Supporters of measure to ban involuntary labor at state prisons rally at Capitol

Supporters of Proposition 6 rallied at the state Capitol on Tuesday to raise awareness about the ballot measure that would ban forced labor in state prisons, if passed by California voters in November. 

The measure would make any work in state prisons voluntary. 

It was introduced earlier this year as part of a reparations package by the California Legislative Black Caucus. The Legislature passed the initiative on a bipartisan vote, sending it to the November ballot. 

Carmen-Nicole Cox with the ACLU led the rally and said involuntary work prevents people in prison from building necessary skills for when they leave. 

“Slavery never has and never will promote rehabilitation,” she said. 

She was joined by speakers from several other organizations, including the California Labor Federation, and CURYJ, which works with young people with experience in the juvenile justice system. 

Democratic State Assembly Member and Legislative Black Caucus Chair Lori Wilson sponsored the amendment. She was originally scheduled to speak at the rally, but did not make an appearance.

California Democrats tried to put a similar measure on the ballot in 2022, but the Legislature voted it down. It didn’t receive much pushback this year. 

Cox said groups supporting the ballot initiative this year had longer conversations about it with lawmakers, including Republicans and Governor Gavin Newsom. 

“I think that people thought that calling it slavery was something of a stunt, until you explain to them that people were literally punished because they were sick and couldn’t go to work,” she said.

Two reparations bills, which were not in the original package, died in the Assembly on Saturday as the session ended. Assembly Member Wilson said they did not receive a vote because they needed more work. Several dozen protesters came to the Capitol that afternoon to push back on the decision.