During her incarceration, Keeda decided to pursue justice.
As a federal inmate, she studied for the LSAT while successfully petitioning the United States Supreme Court to reduce an extreme sentence handed down by a zealous judge.
Once she was freed, Keeda fought to reclaim her right to vote and stood before a panel to “prove her character” to practice law as a public defender.
But there are so many more people still incarcerated on federal marijuana-related charges. Despite marijuana being legal in many states, it is still one of the most commonly arrested offenses. And Black Americans are arrested 3.5 times more than white people for possessing marijuana, despite similar rates of use. In 2021, over 80% of people sentenced for federal marijuana charges were Black and Latinx.
“I am calling on all of us to reimagine the legal system; to envision a world that meets people’s struggles with care, not cages—resulting in a “justice system” worthy of the name.” – Keeda Haynes
Today, Keeda is a fierce advocate for criminal justice reform. And she knows that legalizing marijuana is the only way forward—because she has experienced the injustice of prohibition firsthand.
We’re counting on your support to fund crucial work, like decriminalizing marijuana at the federal level, and advocating for resentencing and expungement of marijuana convictions.
Let’s keep up this fight together, Friend, in solidarity with Keeda and everyone who has paid the price for our nation’s unjust and inequitable drug laws. Make your 4/20 donation before midnight tonight, while it will be MATCHED for double the impact!
