Board of Supervisors Unanimously Passes Preston Resolution in Support of State Ballot Measure to End Prison Slavery and Enhance Safety
The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously voted in favor of District 5 Supervisor Dean Preston’s resolution to support Proposition 6 , a state ballot measure that will prioritize public safety and rehabilitation by ending the last legal vestiges of slavery in California. Proposition 6 has broad support from organizations like All of Us or None, ACLU California Action, Young Women’s Freedom Center, Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ), Law Enforcement Action Partnership, and the San Francisco Labor Council. The measure also has endorsements from local Democratic clubs and various news publications throughout the state.
“Supporting Proposition 6 is a no-brainer for anyone who is serious about addressing recidivism and incentivizing people to invest in their rehabilitation,” stated Preston. “It is well past time to end the historic injustice of legalized slavery in California once and for all, both for moral reasons and because it will improve public safety.”
“The San Francisco Board of Supervisors has proudly supported efforts to amend the California Constitution and abolish all forms of slavery, including forced prison labor during my terms,” said Supervisor Shamann Walton. “Today, hundreds of thousands of incarcerated individuals— disproportionately Black— are subjected to exploitative labor practices, generating billions in profit while receiving little to no compensation. This isn’t merely a loophole; it’s a profound injustice that continues to harm vulnerable communities, perpetuating the legacy of systemic oppression within our criminal legal system. With ACA 8, now Prop 6, we have a historic opportunity to finally end this exploitation and affirm that slavery has no place in our state’s prisons or anywhere in our society.”
Supervisor Preston joins advocates for a rally in support of Proposition 6. Photo by Melissa Hernandez
Proposition 6, on the November 2024 ballot, will eliminate a constitutional provision that allows the state to force incarcerated people to work certain jobs and punish those who miss work or refuse to work– a practice that effectively bars some imprisoned people from seeking certain classes or therapeutic services if they conflict with their mandated work assignments. Voters in Alabama, Tennessee, Oregon, and Vermont have already passed similar bans in their states in 2022.
“Forced prison labor undermines the ability of thousands of incarcerated people to gain the tools they need to turn their lives around, making it more likely that they will reoffend when they inevitably return to their communities,” stated Lawrence Cox from All of Us Or None. “California can reduce crime, prevent victimization, and reduce taxpayer spending on a bloated prison system by ending this practice in November.”
“Accountability doesn’t require prioritizing profits from the exploitation of incarcerated workers above all else,” stated J. Vasquez from CURYJ. “By prioritizing rehabilitation and education, California will increase the likelihood that people who are released from prison are able to become gainfully employed and give back to their communities in positive ways.”
