The Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM) ‘Families Rally for Justice Reform’ event began Tuesday at 9 AM with breakfast at the FAMM office in Washington, D.C.. Kevin Ring – President and the other officers are very dedicated to justice reform and sentencing reform while continuing to make the communities safe. Some of the family members who had traveled from various states for the rally shared their stories. They were emotional and the pain was visible. They listened to stories about our WAR families and the challenges faced every day. A guy picked up one of our brochures and asked if I knew about an interview with a guy from Florida (Ron Book) whom the news journalists questioned and didn’t back down from Ron’s tactics. The guy was impressed and it was a learning experience.
Later we met at the rally spot and Kevin Ring, President, opened the even reinterating the rally cry for ‘justice reform now!’s We heard from other board members as well as several families, including children, who talked about the pain of life without their loved one.
Representative Bobby Scott, a known advocate for change to the laws governing our registered citizens as well as justice reform as a whole spoke to the crowd. Rand Paul also lent his voice to the need for justice reform along with several other legislators.
There were probably 250 or so ralliers along with legislators and media outlets, including The Hill, who managed the scorching heat during the rally.
We had WAR members Laurie Draper Jones from Georgia and Lee Dahl from Delaware, along with Ben, an intern from D.C., two members from CURE; Dr. Bernida Thompson and Sam the D.C. CURE president there for the rally. For those unfamiliar, Citizens United for Rehabilitation of Errants (CURE) was organized in 1972 by Charlie and Pauline Sullivan to reform the criminal justice system.
The conversation with Representative Scott was about our families, how they have to live, our conference next year in D.C. and how we would be honored to have him as a speaker. We hope to include Ron Paul in our event next year as well.
Related:
WAR National Conference Augist 17-19 [Janice is a speaker]
It is too bad more people aren’t commenting on this. FAMM is an advocate for us. In prison they were the only group that sent e-mail updates as to what was happening in the justice system concerning sex offenders. They are a powerful ally and I encourage everyone to support any and all groups that help us. They represent the families that are being persecuted by the witch hunt.