It is a new year, with a new administration and new hope for an end to a pandemic that has harmed so many in our community. At the same time, today marks the first day of Black History Month, a time to reflect on the historical struggle for freedom and equality with the recognition that the struggle is far from over.
Nowhere is the unfulfilled promises of freedom and equality more apparent than in the criminal legal system, where wrongful convictions disproportionately devastate Black individuals, families, and communities. While only 8.1% of the New England population identifies as Black, 34.4% of New England exonerees are Black. And we know that this number, demonstrating the disproportionate number of Black people exonerated, represents only a fraction of those who were actually wrongfully convicted.
This Black History Month, like every other month, we confront and work to dismantle the legacy of – the straight line from – slavery to our criminal legal system. We recognize the impact – the collective trauma – of overpolicing in communities of color, the unjust criminalization of Black youth, and a legal system that ensures the presumption of innocence to only a select few.
We name these examples of harm so we may resolve to change them. Together, we will continue to work to free people from prisons as well as demand changes to the system that made their wrongful convictions possible. We will amplify the voices of those directly impacted, those like Sean Ellis, James Watson, and Keyon Sprinkle.
After all, as Amanda Gorman so beautifully reminded us, “There is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it, if only we’re brave enough to be it.”
Injustice is not inevitable.
Together, let’s be the light that frees people in New England.
Thank you for being part of our community.
