Should the United States Constitution allow slavery as punishment for committing a crime? 

The 13th Amendment reads:"Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction."

This actually is a clever play on words. The ‘exception clause’ in the 13th amendment was a ‘compromise clause’ in order to encourage the Confederate states to cease the Civil War and rejoin the Union. The only thing the Confederate States had to do in order to maintain their slaves was to criminalize them. This was done by legislators who purposely enacted ridiculous laws for the judicial branch of their governments. Thus was the origin of Jim Crow laws and Black Codes. Newly freed slaves were returned to their former position of servitude. Slavery was not dead, on the contrary, it was alive and well in states such as Alabama, Mississippi, and Texas!

From the late 1800’s until the present date, the above method of enslavement has been the pattern, practice, and collective mindset of the southern states and various other states all across America. The Conspiracy to incarcerate Black, Latinx, and poor white people is no longer a theory it is a stark reality.

The fact that in 2016 the US Constitution still possesses these words is a great disgrace to our African ancestors who lost their lives in wars to avoid capture. Just close your eyes for one moment and contemplate on the countless millions who died during the middle passage in the halls of slave ships.

Think about the enslaved human beings who endured untold demonic treatment, those who fled, the Abolitionist who fought with intellect, musket, and sword, the women who refused to stand or go to the back of the bus, the man who shared his Dream and made it ours, the students escorted to schools which they were not welcome, and the millions of men, women, and families who marched on Washington for these injustices and many more! Can't you see SLAVERY MUST DIE!!!

The baton has been passed from hand to hand for centuries: Now it is being passed to “YOU”! WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH IT?

Congress must rewrite this wrong. It is your duty and responsibility to compel congress to propose an amendment in place of the unconstitutional 13th amendment.

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This petition is created as a collaboration between justin adkins and Keith 'Malik' Washington.

Keith ‘Malik’ Washington is living at Coffield Unit in Tennessee Colony, TX. He reports on human rights abuses in the Texas prison system. Known to his friends as Comrade Malik, his life mission is to serve the people and create conditions in the United States in which all human beings have access to freedom, justice and equality! 

justin adkins is a friend of Keith 'Malik' Washington.