The fight to end prison slavery in California | Rattling the Bars

The 13th Amendment of the US Constitution makes an exception to the abolition of slavery in order to permit the use of "involuntary servitude" as punishment for a crime. The modern system of mass incarceration depends on this exception to justify paying millions of incarcerated people subminimum wages that many advocates say is virtually indistinguishable from forms of slavery. Various US states also have their own constitutional "exception clauses" that mirror the language of the 13th Amendment, providing an additional layer of legal justification for the exploitation of prisoners. Jeronimo Aguilar and John Cannon of the organizations Legal Services for Prisoners with Children-All of Us or None join Rattling the Bars to discuss the years-long campaign to eliminate the exception clauses in California.
Studio Production: Cameron Granadino
Post-Production: Cameron Granadino
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[@special-t-419onurbandictio9]

Respect to all of you especially the host.

[@thomaslee8002]

We as a people need to identify these cooperations that benefit from this law and boycott them.

[@axShinsei]

Thank you all for being and for the work you do in this world.

[@andrewf2741]

Great Podcast! Thank You!

[@kiacating8029]

Thank you for sharing these truths

[@georgiamarierx9682]

The point is people being overly and wrongly convicted. To keep their supply.

[@rebelstudio2720]

But they did not end all the laws they created for blacks to be able to still use them on blacks today.

[@adrukova1407]

Let 'em work! Cable TV isn't free 🎉

[@traceyrychewhite1874]

I am against Slavery of any kind.

[@johnthompson9513]

My son got caught up in the system yrs ago and messed his whole life up...Sad

[@Ben-wl7dx]

There goes the rest of hostages !

[@chronic411]

If only we could adjust the entire prison enterprise.

[@westmassdave7354]

Stop paying taxes, especially to the state of California. If you’re a taxpayer in the state of California, you’re a sucker.

[@peterchristie1096]

One has to be careful mot to comfuse work experience for slavery.

[@laowai769]

There needs to be less Dystopian movies and more just about plane reality.

[@Melan8Studios]

Question, who runs the Commissary in these institutions and are the prices “fair” market value?

[@kellielaine5848]

Rfk 2024 rehabilitation and work training

[@patdenney7046]

Incarcerated in California you forgot the counties and the feds and the people in the system on parole.

[@repentandfollowjesuschrist6170]

You forget they're criminals?

[@sTraYa249]

@@repentandfollowjesuschrist6170 Exactly, it is really quite simple & career criminals do not go to prison to make a living. Some cannot stop the behaviour that gets them there, but they cost the tax payers millions & to think that they're comparing this to actual slavery is odd. There's millions of trafficked people who end up in dreadful positions & worldwide ( through no fault of their own )slavery is bigger now than it has ever been. It is quite easy to avoid....stop being criminals. This man also said slavery was founded in America, that's just untrue

[@cheebaman4728]

End prison slavery? F em!

[@LaurieMarieValdezRNCCRN]

I UNDERSTAND.😢❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@Robert_McGarry_Poems]

Would you consider minor citizens, who are under supervised work crews, to be under the same type of exploited labor as... say, fire fighters in California? They don't get paid. I live in Oregon where we have gotten the verbiage changed in the state Constitution, but I'm still seeing all forms of exploited labor...

[@PigglyWiggly90120]

I think this is extremely wrong obviously the people voting for this and raising this concern isn't or hasn't spent any time in prison this is beyond stupid. So you all would rather the inmates not get out of prison to the outside world by working for the public and rot😢 First of all prisons inmates are treated worse than animals if you want a better the system if you're going to spend longer than 10 years in prison you should still be treated like a human no matter what your crimes are

[@kingfree3396]

All prison is slavery

[@jamesmassey356]

How about end the dumb crimes?

[@jenniferrobinson4277]

80 hrs a week hard labour

[@affordablesolarguy]

You are doing the hard work, thank .... the powers that be pep[;e like you exist. I am an X-Prisoner, I worked for 1-3 dollars a day, it is slavery.

[@PirateStyle2013]

28:56....Say What??? Slavery and dept servitude has been around since the before history. You are trippin.

[@SANTO971]

Maybe through work those mf’s will learn to respect others

[@John_X_77]

Never gonna happen. This is so disrespectful to the oriole who were actual slaves.

[@calliepieters3446]

Prisoners should be put to work. City cleaning, Road work, All on the JOB TRAINING, Car mechanics could be working on City cars. How bout Contruction jobs ?? Janitorial office work for city Hall ?? Park clean up ?? Come on man !!!

[@YourHumbleServant831]

I agree somewhat, but what about honest, law-abiding people doing those jobs? I think they should produce their own living and defray the cost of incarceration.

[@szymborska]

They should be getting psychological help and an education. We don't need to STEAL jobs from non-criminals.

[@ionanthakingdomchannel9946]

A debt to society ?

[@lauramcconney9367]

While you are in jail the taxpayers are supporting you and the system and upkeep of it. But the work you do doesn't benefit the taxpayers! It does benefit private businesses who make huge profits!!!😢 If the state were running these businesses it would be able to pay for the schooling for rehabilitation and help you return to society as a capable citizen who could support yourself 😊! This is just thievery for big business profits!!! It brings Shame on all Americans 😢!!!

[@lordcaitanyaarjunachampion]

Child support is also involuntary servitude. It is debt slavery called peonage. Child support laws are in fact in direct violation of the 13th and 14th amendments. And it is also against the Peonage Abolition Act of 1867. 42 U.S. Code § 1994 - Peonage abolished The holding of any person to service or labor under the system known as peonage is abolished and forever prohibited in any Territory or State of the United States; and all acts, laws, resolutions, orders, regulations, or usages of any Territory or State, which have heretofore established, maintained, or enforced, or by virtue of which any attempt shall hereafter be made to establish, maintain, or enforce, directly or indirectly, the voluntary or involuntary service or labor of any persons as peons, in liquidation of any debt or obligation, or otherwise, are declared null and void. The state cannot diminish the rights of the people. The family courts cannot relegate a man into involuntary servitude because being a father is not a criminal offense and only criminal courts have the authority to force a man into involuntary servitude. Under the 14th amendment no state can make a law that abridges the rights privileges and immunities of the people. And they can not enforce any law that does. Child support laws have already been declared null and void under the peonage abolition act. And peonage debt slavery is in fact a federal crime under Rico act. 18 U.S. Code § 1581 - Peonage; obstructing enforcement (a)Whoever holds or returns any person to a condition of peonage, or arrests any person with the intent of placing him in or returning him to a condition of peonage, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both. If death results from the violation of this section, or if the violation includes kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse or the attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill, the defendant shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for any term of years or life, or both. Involuntary servitude is a federal crime. Peonage debt slavery is a federal crime.they cannot keep and hold a person by using force to collect any debt or obligation. Child support also is a violation of the 13th amendment and the 14th amendment. It is in fact a federal Rico crime and a violation of the Peonage Abolisish act. All states are committing a federal crime keeping millions of American citizens as debt slaves. And violating the 13th and 14th amendments to the US Constitution the Supreme law of this land. Slavery is forcing another person to work for the benefit of another. Is this not what child support is. It is slavery in the payment of a debt obligation. This is peonage debt slavery. All of it is illegal and a federal crime. Welcome to America where you though we were free. But in fact slavery is very much real. They just changed the name to something that feels good like supporting a child. Let us enslave you for your kids sake. Lol Your a debt slave now pay your unconstitutional child support obligations.

[@Robert_McGarry_Poems]

Well enough stated, but you are missing two key points which completely upend your entire argument. A minor child _IS_ the parents responsibility, they did that not the state. And... They agree to enter into debt with the state voluntarily, just by having the child. Again, their responsibility nobody else's. The state does not make outside parents go to the coal mines, or tell them how to take care of their responsibility. They are just holding parents to task, on a matter that, by proxy, they automatically agree to... The real bias in the system, comes from the maternal centric view. Mother's will still pay child support if they are the outside parent. But they retain custody in something like 70% of cases, even when it probably shouldn't end up that way.

[@jeanettesdaughter]

Nah to the child support is slavery argument…

[@christophermatkins]

@@Robert_McGarry_Poemswrong . There’s plenty of paternity fraud . And the courts don’t care they just want someone paying so that these judges can use that money for their retirements. It’s all a money scam . Ie the man pays $1000 a month there’s no telling how much the court is taking. Could be $800 of it and the ex only sees $200

[@sharonodonnell2147]

Wouldn't you rather work out of prison .Then sitting in the prison serving your time. .They have trust if your out of prison doing a JOB. Then return to prison .at night . Learn a Trade . Electricians, Mechanics , Farming ...ect

[@chito127]

Weld 'em into their cell for 1 year. They'll happily accept work for 3 hots and a cot.

[@BKent-tb7zo]

So, people break the law and are sent to prison to get the message that breaking the law is wrong. So, when they break the law, you should not enforce the law and not make them pay for any type of breaking the law. When you break the law, you are incarcerated and given work to do while in the prison. So, what is wrong with that? That is part of the consequences of breaking laws. Otherwise, we would have a crazy lawless society. These people think they should not be made to work while in prison. Someone pays for their room and board, so I believe it is fair that they work for their room and board. I like the way they twist the penal system calling themselves slaves because they work for their room and board while in prison. Suggest, they not break the law, then they would not be in this situation.

[@longhairdontcare122]

Nothing.. except the .08 cents a hour shit. That and the revolving door jail system created for more profit.

[@peterfabris8976]

Supposed liberal/progessive but in fact right-wing/conservative California could help the Donald Trump win the 2024 election was take the country back to the ways old west.

[@BeADad2447]

How insulting to compare a convicted criminal to forced slavery! Talk about what you did! This program needs to expand! Now you are invoking your children? Did you all take care of your children? Were you good dads? Did you provide a good loving households for your wife and kids? This is disgusting.

[@manuelbaez7148]

How is Mafa the co-host for this important platform? He’s constantly interrupting, has no idea who his audience is ( we believe that you do the crime you do the time) F is this MSM?

[@flukeoutdrsy650]

Slavery is much different than being incarcerated. Prisoners needs and medical bills are being footed by tax payers so prisoners should repay for those freebies!

[@John_X_77]

I say bring back the chain gang and hard labor. Prisons are too soft which leads to repeat offenders. I have absolutely no sympathy for anyone too lazy or too stupid to work for a living.

[@georgiamarierx9682]

We talking about people over convicted and wrongly convicted. To keep their supply. As far of those actually deserving of it. This doesn’t educate them. This why they come back out and recommit the crimes

[@asoulalignedhowgodhealshis6682]

When you have a debt, you have to work to pay it off. That's life. They sold themselves to "slavery" by proving that they could not be free. Your mentality is the reason we have so much entitlement and criminal behavior in the first place. This is basic sense.

[@John_X_77]

I’m lost. How are you a slave??? You knowingly committed a serious crime which sends you to prison. Do you expect the non-criminal law abiding citizens to pay for their housing and welfare…

[@dianacasey6002]

The US locks up more ppl than any other country in the world. They are often innocent of any crime, or it’s a minor offence that in any other country would get probation. They do it to prop up the prison industry. It’s really really sick.

[@jeronimoaguilar7906]

Because you're forced to work AGAINST your will. If it wasn't slavery-involuntary servitude, then why would they use the exception that exists in the Constitution to protect the practice of forced labor. There are many voluntary work programs in prison and there is no shortage of incarcerated individuals willing to do those jobs. But the practice of FORCED labor is about maintaining the age old system of punishment and control, breaking down a human beings dignity in order to make the "pay" for their crimes. 72% of those incarcerated in CA are Brown and Black-Indigenous-African descent. This is a racialized system that profits off the backs of the economically poor that get criminalized and incarcerated at rates in this country that are the HIGHEST in the world. Folks want to push this whole "do the crime, do the time" but the system itself is crooked, corrupt, and incarcerates certain groups at disproportionate rates.

[@erwynbalbuena9900]

​@@jeronimoaguilar7906 pay for your stay brah. What's wrong with you

[@jeronimoaguilar7906]

@@erwynbalbuena9900 Pay who? Crooked CDCR? You really think that money would go back to the taxpayers who are footing the bill? what's wrong with you? Critical thinking might not be your thing but come on BRAH. And again, give people the right to consent to labor and they will still work.

[@qjtvaddict]

@@erwynbalbuena9900nobody sane does this

[@JeffHuntsinger]

😅😅😂😂