BOTL segment excerpt:

The ineffectiveness of the “war on drugs” is not a new concept to listeners of this show. We regularly discuss the for-profit prisons, racist structure of the court system and hurtles impeding a return to full citizenship in clips as well as in our voicemail and commentary segments.

What’s often left out is a major (and politically inconvenient) cause of our prison population spike: mandatory minimum sentencing laws. Congress passed mandatory minimum sentencing laws in the 80’s as part of an attempt to appear “tough on crime.” Since then, the federal prison system has seen a nearly ten-fold increase in incarcerations. Consequently, one out of every four Department of Justice dollars is spent on locking up mostly nonviolent drug offenders in federal prisons.

Take Action:

Add your voice in support of common sense reform: Tell the Commission: Cut These Drug Sentences!” from Families Against Mandatory Minimums

More info:

Listen to the source segment for this activism at BOTL Activism: Families Against Mandatory Minimums, episode #798 "Learning to play nice with human nature (War on Drugs)”

Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich

BOTL segment excerpt:

2,200 people are held in a tiny cell for 23 hours hours each day, with no access to commissary or phone calls in the state of Illinois. This, predictably, results not in rehabilitation, but in the emotional, mental and physical deterioration of the inmates subjected to this human rights violating practice.

The Illinois Coalition Against Torture, an association of individuals and community-based organizations, formed in 2010 to end torture on all levels — local, state and international. Drawing on the Chicago City Council’s 2012 passage of the ICAT sponsored resolution to make Chicago “torture free,” they have just launched The Campaign to End Solitary Confinement in Illinois.

Take Action:

End Solitary Confinement In Illinois petition from CREDO and hard copy petition from Illinois CAT.

Printable info flier to circulate.

More info:

Listen to the source segment for this activism at BOTLActivism: Campaign to End Solitary Confinement in Illinois Prisons, episode #819 "Incentives have consequences (Injustice system)”

Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich

BOTL segment excerpt:

From the Color of Change campaign:

It's time to end so-called "Stand Your Ground" laws and other such laws that undermine public safety, senselessly put people at risk, and enable the kind of tragedy we've witnessed in the cases of Trayvon Martin and Jordan Davis. I'm calling on you to take leadership and undo these dangerous laws now.

Take Action:

Contact your representatives: ”Stand Against ‘Shoot First’ Laws” petition from ColorOfChange.org

More info:

Listen to the source segment for this activism at BOTL Activism: Stand Against ‘Shoot First’ Laws, episode #805 "Unequal Justice Under the Law (the (in)justice system)”

Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich

BOTL segment excerpt:

In the words of NARAL president Ilyse Hogue:

Judicial appointments to the federal bench may be the most significant legacy a president leaves behind. These lifetime appointees have incredible power and often provide the final word on questions of constitutional law, including those of equality, rights, and justice...Michael Boggs actually believes that there is one definition of what it means to live your life as an American. The thing is, that’s anti-American.

Take Action:

Contact your representatives to stop this nominee from being confirmed:

Stop Michael Boggs’s Confirmation from NARAL Pro-Choice America

Stop Michael Boggs’s Confirmation from MoveOn.org

More info:

Listen to the source segment for this activism at BOTL Activism: Stop Michael Boggs's Confirmation, episode #807 "Like Men, Only Cheaper (feminism)"

Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich