PITCH IN TO FIGHT FOR PHONE JUSTICE THIS MOTHER'S DAY

John,

Mother’s Day is right around the corner and incarcerated moms and caregivers need our help. Because of predatory prison telecom companies, too many mothers can’t stay in touch with their loved ones.

Families are paying up to $16 to be able to speak with a parent or loved one for 15 minutes. John, that is unconscionable. 

This strain is felt especially by Black mothers and families, who are hurt the most by the racist criminal legal system. Women already carry approximately 90% of the financial burden when it comes to carceral communication services — and Black women are disproportionately targeted.¹

This Mother’s Day, you can fight for Black mothers and families — who are targets of mass incarceration and victims of the carceral industry — by defending their right to basic needs and dignity. John, will you contribute on behalf of all the Black moms and caregivers who simply want to stay in touch with their children?

FIGHT FOR BLACK MOMS

Prison phone justice isn’t just about policy, John — it’s about people’s lives. Phone calls are a lifeline for incarcerated people and their loved ones. It’s how kids stay connected to their mothers in the system. It’s how moms and caregivers with incarcerated kids stay involved in their children's lives. 

Affordable phone calls — staying connected with the people who love and care for you — are crucial for the well-being of these families. And we have to fight to make them accessible for all.

We will continue to advocate for incarcerated mothers and their families — but we need your help, John. Pitch in $10 to help fuel Color Of Change’s ongoing campaigns for phone justice.

John, we know what we’re fighting for and we know the fight for phone justice is winnable. Just look at cities like New York City,² Dallas,³ or Miami.⁴ All three cities have made calls from prisons/jails free or have drastically reduced prices for these calls. In 2021, Connecticut became the first state to make calls free for incarcerated individuals and their families.⁵ On the federal level, there’s the Martha Wright Prison Phone Justice Act,⁶ which would significantly reduce the cost of prison telephone calls. We have to keep the momentum going. 

John, that’s why we’re counting on Color Of Change members like you to help ensure Black families stay connected:

Your contribution will help us continue to fight back against companies that profit off of Black pain, and to demand phone justice on both a local and national level. With your help, we’ll have the resources we need to inform the public about prison phone justice, push for legislation that will alleviate the burden on these families, and run campaigns to dismantle the carceral industry.

That’s why this Mother’s Day, we’re asking for your support as we continue our nationwide campaign for phone justice. Incarcerated mothers or mothers with incarcerated children shouldn’t face financial hurdles just to stay connected. This is a level of humanity and decency that every person deserves and should be entitled to — on Mother’s Day, and every day.

Thank you for joining the fight.

Until Justice is Real,

Color Of Change’s Criminal Justice & Democracy Team

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References:

1. Connecting Families New York.

2. Phone Calls From New York City Jails Will Soon Be Free. New York Times, August 6, 2018.

3. Forgoing Profits, Dallas County Slashes The Cost Of Phone Calls From Jail. Keranews.org, February 20, 2020.

4. Miami-Dade jails dramatically cut prices of jail calls. Miami Herald, November 9, 2021.

5. Connecticut Makes History As First State To Make Prison Calls Free. Worth Rises, June 16 2021.

6. Tell Congress: Co-Sponsor the Martha Wright Prison Phone Justice Act and Keep Families Connected! Color Of Change Petition, March 2022.

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