Sorry for the Short Notice – We have learned that the meeting at the State House has been cancelled for today. We will keep you updated when it is rescheduled.
New Info: Legislative Conference Committee Cancels Meeting on 3-Strikes Bills in Massachusetts
According to State House News today, “Although a House-Senate committee tasked with negotiating a compromise on sweeping crime and sentencing legislation is scheduled to resume
talks Thursday, the three House members of the panel have no intention of showing up.”
In the meantime: On January 27th there will be a Strategic Public Discussion on 3-Strikes Bills in Massachusetts from 5:30pm-8:30. Doors Open at 5pm at the Peoples Baptist Church (Tremon St.)
Background on 3-Strikes Bill Community Action:
On Saturday, January 7th, Occupy the Hood held a Town Hall to discuss the Habitual Offender (aka “Three Strikes”) legislation currently being debated in both houses of the Massachusetts State Congress. Different versions of the bill have been proposed in either house, with the Senate bill passing unanimously and the House bill passing 142-12. However, though the bill disproportionately affects communities of color, ethnic neighborhoods have come out strongly against the bill, with eight of the nine minority members of the Massachusetts House voting against the bill. The Town Hall meeting included an in-depth analysis of the bill and the injustices it would enable, focusing around the potential life-long detention of low-level offenders and the sizable influence of private prison lobbies in the crafting and supporting of the bill. The meeting included both white and minority legislators from who had voted against the bill in the House.
For more information click here.
4 Responses to “Occupy the Hood’s Call To Action To Be Rescheduled”
OccupyBoston should spend its time and resources on bringing attention to income inequality and job shortages, and not waste time with this. A habitual offender has the ability to turn his or her life around. I think the majority of the hard working and law abiding 99% have no problem with a 3-strikes law.
Thanks for doing this. I am hoping that allies in the burbs who aren’t able to get to the State House easily will join me in a day of phone calls on Jan. 17/Tue, calling legislators and the gov to communicate to the committee that we demand a balanced bill–one WITHOUT the three strikes.
This bill is also called Melissa’s Bill after Melissa Gosule who was brutally raped and mudered by a 27-time violent criminal released on parole. This bill is aimed at such violent career criminals, not at low level or drug offenders.
Here’s the side of the story told by Les Gosule, Melissa’s father (click top link): http://3strikeslaw.blogspot.com/
As for the claim that this new law will disproportionately affect minorities — The law applies to everyone equally, regardless of race. If an individual doesn’t want to serve time under this law, he should refrain from committing multiple acts of murder, armed assault, home invasion, child rape, etc.
Face it, the “minority” communities are concerned because they’re the ones that are not only targeted but who actually commit the most crimes in proportion to their numbers. Sorry folks, if you’re serving up hard truths, suck on this one… How about Occupying your homes and raising your kids right? Not too much trouble among Asians and violent crime… even the poorest of them. Also there’s no “achievement gap” where Asians are concerned. They’re the diabolical minority because they are proof that it is culture and not racism or poverty that is the root cause of crime…