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Pamela, should slavery be legal?   It might seem like a mind-boggling question. Yet in the United States, thanks to an exception in the Civil War-era Constitutional amendments that otherwise ended slavery, the forced labor of incarcerated people is fully within the law.  Never mind that the work is often dangerous, like fighting fires or performing disaster cleanup. Never mind that most workers are excluded from safety laws that protect others. Today—not 100 or 200 years ago—incarcerated people are routinely forced to work for little to no pay under the threat of losing family visits, solitary confinement, and other punitive measures if they don't comply. Here's what you can do about it:   $35. That's how much we're asking you to donate during our 3X match today. Today it automatically triples in size to $105, which would make such a difference. Your first-time support powers Vera's fight to transform our criminal legal and immigration systems—so that these systems treat ALL people with dignity.   Here's what we currently have on file for your giving record: To give a very recent example of the cruelty of this system: before hurricanes Helene and Milton, officials failed to evacuate people in jails and prisons. Repeatedly. Yet in the aftermath of the storms, states like Florida and Virginia sent incarcerated people to work in the disaster zones—cutting trees, clearing roads, and performing other difficult and dangerous tasks.   In fact, at least 30 states explicitly include roles for incarcerated people in their official emergency response plans, according to a report by the National Employment Law Project.   But change is happening. Just this month, Nevada voters made history by outlawing forced labor, joining seven other states that have ended the exception in their state constitutions. Together with our partners and fellow advocates, Vera is working to protect the rights, safety, and dignity of incarcerated people nationwide. We're moving as quickly as we can, but it takes resources to do this work. A gift from you today makes a strong statement and an even stronger impact (and today, every $1 automatically becomes $3).   We will NOT allow the criminal legal system to tear families apart, disproportionately harm people of color, and punish people for experiencing poverty. To help our work reach more people, at a faster pace, we need your help today.    We can end mass incarceration, Vera Institute of Justice Gifts made before 11:59 p.m. ET on December 2 will be tripled up to $25,000. © 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