The Slavery Clause in our Constitution not only allowed slavery to continue, but also launched an era of discrimination and mass incarceration that continues to this day. Millions of people--particularly Black men--have been stripped of their most basic human rights.
In a country founded on the principles of equality and justice, this is unacceptable.
I'm leading the charge for the Abolition Amendment, bipartisan legislation that would strike the Slavery Clause from the 13th Amendment to put an end to slavery once and for all. Momentum is on our side to make it happen: the people of Alabama, Tennessee, Utah, Colorado, Nebraska, Oregon and Vermont have already made their voices heard to amend their state constitutions to remove this loophole. More state movements are in progress.
It is time for federal action to eliminate the sinister loophole in the constitution. Alongside Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), the Senate Abolition Amendment lead, I remain committed to working with any and everyone to bring us one step closer to achieving true justice and equality.
Abolishing slavery transcends partisan lines, state lines, and any other lines you can imagine. On this Juneteenth -- a day to both celebrate our progress and reflect on the work that remains-- I hope you'll join me in the movement to pass the Abolition Amendment.
