Forefront Conversations with Sean Thomas

Forefront Podcast

English - March 15, 2023 01:02 - 46 minutes - 84.4 MB - ★★★★★ - 12 ratings
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Sean Thomas, like many other congregants at Forefront, found the church online while searching for progressive, affirming churches in New York City. When Forefront sent a group up to Albany in partnership with 13th Forward, Sean jumped at the chance to raise awareness of New York's prison system acting as institutional slavery. Why did it mean so much to him? Because Sean was once incarcerated for 18 months in NYSDOCCS and witnessed the trademarks of institutionalized slavery first hand: unsafe working conditions, working with often hazardous materials, work weeks over 40 hours, and all done while he was being paid pennies on the dollar for the sake of profit. Between 2010 and 2021, New York’s prison manufacturing enterprise Corcraft sold over $545
million worth of goods and services and in 2020, five prison factory facilities increased the number of incarcerated workers working
during this time to produce over 1,400 coffins a week during the first COVID outbreak.

ABOUT 13TH FORWARD

Formerly LaborIsLabor, 13th Forward was formed in 2019 by Worth Rises and the Legal Aid Society. Our steering committee is currently led by Citizen Action of New York, Color Of Change, The Legal Aid Society, and the New York Civil Liberties Union and A Little Piece of Light.

For the past two years, they have been working with State Senator Zellnor Myrie and Assemblymember Harvey Epstein and impacted people to create the equitable prison labor system that incarcerated workers deserve that incarcerated workers deserve. This includes enshrining in the state constitution the abolition of slavery including for those convicted of crimes, and creating a system of labor for incarcerated individuals that prohibits forced labor, raises wages without unfair garnishments, protects worker safety and health, and creates job training programs that provide real pathways to employment post release. Their campaign supports the passage of two bills: The No Slavery in NY Act and The Fairness and Opportunity for Incarcerated Workers Act.

Call your legislators today to demand their support.

Find out more at 13th Forward.