjust, despicable about any of this. Public defenders, however, see how greater harshness for one leads to greater harshness for all. History of mass incarceration.
People serving ten years for weed & other offenses are serving ten years in part bc lawmakers listened to calls for harsher sentences based on outlier cases reinforced by constituents calling for prison & harshness as the solution for everything.
People! I'm saying exactly the opposite. Please listen: I want less incarceration for all. I don't believe in ARREST, much less prosecution or a day in jail, let alone years, decades for drugs. But calling for harshness for 1 leads to harshness for all.
Yes.
Ive always felt like the most difficult cases, the ones where I am fighting back screaming for incarceration, life behind bars, even death, are the ones that I shouldn’t let go. These are the ones that test commitment to decarceration & justice for all.
Thank you @prisonculture. You always provide the necessary gut check.
