Sanders Blasts US Mass Incarceration as 'International Embarrassment'

[eridani]

http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/12/24/sanders-blasts-us-mass-incarceration-international-embarrassment

In a speech that included an overt jab at embattled Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Wednesday, Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders decried the U.S. incarceration rate as an "international embarrassment" and said he considers "reforming our broken criminal justice system one of the most important things that a president of the United States can do."

During his quick stop on Chicago's west side, Sanders outlined his plan for criminal justice reform, a platform that includes ending for-profit prisons, removing marijuana from the federal list of controlled substances, eliminating the death penalty, and ending mandatory minimum sentencing.

He described the disproportionately high rate of incarceration for black males and the criminalization of school-aged black Americans a "tragedy."

"What a destruction of an entire generation," Sanders said to a room of supporters at the Village Leadership Academy. He was joined on stage by high-profile progressive activists Cornel West, Jim Hightower, Mike Render (aka Killer Mike), and Ben Cohen of Ben & Jerry's ice cream.

[Mnemosyne]

1. It is. nt

[Rosa Luxemburg]

2. Has Hillary changed her mind on prisons?

[libdem4life]

3. What day is it?

[rhett o rick]

4. Her supporters like to point out how tough she is, like tough on crime. Tough on medical marijuana

patients. Lock em up. The Prison for Profit have been very supportive of her "tough" campaign.