Rage Against The Machine guitarist Tom Morello told a sad story about drug arrests in New Jersey in a series of new tweets.
“Yesterday I heard heartbreaking stories from solitary confinement survivors (Hear some: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihGWgdrzkSw …) A coalition of New Jerseyans (http://www.njcaic.org ) supports a bill that needs to move now. We’re urging NJ lawmakers to take steps to curb solitary confinement.
We have to end mass incarceration and the racial disparities it carries with it. An important step to reforming criminal justice and restoring people’s lives is legalizing marijuana. Let’s be clear: marijuana legalization is a racial justice issue, period.
With every day that passes, nearly 100 people in New Jersey will be arrested for marijuana-related charges. Worse, Black New Jerseyans are arrested at three times the rate of white people for marijuana-related charges, despite similar usage rates.
This racial disparity – and the devastation of prohibition – MUST end. Join me and @ACLUNJ as we fight to end mass incarceration and reform the criminal justice system. To take action, visit ACLU-NJ’s website at http://www.aclu-nj.org.”
He also tweeted, “.@ACLUPA is fighting for justice for Osaze Osagie, who was murdered by State College police as he was suffering a mental health crisis in his home. The district attorney in State College not only is refusing to charge the officer. He won’t even tell the public who the officer is.”
With every day that passes, nearly 100 people in New Jersey will be arrested for marijuana-related charges. Worse, Black New Jerseyans are arrested at three times the rate of white people for marijuana-related charges, despite similar usage rates.
— Tom Morello (@tmorello) May 8, 2019
