UNITED AFRICAN MOVEMENT
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ALTON H. MADDOX, JR. TEL.: (718) 834-9034
CHAIRMAN FAX : (718) 884-8241
P.O. BOX 35
BRONX, NY 10471

A Prison Rights Movement is Next

Two weeks ago at Siloam Presbyterian Church, a young man asked me if a felon could help the Freedom Party. My answer was in the affirmative. Any "felon", who has "paid his or debt to society" and is not subject to judicial supervision, may register to vote and, therefore, is eligible to engage in political petitioning.

I suggested that he complete a vote registration card on Sunday, July 11, and personally submit it to the Board of Elections in the Bronx (his residence) on Monday morning and ask for a receipt. He would not only become eligible immediately to sign a petition but also to become a subscribing witness.

Unlike any other political party, including the Democratic Party, the Freedom Party will demand and secure the passage of "second chance legislation" in New York. Anyone who has paid his or her debt to society will be immediately restored all civil rights. No reason exists to handicap a person who owes no debt to society.

This irrational status is a "badge of slavery" and violates the Thirteenth Amendment. Remedial legislation is necessary to correct this constitutional shortcoming. If the goal of the Freedom Party is met to collect 500,000 votes in November, it will become the third largest political party in the state. No one can attend the "prom" without the Freedom Party escorting it.

All persons suffering felony convictions, and are being continued victims of the criminal justice system because the debt to society has been fully paid, must join "Operation Blitz" on Saturday after having made a personal trip to an office of the Board of Elections with a voting registration card. An official of the board of elections must stamp it and give the person a receipt. This person is now good to go.

Inside the Freedom Party, there must be a "Prison Rights Movement". Gov. Mario Cuomo has devastated our community by expanding the prison-industrial complex during his tenure. Funds allocated to building homes for the poor were subverted to building prisons for poor defendants.

Poverty is a crime in New York. Some of these indigent persons were innocent. See, for example, the "Central Park 7". Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Council Speaker Christine Quinn have blocked them from receiving any compensation because of wrongful convictions. If we don't stop Andrew Cuomo, the gubernatorial candidate in 2010, history will repeat itself.