Scottsboro to Today: Continuing the Story
The Scottsboro Boys‘ story of racial injustice in America resonates today, and the fight to create a nation that promotes liberty and justice for all is not over. Scroll down to learn more about how the legacy of the Scottsboro trials still impacts our modern criminal justice system, and see how you can get involved with local organizations doing good work.
The Cast Visits the National Museum of African American History and Culture
The cast of The Scottsboro Boys visited the National Museum of African American History and Culture on the National Mall and had a profound, moving experience there. Watch our video above to see more.
Stories of Scottsboro Today: Free Panel Discussion on June 24
Join us on Sunday, June 24 for a panel discussion about the impact of the Scottsboro trials and the state of the American criminal justice system today. The panel discussion will feature Dr. James Goodman, writer of the Pulitzer Prize finalist Stories of Scottsboro, Marc Mauer, Executive Director of The Sentencing Project, and Nicole Porter, Director of Advocacy for The Sentencing Project. The panel will be moderated by Dr. Tawnya Pettiford-Wates, Artistic Director of The Conciliation Project.
June 24 at 5PM
Free, No Reservations Required
The Robeson Room
Busboys & Poets, Shirlington
Organizations Working in the DC Area
These local organizations are all working to improve our criminal justice system through lobbying efforts, providing direct services to inmates, former inmates, and their families, and organizing grassroots movements. Click through to an organization’s website to find out how you can help.
Virginia CURE
Virginia CURE is an organization based in Vienna, VA that works to reduce crime through criminal justice reform and to support inmates and their families. They are currently looking for volunteers to write to inmates, and they are always in need of attorneys who would like to donate their time to support their lobbying efforts.
OAR
Offender Aid Registration (OAR) is an Arlington-based organization that provides reentry services for incarcerated people and their families to ease the transition from prison. They are looking for one-time and long-term volunteers to help with their fundraising and administrative work.
Friends of Guest House
Friends of Guest House helps women successfully reenter the community from incarceration in Alexandria, VA. Since their founding in 1974, Guest House has helped more than 3,000 women break the vicious cycle of incarceration, reunite with their families, and reintegrate into their communities.
Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project
The Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project works to prevent and correct the conviction of innocent people in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. They have one of the highest success rates in the country for exonerating those who have been wrongfully accused.
Million Hoodies Movement for Justice
Million Hoodies Movement for Justice is a national organization with local chapters that aims to build the next generation of human rights leaders to end anti-black racism and systemic violence. They provide leadership training and education to young people of color and promote grassroots organizing and local advocacy.
NAACP, DC Branch
The NAACP is one of the oldest civil rights organizations in the United States, founded in 1909. The DC branch specifically advocates to improve criminal justice policy, economic growth, education, health disparities, and voter empowerment for people of color in Washington, D.C.
Black Lives Matter DC
BLM DC is a radical collective of Black artists, infrastructure builders and movement healers and strategists from the future, organizing in the here and now. They host a monthly Open House, organizer dinners, and weekly events for the community.
The Sentencing Project
The Sentencing Project is a nonprofit organization that conducts research, organizes grassroots efforts, and advocates for criminal justice reform policy. They have chapters across the United States and work on the federal, state and local levels to promote sentencing reform.