SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
To donate by check, phone, or other method, see our More Ways to Give page.
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
Civil Rights activists crossing bridge from New York to New Jersey on Monday morning.
Proponents of criminal justice reform began a nine-day, 250-mile march from New York City to Washington, D.C. on Monday, seeking to end racial profiling, demilitarize local police departments, and "tear down the societal and institutional pillars of mass incarceration."
The 'March 2 Justice,' spearheaded by the grassroots group Justice League NYC, started Monday morning in Staten Island, where Eric Garner was killed by NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo in July 2014. The Justice League, a task force of juvenile and criminal justice experts, advocates, artists, and formerly incarcerated individuals, brought together under the banner of the Gathering for Justice, a social justice organization founded by Harry Belafonte in 2005, was active in organizing the protests that followed Pantaleo's non-indictment.
Once they reach the nation's capital, those participating in the march--who include students, clergy, civil rights activists, and elected officials--will lobby Congress in support of a "Justice Package"--three pieces of federal legislation that dovetail with the movement's goals:
"We march to shed a light on the national crisis of police brutality and the system that allows it to continue," said march director Carmen Perez, who also heads Gathering for Justice. "We march for our lives and for the livelihood of our communities."
Watch others declare why they are marching in this video, produced by the March 2 Justice organizers, who encouraged others to upload their own #WhyWeMarch videos:
Follow the marchers, who planned to rally in Newark on Monday evening, on Twitter under the hashtag #March2Justice:
In a separate but related development, Grammy-winning singer John Legend (whose song, "Glory," provides the soundtrack to the #WhyWeMarch video) on Monday launched what he is calling a multi-year campaign to end mass incarceration.
In an interview with the Associated Press about his Free America initiative, Legend said: "We have a serious problem with incarceration in this country. It's destroying families, it's destroying communities and we're the most incarcerated country in the world, and when you look deeper and look at the reasons we got to this place, we as a society made some choices politically and legislatively, culturally to deal with poverty, deal with mental illness in a certain way and that way usually involves using incarceration."
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Proponents of criminal justice reform began a nine-day, 250-mile march from New York City to Washington, D.C. on Monday, seeking to end racial profiling, demilitarize local police departments, and "tear down the societal and institutional pillars of mass incarceration."
The 'March 2 Justice,' spearheaded by the grassroots group Justice League NYC, started Monday morning in Staten Island, where Eric Garner was killed by NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo in July 2014. The Justice League, a task force of juvenile and criminal justice experts, advocates, artists, and formerly incarcerated individuals, brought together under the banner of the Gathering for Justice, a social justice organization founded by Harry Belafonte in 2005, was active in organizing the protests that followed Pantaleo's non-indictment.
Once they reach the nation's capital, those participating in the march--who include students, clergy, civil rights activists, and elected officials--will lobby Congress in support of a "Justice Package"--three pieces of federal legislation that dovetail with the movement's goals:
"We march to shed a light on the national crisis of police brutality and the system that allows it to continue," said march director Carmen Perez, who also heads Gathering for Justice. "We march for our lives and for the livelihood of our communities."
Watch others declare why they are marching in this video, produced by the March 2 Justice organizers, who encouraged others to upload their own #WhyWeMarch videos:
Follow the marchers, who planned to rally in Newark on Monday evening, on Twitter under the hashtag #March2Justice:
In a separate but related development, Grammy-winning singer John Legend (whose song, "Glory," provides the soundtrack to the #WhyWeMarch video) on Monday launched what he is calling a multi-year campaign to end mass incarceration.
In an interview with the Associated Press about his Free America initiative, Legend said: "We have a serious problem with incarceration in this country. It's destroying families, it's destroying communities and we're the most incarcerated country in the world, and when you look deeper and look at the reasons we got to this place, we as a society made some choices politically and legislatively, culturally to deal with poverty, deal with mental illness in a certain way and that way usually involves using incarceration."
Proponents of criminal justice reform began a nine-day, 250-mile march from New York City to Washington, D.C. on Monday, seeking to end racial profiling, demilitarize local police departments, and "tear down the societal and institutional pillars of mass incarceration."
The 'March 2 Justice,' spearheaded by the grassroots group Justice League NYC, started Monday morning in Staten Island, where Eric Garner was killed by NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo in July 2014. The Justice League, a task force of juvenile and criminal justice experts, advocates, artists, and formerly incarcerated individuals, brought together under the banner of the Gathering for Justice, a social justice organization founded by Harry Belafonte in 2005, was active in organizing the protests that followed Pantaleo's non-indictment.
Once they reach the nation's capital, those participating in the march--who include students, clergy, civil rights activists, and elected officials--will lobby Congress in support of a "Justice Package"--three pieces of federal legislation that dovetail with the movement's goals:
"We march to shed a light on the national crisis of police brutality and the system that allows it to continue," said march director Carmen Perez, who also heads Gathering for Justice. "We march for our lives and for the livelihood of our communities."
Watch others declare why they are marching in this video, produced by the March 2 Justice organizers, who encouraged others to upload their own #WhyWeMarch videos:
Follow the marchers, who planned to rally in Newark on Monday evening, on Twitter under the hashtag #March2Justice:
In a separate but related development, Grammy-winning singer John Legend (whose song, "Glory," provides the soundtrack to the #WhyWeMarch video) on Monday launched what he is calling a multi-year campaign to end mass incarceration.
In an interview with the Associated Press about his Free America initiative, Legend said: "We have a serious problem with incarceration in this country. It's destroying families, it's destroying communities and we're the most incarcerated country in the world, and when you look deeper and look at the reasons we got to this place, we as a society made some choices politically and legislatively, culturally to deal with poverty, deal with mental illness in a certain way and that way usually involves using incarceration."