All of Us or None Organizes Peace and Justice Summit
July 31, 2004 was an historic day. It was the day that All of Us or None, the growing civil rights movement to end discrimination against formerly incarcerated people, voiced its demands to elected officials, community leaders, and the public at large. At more traditional meetings with elected officials, formerly incarcerated people are confined to a brief public comment period after listening to officials speak about their vision for the community. On Saturday, July 31, the elected officials were given a brief report back period, after listening to the testimony and demands of formerly incarcerated people and their family members. The demands were for basic civil and human rights:
- End discrimination against people with criminal records.
- Opt out of the lifetime welfare and foodstamps ban.
- Implement the Bill of Rights for Children of Incarcerated Parents.
- Ban the box disclosing prior convictions on applications for public employment.
- Increase support services for people coming out of prison.
All of Us or None, a project of LSPC founded by LSPC staff Dorsey Nunn, Linda Evans, and Yvonne Cooks, began organizing in early 2003. On July 31, countless hours of outreach and organizing efforts paid off. The First Unitarian Church in Oakland overflowed with people from all over the East Bay, from Oakland to as far away as Hayward, Richmond and Concord. People shared their stories about the impact of discrimination against incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people and their families. Speakers testified to issues ranging from the effects of parental incarceration on children, to the lack of access to food, housing, and federal assistance for people with felony convictions, to child custody issues, and to the immigration consequences of a criminal record. Elected officials and community leaders listened to formerly incarcerated people and committed themselves to improving reentry services and access to employment. A busy voter registration table was on hand. There was also space for community building and healing, as the audience ate a delicious meal prepared by All of Us or None member Charlene Overshown and watched entertainment provided by rapper Ise Lyfe and poet and LSPC staff member Maisha Quint. Overall, the East Bay Summit was an enlightening and empowering experience!
The Summit also garnered significant media coverage, including radio interviews on KPFA 94.1, KPOO 89.5, articles in the San Francisco Chronicle, Oakland Tribune, Contra Costa Times, San Francisco Bay View, and in the nightly news on KTVU Channel 2, and KGO Channel 7. Crystal John, an LSPC intern, reported that after the summit she was approached by a man at the grocery store who recognized her t-shirt from the Chronicle article and thanked her for the work All of Us or None is doing to fight discrimination. Proof that our message is out there! The San Francisco Peace and Justice Summit, will be October 23, 2004.
