Formerly Incarcerated Philadelphians Rally For Second Chance
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Philadelphia is home to 300,000 men and women criminal records. Many are struggling, looking for work, housing and educational opportunities.
Scores of formerly incarcerated Philadelphians rallied outside of the Uptown Theater Wednesday on North Broad Street.
"We are being affected by this even if you just coming home or you've been home for 40 years," says Wayne Jacobs. Released from prison in 1997, Jacobs says he tried for job, after job with no luck. He founded Ex-Offenders for Community Empowerment to give himself something constructive to do, but says it's still hard even to do simple things, like get life insurance.
"They asked if you have ever been convicted," he says, "and when I hit that box on the life insurance policy my rates went up."
"It is unfair for folks, if we do not allow folks to really start over," Sharif Street, told the crowd.
The attorney and son of former Mayor John Street is running for Pennsylvania's 3rd Senatorial District seat where many of the residents have a criminal past.
"When you have as many people who are convicted as we do in our community," he says, "if those folks don't vote, we really have created an entire second class of citizens."
Street organized the rally, hoping to empower the formerly incarcerated men and women in his district to use their frustration to vote in politicians who will push to change the laws in Harrisburg.
"We need more partners in Harrisburg who believe in the mission," says State Rep. Jordan Harris. He led the charge to pass Act 5, with bi-partisan support. It was signed into law by Governor Tom Wolf last month and expands expungement rights by allowing those with certain classes of offenses to seal their records.
"It's a good start," he says, "but we must do more."
"We have power!" Michael "O.G." Tabon told the crowd at the Real Chance Rally.
Tabon has a criminal past, but since his release he has dedicated his life to keeping people of prisons. He performed a song "Stop the Hate" and encouraged ex-offenders to use the power of the ballot.
"I need you to take the right that you got to vote and do what you need to do to get somebody in office that is actually helping the ex-convicts get a job," he says.
Street, Harris and others says clean slate, broader band the box and other second chance legislation would help lighten the burden of a criminal past and clear the way to lifting thousands of families out of poverty.
