This loophole was used to

artappraiser — Wed, 01 Jul 2020 20:49:47 +0000

In reply to Senator Merkley: Constitutional Amendment to 13th Amendment

This loophole was used to force Black prisoners, many picked up for Black-only “crimes” like loitering, to work for free after Reconstruction. Sometimes in the same fields they worked when enslaved. In 1898, 73% of Alabama’s state budget came from selling the labor of prisoners.
— Senator Jeff Merkley (@SenJeffMerkley) July 1, 2020

Still today ~1 million prisoners, many Black & Brown, work for less than $1/hour or even nothing at all. And of course, many of those are in for non-violent drug crimes. It’s time to end this system of forced, unpaid labor rooted in our history of slavery & racism. More to come.
— Senator Jeff Merkley (@SenJeffMerkley) July 1, 2020

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This loophole was used to