A GAME-CHANGER FOR THE EQUAL ACT
National Basketball Social Justice Coalition Endorses EQUAL Act, Calls for Floor Vote in the House
Announcement Made at Event Hosted By Justice Action Network and FAMM, featuring Reps. Hakeem Jeffries and Kelly Armstrong, Impacted Families
WASHINGTON – The partisan atmosphere on Capitol Hill is as toxic as it gets right now – but you wouldn’t know it considering significant bipartisan support for criminal justice reform legislation. Today, the EQUAL Act got some major momentum from the sports world as the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition in officially endorsing the measure. This critical piece of bipartisan criminal justice reform legislation that would end the sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine. National Basketball Social Justice Coalition Executive Director James Cadogan made the announcement at today’s “Rally for Reform” hosted by FAMM (formerly Families Against Mandatory Minimums) and Justice Action Network (JAN), which also featured Reps. Hakeem Jeffries and Kelly Armstrong, and families of people directly impacted by the unjust sentencing disparity.
“The National Basketball Social Justice Coalition’s endorsement of the EQUAL Act is a game-changer and drives forward a movement that unites every faction of the Democratic and Republican parties, law enforcement, and advocates from across the political spectrum,” said Justice Action Network Executive Director Holly Harris. “Ending this decades-long sentencing disparity will make our justice system fairer and build trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. It’s time to take this bill to the House floor.”
Just last week, the EQUAL Act received an overwhelming bipartisan vote in the House Judiciary Committee, drawing support from 36 Republicans and Democrats. The bill, which would fully and finally eliminate the sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine and apply it retroactively, is also sponsored by Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Rob Portman (R-OH), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Rand Paul (R-KY), Pat Leahy (D-VT), and Thom Tillis (R-NC). Groups supporting the legislation include law enforcement leaders such as the National District Attorneys Association, Major Cities Chiefs Association, and Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, as well as groups from the right, left, and center: ALEC Action, American Civil Liberties Union, Americans for Prosperity, Americans for Tax Reform, Catholic Prison Ministries Coalition, Dream Corps JUSTICE, Due Process Institute, FAMM, Faith & Freedom Coalition, FreedomWorks, Justice Action Network, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Prison Fellowship, R Street Institute, The Sentencing Project, Taxpayers Protection Alliance and the Tzedek Association.