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All of Us or None
Comrade, only slaves can free you.
Everything or nothing. All of us or none.
From All of Us or None, by Bertolt Brecht
Prison sentences for millions of people with felony convictions never really end when prejudice and discrimination based on felony criminal histories persist outside the prison walls. Former prisoners, prisoners, people convicted of felonies and their allies have come together to combat the many forms of life-long discrimination in All of Us or None, a national organizing initiative sponsored by LSPC.
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All of Us or None Northern California Strategy Session in Oakland, March 2003. (Photo by Scott Braley)
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Felons and former prisoners are among the few groups left in society where blatant discrimination is legally sanctioned and casually accepted. If you have a felony on your record, you can be denied jobs, student loans, and access to public housing. Felonies in your past can also mean being banned for life from receiving welfare, being at risk to have your children stolen through fast track adoptions, and in some cases, being permanently denied the right to vote. State and federal lawmakers and public policymakers not only tolerate this prejudice, but are largely responsible for creating them through laws and policies that specifically discriminate against people with felony records.
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All of Us or None Strategy Session, New Orleans, May 2003 (Photo by Scott Braley)
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LSPC staff Dorsey Nunn, Linda Evans, and Yvonne Cooks – along with a network of volunteers made up of felons, former prisoners and their allies from around the country – have been working to get All of Us or None off the ground since the beginning of 2003. Dorsey describes the project as “giving people the opportunity to recognize the advantages of unity rather than isolation.” Organizers envision the initiative as the beginning of a new, nationwide civil rights movement where felons, prisoners and former prisoners organize to use their collective voices, wisdom and skills to fight for their human and civil rights. This initiative will also be used as a vehicle to strengthen the voices of people currently incarcerated so they can speak about horrendous conditions while in custody as juveniles and adults. The initiative is at its beginning stages, building momentum and a base among people with felony records, current prisoners and former prisoners. The San Francisco Bay Area chapter of All of Us or None holds ongoing community meetings in Oakland and East Palo Alto. Organizers have targeted outreach to members of local Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous groups, as they tend to be some of the few places where felons and former prisoners are allowed to congregate. Volunteers have also put together brochures for the project, and have begun designing a web site.
It has been challenging to “encourage people with felony convictions and former prisoners to fight this legalized discrimination collectively based on our common experiences and identities,” rather than just as individuals, according to Linda. Yvonne observes that “moving people in this direction has required organizing across race, gender, age, class and geography. We are focusing on building a movement, not just another non-profit”.
To learn more, contact All of Us or None at Legal Services for Prisoners with Children, or see http://www.allofusornone.org.
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