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John,

Can you do me a favor? Close your eyes and think about the person you love the most.  

This week, many of us exchanged candies, cards, and camaraderie with our families, classmates, or significant others. But for the millions of people with incarcerated loved ones, the cost of communication is a constant barrier for staying connected. That’s why we’re fighting to make communication free in all jails, prisons, and juvenile detention centers. But to take on the prison industrial complex — and to win — we need resources. Can we count on your support, John? 

CHIP IN $10 To POWER THE FIGHT

This month, as we celebrate love and Black history, I’m asking you to consider becoming a supporter of our pivotal phone justice campaigns— because phone calls are one of the few ways families can receive updates from their loved one being detained. But exorbitant fines and fees from prison telecom companies are looting money from the most vulnerable communities.

Here’s the good news: 

• We’ve already won by significantly reduced the cost of calls and eliminated kickbacks from prison and jails in Dallas. 
• Now, we’re fighting to pass “The Connecting Families Act” in New York, which if passed would provide 90 minutes of free communication daily in all jails, prisons, and juvenile detention centers.  And “The Martha Wright Reed Act”, which aims to regulate the prison telecom monopoly that continues to ruthlessly exploit families experiencing crisis

We believe every family with loved ones behind bars deserves to hear from their loved ones regularly. That’s why we’re calling on you to join our fight. But let’s be clear, this isn’t an email begging for donations. We’re asking you to stand in solidarity with families being exploited by the criminal justice system, as we continue the fight against prison profiteers.

Give $5

Give $10

Give $25

GIVE THE AMOUNT THAT FEELS POWERFUL TO YOU! 

We’re putting every prison profiteer on notice—prison telecom is a $1.4B industry, and we won’t allow a few rich white men to continue looting wealth from our communities. We are fighting for phone justice across the nation, and based on our strategy: we’ve already proven that we can win. That’s why we’re fighting like hell to make communication free for everyone detained by the state.  Will you chip in $10  to help power our pivotal campaigns? 

Until justice is real, 

Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Malachi, Megan, Ernie, Palika, Madison, Trevor, Erick, Ana, Kristiana, McKayla, Ariel, and the rest of the Color Of Change team

References: 

1. The high cost of phone calls in prisons generates $1.4 billion a year, disproportionately driving women and people of color into debt