Dear Friends,
My name is Hasson Hawkins. In the early 2000s, I was living in my home state of New Jersey, doing what I had to do to eat. In 2002, I was convicted by a jury of felony drug trafficking, and under New Jersey's mandatory minimum laws, I was sentenced to 30 years in prison. About five years ago, after serving 19 years, I was resentenced to time served and received immediate release – all because of the First Step Act.
Will you donate in celebration of this important legislation? https://secure.everyaction.com/XHy_gQnOFUaPsvdbZbdDmg2
FAMM fought so hard for the First Step Act. The hope FAMM gave me eased some of the pain I experienced while in prison. Upon my release, I worked with my local church as a maintenance technician, later alongside my brother at a low-voltage wiring company, before working as a medical courier. Now, I am a business owner of a logistics company in Florida, engaged to my beautiful, supportive fiancée, and I volunteer with FAMM to give others that same hope.
I changed during my time in prison. And I'm not alone – there are many more like me behind bars who also deserve a second chance. They’re taking the necessary steps to learn new skills, better themselves, and become better citizens despite suffering under oppressive sentences that do not promote rehabilitation, reduce recidivism, or lower crime rates. I'm writing today for them.
This month, we celebrate five years of Congress passing the First Step Act, and it’s clearly an overwhelming success. Many of us who have benefited from the First Step Act are working hard, proving we can be productive citizens who strengthen our neighborhoods. Still, FAMM and I know we must continue fighting to keep the First Step Act in place. Even as I write this, some are trying to take it down.
Please donate to FAMM today so they can continue fighting for a fairer and more effective justice system. https://secure.everyaction.com/XHy_gQnOFUaPsvdbZbdDmg2
Thank you,
