Tag Archives: Louisiana

Louisiana to vote on Voting Rights restoration tomorrow

Posted on April 27, 2016 by Bruce Reilly

Today Ban the Box, tomorrow Voting Rights. The Louisiana House of Representatives has heard about prisons and prisoners quite a bit in recent years, and now they are also getting an earful about rehabilitation, reentry, recidivism, probation and parole; about … Continue reading →

Posted in VOTE, Voting Rights | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

2016: The year of voting rights, public defenders, sentencing reform, and Albert Woodfox

Posted on March 3, 2016 by Bruce Reilly

 The Epicenter of Race, Voting, and Mass Incarceration New Orleans has always been a national news story. Northern parts of America probably understood the Free People of Color, prior to the Civil War, as much as they could understand contemporary … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Innocence, Legislation, Political Prisoners, Politics, Race, Reentry, Uncategorized, VOTE, Voting Rights | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

HUD’s new rules may have major impact on affordable housing for people with criminal records

Posted on November 9, 2015 by Bruce Reilly

Last week was celebrated for President Obama’s encouragement for America to reduce employment discrimination against people with past records, and his own executive action to ban the box on federal job applications. The heart of that story is how directly … Continue reading →

Posted in Drug Policy, Housing, Movement Building, Politics, Reentry | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Years After Leaving Prison, I Never Expected A Bike Ride Would Take Me Back

Posted on October 28, 2014 by Bruce Reilly

Four years ago, a few activists had a great idea: A 170 mile bike ride fundraiser that brings attention to the distance families travel, from New Orleans to the Louisiana State Penitentiary. “NOLA to Angola” has since raised tens of … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Bruce Reilly Testifies on the Historical Racism Leading to Felon Disenfranchisement

Posted on April 10, 2014 by Bruce Reilly

Bruce Reilly speaks to the National Voting Rights Commission during their national tour to speak to the constitutional history of Louisiana’s disenfranchisement of African Americans since emancipation.   His testimony is part of a forthcoming publication: “To Purify the Ballot: … Continue reading →

Posted in Race, Voting Rights | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

When Candidates Oppose the Right to Vote

Posted on January 31, 2014 by Bruce Reilly

“Citizenship means standing up for everyone’s right to vote,” Obama said.  But does he, and other politicians truly mean it?  At a recent forum featuring four candidates for the New Orleans sheriff election, I asked a question regarding voting rights … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Politics, Race, Rehabilitation, Voting Rights | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Herman Wallace: “Get Me The F#@k Outta Here.”

Posted on October 2, 2013 by Bruce Reilly

Those are the timeless words reportedly uttered by Angola 3 member Herman Wallace, who was finally released from Angola State Penitentiary after over 40 years.  “Get me the f#@k outta here.”  Most of his time had been spent in solitary … Continue reading →

Posted in Actions, Arts, Commentary, Courts, Innocence, Political Prisoners | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Hunger Strikes, Force Feeds, and Solitary Dreams

Posted on July 10, 2013 by Bruce Reilly

While the California prisoners enter their fourth day of hunger strikes, the people of Guantanamo enter their 40th. Meanwhile, Herman Wallace has spent over forty years in solitary confinement in Louisiana. These three aspects, all coming to new awareness this … Continue reading →

Posted in Actions, Commentary, Innocence, Prison Conditions, Prisoner Health | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Eliminating Food Stamps to Former Prisoners

Posted on May 23, 2013 by Bruce Reilly

Congress unanimously passed an amendment to the Farm Bill, to bar some people convicted of violent crimes from food stamps.  States can’t opt out of it like the ban on people with drug convictions. This is what I emailed my Senator, David … Continue reading →

Posted in Legislation, Rehabilitation | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Testify: US Commission on Civil Rights Tackles Employment Discrimination

Posted on January 19, 2013 by Bruce Reilly

The federal government is not done developing the law around discrimination against people with criminal records, particularly as the Disparate Impact on people of Color has been rampant.  They are accepting testimony until January 21st.  Our friends at National Employment … Continue reading →

Posted in Actions, Commentary, Employment, Legislation, prison economics, Race, Rehabilitation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments