For Immediate Release
June 19, 2024
ORLANDO – The Florida Rights Restoration Coalition (FRRC) today celebrated Juneteenth by outlining the ways in which formerly incarcerated persons continue to fight for freedom. This statement can be attributed to Desmond Meade, executive director of the FRRC and 2023 Nobel Peace Prize nominee:
“This holiday is particularly resonant for me because the people in Galveston didn’t learn they were free until about two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was passed. In 2024, there are many returning citizens who have repaid their debt to society and are continuing to fight for full inclusion in society. One way we see this is through voter registration.
“There are approximately 19 million returning citizens across the country. Many may be may eligible to register to vote but may not realize it. In Florida alone, there are approximately 600,000 formerly incarcerated persons who do not owe fines and fees but aren’t registered to vote. In the same way the people in Galveston didn’t know they were free, there are many returning citizens who – for a host of reasons – have yet to fully realize their freedom, let alone be reintegrated back into society. In addition to spreading the freedom message, Juneteenth should be about removing barriers for all of us, including formerly incarcerated persons.”
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