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Our Goal: No For-Profit Prisons!

For-profit private prisons, jails and detention centers have no place in a democratic society. Profiteering from the imprisonment of human beings compromises public safety and corrupts justice. In the spirit of democracy and accountability, we call for an end to all incarceration for profit.

Monica Simpson, Grassroots Leadership Fundraising Coordinator Profiled in Creative Loafing

Activism is in Monica Simpson's blood. "It doesn't matter what cause I am fighting for. I see injustice somewhere in the world I feel it is my duty as a human being to fight against it."

Simpson's activism started while she was a student at Johnson C. Smith University. "When I came first came out, it was very difficult. I saw my friends being hassled and I didn't like it, so we organized the first gay support group on Johnson C. Smith's campus. It was then I realized if you believed in something enough, you can change things for the better."

Charlotte Black Gay Pride Celebration is another first for Simpson. "When we came up with the idea for a black gay pride festival, it felt like we were saying, 'Yes we are here and we are proud.'

We have shows, expos lectures and a Sunday morning service. We wanted people to know that you don't have to hide who you are."

Her work with Grassroots Leadership seeks to mobilize people in communities to stop the building of privately run prisons. "When these companies offer to lease these prisons to the government, the focus is no longer on rehabilitation. It isn't about equipping people to leave prison system and be able to function in society. The focus becomes about a revolving door and keeping beds full, and building more prisons."
"The work I do is important. It is my personal belief that we all have a purpose, and whether we are gay or straight, conservative or liberal -- we all have a duty to make this world better. I am just trying to do my part."

By Charity Frederick, July 2, 2008 Creative Loafing

Si Kahn
Social Activist, Songwriter, Author, Speaker and the Founder and Executive Director of Grassroots Leadership.

Si Kahn has worked for over 40 years as a civil rights, labor and community organizer. His songs of family, community, work and freedom have been recorded by many artists.
 more >>

 

 

News & Featured Events

Grassroots Leadership's Bob Libal will be speaking on Concrete Skoolyard, on 91.7 KOOP radio or www.koop.org, on Sunday, August 10, at 3pm CST on the issue of immigrant detention centers and the upcoming Beyond the Bars series at MonkeyWrench Books.

Immigration, Detention, and Deportation
Austin, Texas - Monday, August 11, 8pm

Film screening of Hutto: America's Family Prison with film-maker Matthew Gossage; organizers from Grassroots Leadership will speak about organizing against private immigrant detention centers. Also, members of the Austin Immigrant Rights Coalition will speak on the issue of ICE in the Travis County Jail. The event is part of Beyond the Bars, a series every Monday in August at MonkeyWrench Books in the lead up to Critical Resistance's 10 year anniversary. See www.monkeywrenchbooks.org or call (512) 407-6925 for more information on the series or to get directions.

Grassroots Leadership Texas Field office staff build coalition to oppose SAVE ACT. The federal ACT would expand family detention and fund the building border walls. more >>

T.Don Hutto: America's Family Detention Center a film produced with support from Grassroots Leadership available on-line >>

Staff member Luissana Santibañez named
2008 Soros Justice Fellow

The massive expansion of federal detention centers for noncitizens has wrought havoc on family and community relationships. Santibañez, whose own family has been torn apart by recent crackdowns, will build a Texas-based network of former detainees to elevate community awareness and build support for policies that protect the rights of detainees.

 

 

 

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©2008 Grassroots Leadership