Grassroots Leadership is a nonprofit organization founded in 1980 by Si Kahn, a Pennsylvania-born songwriter/activist who has lived for many years in Charlotte, North Carolina, for the purpose of helping to create an "infrastructure for a progressive Southern movement." [1] Grassroots Leadership's goal is to put an end to abuses of justice and the public trust by working to abolish for-profit private prisons. "For-profit private prisons, jails and detention centers have no place in a democratic society. Profiteering from the imprisonment of human beings compromises public safety and corrupts justice. In the spirit of democracy and accountability, we call for an end to all incarceration for profit." [1] The nonprofit has offices in Charlotte, North Carolina, Montezuma, New Mexico, and Austin, Texas, but has a history of organizing initiatives across the Southern United States.
Contents |
Kahn served as executive director for the first thirty years of the organization, retiring early in 2010. Donna Red Wing is the new executive director.
On April 16, 2007, Grassroots Leadership was the leading voice for a vote in Pike County, Mississippi to keep privately owned prisons from being constructed in her county. Gail Tyree, Campaign Director in the Mississippi/Tennessee area reported that the final result of the April 16 vote was 58% to 41% not to allow a for-profit private prison to be built in their county. This is the first time in the history of Mississippi that this has happened. In 1992, Mississippi passed state statute 47-4-3 requiring a special election on whether or not a private prison should be built. Over 3,000 Pike County registered voters signed the petition demanding a special election. Gail said, "For all the money Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) spent, for all the billboards they put up, we beat them with a slingshot." Gail also credited Grassroots Leadership's Les Schmidt and Kermit Moore, who had been working with her in Mississippi. In Adam County, Mississippi, they were unable to get the necessary number of signatures to bring the same issue to a vote. Grassroots Leadership has continued on to Walthall County where another for-prison private prison is being planned by CCA.[2]
Currently 47% of New Mexico’s prisoners are in beds run by private prison companies. This is the highest percentage of prison privatization in the country. The New Mexico chapter conducts educational activities and research to help inform the public about the dangers of privatization, the costs of incarceration, and the need for greater investment in education and prevention programs.[3] In collaboration with immigrant rights organizations, Amnesty International, the ACLU and others, the New Mexico chapter puts together the tools to enable greater public awareness and action regarding prison, jail and detention conditions in New Mexico.
The Austin chapter is led by organizer Bob Libal. Focusing mainly on private prisons in Texas, Grassroots Leadership has published influential research reports, publications, and public action. In July 2006, the Grassroots Leadership published a report that focused on a prison expansion proposal in Laredo, TX. The report, entitled "GROUND ZERO: The Laredo Superjail and the No Action Alternative" concluded that the United States Marshals Service (USMS) prison expansion in Laredo would be unhelpful to the community and economy of Laredo.[4] The printed work, along with protesting, was able to cut the prison expansion to half the originally proposed size.
Additionally, Grassroots Leadership created the STOPP (South Texans Opposing Private Prisons) initiative in order to focus on South Texan prison expansion and combat the growth of private prison facilities.
One of the goals of Grassroots Leadership is reaching the public through every available conduit, whether it be print, video, or audio to promote values of justice and social responsibility and accountability. The funding for these publications comes through individual donors from grassroots donations.
2005: Considering a Private Jail, Prison or Detention Center? A Resource Packet for Public Officials[5] by Bob Libal
This packet is published as a resource guide for public officials, citizens, and journalists in Texas counties that have been approached to build, finance, or operate private prisons, jails, and detention centers. It includes accounts from public officials and experts on prison development on the risks and benefits that a private jail can have on a Texas county or municipality.[5]
2006: GROUND ZERO: The Laredo Superjail and the No Action Alternative[4] by Nicholas Hudson
"This report concludes that USMS prison expansion in or near the Laredo area is unnecessary, and that the best course of action is the no action alternative...Relying on the most current and authoritative sources available, this report determines that Laredo superjail will likely have no positive economic impacts on any of the proposed sites, and that rural economies may even experience detrimental impacts."[4]
2008: Lax Oversight Plagues Private Prison in Texas[6] by Lauren Reinlie
"Privatizing prisons is a failed experiment in Texas. Lack of oversight and close ties between state officials and the companies contracting with the state have allowed private companies to continue to benefit from lucrative state contracts while operating at substandard conditions...[Texas] should not renew contracts with companies with poor track records or with companies that have not delivered substantial cost savings. TDCJ should cancel any contracts that do not meet high standards and transfer the affected inmates back to the state's direct supervision."[6]