For the last two years, T’ruah clergy and their communities have been organizing in support of the #NoNewWomensPrison campaign — an effort to stop a $50 million women’s prison project and instead invest in Massachusetts communities most affected by incarceration.
The legislative centerpiece of the campaign is the Prison and Jail Construction Moratorium, which, on Tuesday, July 25th, is having its second public committee hearing — this time in the Judiciary Committee. The hearing will also cover other critical policy related to reducing harsh sentencing practices (including life without parole and mandatory minimums for drug offenses). Following the lead of directly affected women and their families, we are showing up to support the moratorium and other efforts to decarcerate the Commonwealth, and we hope you will join us. We are gathering at 12:30 p.m., and the hearing begins at 1:00 p.m. Showing up at any time up to 5:00 p.m. is helpful!
Everyone is encouraged to give testimony at the hearing in support of the Moratorium — please check out T’ruah’s testimony-writing kit here, which includes an option to use Jewish textual grounding within your testimony. The kit includes instructions for testifying virtually, in-person, or submitting written testimony. Submitting written testimony is a powerful and easy way to show support!
Whether or not you are able to contribute testimony, your presence on Tuesday will contribute to this campaign’s power and to the moratorium’s success in the legislative process. I hope I’ll see you there.
