FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, November 12, 2024

Contact: Kristine Yabumoto, kyabumoto@cahinaacp.org 

SACRAMENTO – California voters have rejected Proposition 6, a ballot measure that would have banned forced labor in state prisons.

NAACP California Hawaii State Conference President Rick L. Callender released this statement in response:

​​”In 2024, systemic exploitation has no place in California, the United States, or anywhere in the world. The defeat of Proposition 6, which would have banned involuntary servitude in all forms, is a troubling setback for anyone who believes in freedom, democracy, and basic human dignity.

This outcome is part of a larger, alarming shift in our nation–one that threatens the hard-won civil rights of Black Americans and all marginalized communities. The failure of Prop 6 reflects a dangerous trend of eroding civil rights, and we cannot sit idly by. Now is not the time to ‘keep calm and carry on’—now is the time to ‘keep calm and fight on.’ If we don’t push back, we risk seeing the unraveling of fundamental freedoms for all. I call on all Californians to join us in fighting for true justice, equity, and a future where no person is exploited under the law.”

###

ABOUT NAACP Founded in 1909 in response to the ongoing violence against Black people around the country, the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) is the largest and most pre-eminent civil rights organization in the nation. We have over 2,200 units and branches across the nation, along with well over 2M activists. Our mission is to secure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons.