The 13th amendment, which is known for abolishing slavery in America, didn't abolish slavery. It transformed it and protected it with a simple clause:

13th Amendment. Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as punishment for crime whereof the party shall be duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction. Section 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

That clause is the birth of the prison industrial complex. Mass incarceration is the slavery of today. Having black skin was the original crime. And that is why black men and women are the most incarcerated and criminalized population in America. This was always a system to meant to re enslave them.

Now that the private prison industry is involved there is EVEN MORE profit to be made. Instead of being forced to pick cotton for the state, or clean roads for the state or dig ditches for the state, or serve elected officials in governors mansions for the state, incarcerated individuals can manufacture commercial goods for private companies. And to fill those contracts those prisons need all prison beds full. So now anyone who can't afford bail is a criminal. Poor americans are thrown in prison and forced to work for nothing and have very few rights, and no protections if those rights are violated.

On September 9th, 2016 the largest prison strike ever took place — against tremendous odds — on the 45th anniversary of the Attica uprising.

Saturday, August 19th, 2017 the Millions for Prisoners March organized by a few of the organizers of last years strike — Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee — and the iamWE Prison Advocacy Network along with countless other highly local, mostly people of color or prison industrial complex impacted lead organizations is taking place in Washington DC and 15 other cities. There is also a virtual march for incarcerated folks and others that can not physically march.

The demands are simple and profound and can also be found on the march's website:

A) We DEMAND the 13th amendment ENSLAVEMENT CLAUSE of the United States Constitution be amended to abolish LEGALIZED slavery in America.

B) We DEMAND a Congressional hearing on the 13th Amendment ENSLAVEMENT CLAUSE being recognized as in violation of international law, the general principles of human rights and its direct links to:

• Private entities exploiting prison labor
• Companies overcharging prisoners for goods and services
• Private entities contracted by states/federal government to build and operate prisons. This would also include immigration detentions
• Racial disparities in America’s prison population and sentencing
• Policing: the disproportionate (unaccountable) killings by police in the black and brown communities
• Felony Disenfranchisement laws
• Immigration and Customs Enforcement 34,000 detention quotas
• Producing the world largest prison population

Will you join us?