The Indianapolis branch of the Party for Socialism and Liberation is excited to announce our membership in the Indiana chapter of the REFORM Alliance and contribute to their efforts to change legislation, probation, and parole terms.
REFORM Alliance’s mission is to create:
“a justice system that promotes accountability and supports people in rebuilding through work and wellbeing helps strengthen families and create safer communities. Instead of trapping people in a revolving door between supervision and prison — a cycle that costs taxpayers billions — we’re working to move them from the justice system into stability.”
For PSL Indianapolis, this is a step in our overall effort to create an entirely new social, political, and economic system and eradicate the racist and capitalist mass incarceration system in the U.S.
Maranda Williams, the Indiana State Organizer for REFORM Alliance, is “excited about the partnership and building in the community, because power equals change.” “It really makes a community to make this work,” Williams continued.
The origins of REFORM
REFORM’s story starts with the unjust re-imprisonment of recording artist Meek Mill. The egregious two-to-four year sentence he received for popping a wheelie spurred the international #FreeMeek movement, which led to release on bail and eventually his freedom.
While Meek had the resources and public platform to fight his case, it helped shed light on the millions of cases like his and the millions of victims like his whose stories go untold and who lack the resources to fight back. In January 2019, the REFORM Alliance was founded to change that.
The REFORM Alliance in Indiana is building the Indiana Secure Communities Coalition and spreading the word about why we need changes in our supervision system. You can hear more about the project and Williams’ background and commitment to the work on the sixth episode of Naptown People’s Radio.
We are proud to play a role in these efforts and contribute to the solidarity necessary to free them all!