Friends General Conference

Together we nurture the spiritual vitality of Friends

Adult Ed Session - February 7 at 12:30 pm via Zoom

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Posted by Emily Finch on 02/06/2021 - 4:49pm
In our continuing Adult Education series on systematic racism and inequality, we are taking a look at the criminal justice system. Last month we addressed policing. This month we look at the legal system including the courts, prisons, probation, and parole. Please join us Sunday, February 7 at 12:30 pm for this interesting presentation via ZOOM. For the Zoom information, please email us at SMQuakers.media@gmail.com.
 
In the spirit of our Quaker faith we will approach this complex issue, each asking ourselves, "How can I express my faith in action? To what extent is my sense of justice based in love? How do I show through my way of living that love includes affirming the humanity, dignity, and divine spark of God within every person?"
We are recommending that you take a look at two websites. One is a fairly short article on the economic aspects of incarceration in America. The other are some interesting statistics on criminal justice. One can toggle to get specific information about California or other states. It, too, is not long.
 
The Economics of the American Prison System:
 
Criminal Justice Facts:
 
If you want more information, we also recommend:
 
Film:
 
13th a documentary film by director Ava DuVernay explores the intersection of race, justice, and mass incarceration in the United States (available on Netflix)
 
Books:
 
Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption, by Bryan Stephenson. “A powerful true story about the potential for mercy to redeem us, and a clarion call to fix our broken system of justice—from one of the most brilliant and influential lawyers of our time.”
 
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander, named one of the most influential books of the last 20 years by the Chronicle of Higher Education.

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