Stop calling Trump a “criminal”

language is powerful, Pamela →

Dear Pamela,   In the months following former President Donald Trump's felony conviction, politicians and media alike have used labels like "felon," "convict," and "criminal" to describe him.   These words have long been discouraged by Vera and fellow justice advocates, and for good reason.   It may seem like a small thing, but language shapes the way people think. And when we use dehumanizing language to describe Trump, we also stigmatize the millions of people with conviction histories who lack his wealth and connections.    For more than 24 million people in the United States with felony convictions, these terms are used to justify the ways in which they are marginalized—from inhumane treatment behind bars to barriers to housing, education, and employment that punish people long after they have served their time. Pamela, language is powerful. It can have a serious effect on how a society sees and treats groups of people. Here are three ways you can help ensure that system-impacted people are treated with respect, dignity, and opportunity. Avoid dehumanizing language >> Using person-centered language to describe people who have been impacted by the criminal legal system.  Advocate for justice-involved students >> Take action to help remove barriers to education and expand college-in-prison programs nationwide. Support fair housing access after incarceration >> Help Vera remove barriers to housing and ensure people leaving incarceration have the chance to find a home. People who are impacted by the criminal legal and immigration systems are too often treated without humanity. We can all work to show them respect by using language that asserts their dignity.   In solidarity,  Vera Institute of Justice © 2024 Vera Institute of Justice. All Rights Reserved.   Vera Institute of Justice 34 35th Street | Suite 4-2A | Brooklyn, NY 11232 (212) 334-1300   Privacy Statement | unsubscribe