September 10, 2018

Media Contact: [email protected]

WHO

Andrea Young, Executive Director, ACLU of Georgia
“Criminal justice reform is on the ballot in November. We are giving voters the information they need to vote for candidates who will continue to reform our criminal justice system to end racial injustice and mass incarceration,” stated Andrea Young, Executive Director of the ACLU of Georgia.

Burrell Ellis, Political Director, ACLU of Georgia

“Mass incarceration separates families, costs taxpayers, and is disproportionately used to disenfranchise people of color,” stated Burrell Ellis, Political Director of ACLU of Georgia. “Criminal justice reform is a pre-eminent racial justice issue which is the reason we must vote for candidates who support Smart Justice.”

Ariane Davis, primarily known for her role in Love & Hip Hop Atlanta, is far from the stereotypical reality star.
“While I continue to aspire to inspire,” stated Ms. Davis, “I use my platform for a message bigger than myself. That is the reason that I’ve teamed up with the ACLU of Georgia to promote Smart Justice Georgia.”

WHAT
Press Conference to launch the Smart Justice Georgia Campaign and unveil the dedicated website with legislative and statewide candidate scorecards that will go live at the campaign launch party that evening at 6pm at the main office. The launch party is open to the press.
WHERE
ACLU of Georgia Office
1100 Spring Street, Suite 640
Atlanta, GA 30309
WHEN
10:30am on Tuesday, September 11, 2018
WHY
The ACLU Campaign for Smart Justice is an unprecedented, multi-year effort to end mass incarceration by substantially reducing the U.S. jail and prison population and eliminating racial disparities in the criminal justice system. Smart Justice Georgia is a statewide campaign to end mass incarceration and racial disparities in the state criminal justice system.
Racial Justice
People of color are disproportionately impacted by Georgia’s criminal justice system. For example, African-Americans make up 31 percent of the state’s total population yet represent almost two-thirds of its prison population.
Mass Incarceration in Georgia
In 2015, Georgia ranked first in the nation in the rate of people incarcerated or under parole, probation, and other forms of correctional control.
Ariane Davis photo courtesy of Ariane Davis.