HODG + Gina Belafonte + Jessica Farris Invite you to A FRIEND + FUND- RAISER for DISTRICT ATTORNEY GEORGE GASCON
Did y’all see the LA Times’ article about a video that was smuggled out of an LA Jail? The video revealed unimaginable brutality. Inmates pummeling inmates. A woman giving birth alone in a hallway, the baby falling out of her onto the bloody floor. Guards utterly indifferent. These are OUR institutions. We – our apathy, our shoulder shrug – allows this to happen. Apologies for the finger-wagging. I don’t even know why I brought that video up, except it’s about criminal justice and so is this next action: a friend/fundraiser for LA District Attorney GEORGE GASCON.
I am co-hosting this event and here’s why. My values regarding criminal justice have not changed since the last election. I still believe in eradicating the death penalty. I believe that juveniles should not be tried as adults. I believe in prosecuting cops who abuse their power. Those are all the things that George is trying to do.
Has he come up against unexpected obstacles? You bet. Are some of the changes he wanted to make harder than he anticipated? Yep. But dammit, he has a vision! Which is more than I can say for most folks in our government (yes, I’m talking to you, City Council!)
George’s vision is one that focuses on restorative justice. For those of you who don’t know what that is: it’s an approach that aims to get offenders to understand the harm they’ve caused, and gives them a chance to redeem themselves. Makes me think of what my hero Bryan Stevenson says: we are all more than the worst thing we’ve ever done. I believe that. George believes that. That’s why I am supporting him.
