Decarcerate Louisiana

06/19/2023

06/12/2023

Ohio lawmakers have introduced a joint resolution that would remove slavery and involuntary servitude from the state’s Constitution as a punishment for crimes.

06/09/2023

NAACP
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NAACP Louisiana State Conference Seeks National Travel Advisory Due to Concerning
Legislative Policies and Actions
Baton Rouge, LA, June 7, 2023 The NAACP Louisiana State Conference is formally requesting
a national travel advisory from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
(NAACP). This comes in light of a disconcerting trend of policies and actions taken by
Republican legislators in the State of Louisiana that target and marginalize specific groups within
the population, including African Americans, members of the LGBTQIA2S+ community,
immigrants, and those who exercise their right to free speech
Recent actions under the influence of Republican legislators have fostered an atmosphere of fear
and intimidation, marked by a blatant, relentless, and systemic attack on democracy and civil
rights. Such policies undermine the principles of diversity and inclusion, disregarding the
well-being and rights of the African American community and other marginalized groups
In 2023, some members of the Louisiana Legislature proposed several bills with the potential to
negatively impact African Americans,the LGBTQIA2S+ community, and other marginalized
groups. (A detailed breakdown of these bills can be found in the appendix of this release.) In
response to this legislative climate, we implore Governor John Bel Edwards to veto any or all of
these pieces of legislation should they achieve endorsement from the Louisiana legislature
Furthermore, a recent decision to halt the investigation into the death of Louisiana motorist
Ronald Greene and the alleged coverup only underscores the need for this advisory. The
prioritization of public safety, specifically that of African Americans and those traveling to
Louisiana, cannot be guaranteed under the current state of affairs.
In consideration of these developments, we urge individuals, particularly African Americans,
people of color, and members of the LGBTQIA2S+ community, to exercise extreme caution
when traveling to or within the State of Louisiana. Visitors should be aware that the state may
not prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion and may have discriminatory laws or policies that
disproportionately affect marginalized communities.
We encourage Louisiana residents to join us in our advocacy campaigns against the regressive
laws that Republican legislators are enacting. We can amplify our voices to protect our
democracy and civil rights when we stand together.

06/05/2023

2022 was a record year for registration tickets:

• Tickets for registration have become more frequent every year, doubling from 14% of all citations in 2017 to 28% in 2022
• The unavailability of tag renewals in 2022 didn’t matter
• Some people were ticketed for registration 3 or even 4 times just from May to August—sometimes before they even had their first court date
• almost all of the increased enforcement went to Black drivers—white drivers actually got fewer registration tickets in 2022 than they did in 2021

54% of white drivers’ tickets were dismissed; 24% of Black drivers’ tickets were dismissed. Fines show racial difference as well:
• Black drivers are way overrepresented (and white drivers way underrepresented) in cases that aren’t not prosecuted, yet small fines are assessed anyway.
• Hispanic drivers are overrepresented on tickets with large fines

In 2022, 57% of traffic citations weren’t about safety issues—and the percentage is rising.
• Police traffic tickets aren’t driven by safety concerns. They are driven by tickets and low level arrests.
• Police use the easiest means available, which is to exploit weaknesses in people’s economic status and gaps in legal protections
• This is why we need traffic enforcement transparency from MPD. As of April, they are required to track their own enforcement, and as of October they will be required to publish the results.
• This is why we need to expand the list of pretextual stops that we name as secondary violations.
• This is why we should turn traffic over to a non-police agency.

https://www.actionnews5.com/2023/06/02/mpd-pulled-over-record-number-drivers-expired-tags-2022-80-are-black/

06/05/2023

05/31/2023

A milestone document in the history of human rights, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights set out, for the first time, fundamental human rights to be universally protected. It has been translated into over 500 languages.

05/17/2023