@ava PLEASE READ-A THREAD❗️Below is a photo from a #CherishTheDay scene. The Author of the book circled is @haveyoureadspud I told his story when I was on the @breakfastclubam @cthagod @angelayee @djenvy I want YOU to know that he wrote 14 books while serving time in prison 1/ 
2/ Spud served time as a 1st time non-violent offender due to the 90’s crime bill. He saved my life when I was a teenager so I stayed connected with him over the years during his time in prison, he is one of the reasons why I work so hard in politics on criminal justice reform.
3/ Spud is the reason why when I watched #WhenTheySeeUs I was NOT shocked by anything I saw because I already understood the pain & trauma associated with serving time. Because of him I spoke about mental health for inmates during my 2nd appearance on @breakfastclubam
4/ Spud is one of the reasons why I now volunteer in State prison to help other men acquire the necessary skills to obtain employment. He is why I made sure that I personally hired many 2nd chance citizens myself when I owned a staffing firm.
5/ BC I know Spuds story as well as others, he is 1of the reasons why I have worked w/ @AttorneyCrump on many cases & @cut_50 @LouislReed on the #FirstStepAct & why I served in 2016 as Bernie Sanders social justice national staffer.Thank u Ben & Louis 4 taking time 2 speak 2 Spud
6/ After Spud was released from prison in 2015 he was paralyzed in 2019.
7/ I want you to know that he hasn’t given up on his writing despite the circumstances. Every day he is in unbelievable pain but pushes his way to his laptop to type. In fact he signed up to take a screenwriters class starting in March.
8/ As a teenager he was 1 of the strongest men I knew. I have watched the system & life try to break him in every way but like the title of one of his books ‘He can’t stop, He won’t stop! I am so proud to see his books in Walmart, Barnes & Noble & NOW a cameo in #CherishTheDay
9/ I just thought you should know the story behind what seemed to be something simple. Him seeing HIS book on the screen @OWNTV while laying in rehab certainly gave him hope & will help him to never give up & #CherishTheDay
10/ I pray you read this thread. I know you get a lot of messages but I just had to let you & others reading this how a book a simple thing is such a divine, powerful act of God. God bless you!
11/ This is him in his wheelchair signing books last Sat at a book signing. The book in the rack (KingPins) is t/book that was in #CherishTheDay He has been paralyzed for 1 year now. He understands he was supposed 2 die last year but instead he decided 2 #CherishTheDay
@threadreaderapp please unroll
