OUR COLLECTIVE WORK INCLUDES:
On Friday, December 1st 2023, the United Justice Coalition (UJC) will convene for a full day of inspiring conversations, innovative ideas, and powerful tools for action.
KANSAS CITY, KANSAS CORRUPTION
We are working to expose and amplify the widespread corruption and misconduct perpetrated by the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department (KCKPD) for the past 30 years, in order to seek accountability and justice for KCK citizens.
NACDL FULL DISCLOSURE PROJECT
The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Full Disclosure Project has established a comprehensive solution to address the lack of accountability surrounding law enforcement misconduct by providing community stakeholders with tools to track misconduct, such as internal investigations, civil rights lawsuits, news articles, and more. The Full Disclosure Project has already initiated data consolidation and access to information in the District of Columbia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, and San Francisco.
BLOCKPOWER
In partnership with Register2Vote, BlockPower's Voting Ambassador Program mission is to empower Black communities by increasing voter turnout. Community Ambassadors engage their family members, friends, and neighbors to build health, wealth, and power. In the 2020 general elections, we supported efforts in North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Texas, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Arizona to expand voter outreach and increase civic engagement.
In June 2021, advisors of the United Justice Coalition sent a letter to Congress to demand a comprehensive police accountability package.
JON-ADRIAN VELAZQUEZ
On August 17, 2021, Velazquez was granted clemency from the NYS Governor and finally freed from Sing Sing Correctional facility on September 9, 2021, after nearly 24 years of imprisonment. UJC advisors provided legal and media support, and we continue the work to help exonerate Velasquez.
In June 2020, UJC advisors supported an open letter addressed to Governor Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison of Minnesota to demand justice for George Floyd. It included an excerpt from Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech in Selma, AL in 1965 and was widely circulated in publications, such as The New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, and the Philadelphia Enquirer.
PARCHMAN PRISON
Parchman Prison Parchman Farm is the oldest maximum-security prison in the state of Mississippi, known for its deep roots in slavery, the mistreatment of Black Americans, and its inhumane living conditions. UJC advisory members provided legal support and have brought awareness to the inhumane conditions and advocated for the improved conditions for prisoners at Parchman Prison. Most recently, our efforts have resulted in the DOJ finding conditions at Parchman Prison violate 8th and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
PSAs
Several UJC advisor families who lost loved ones to police violence have been highlighted in the #Everyone’s Child campaign, a series of PSAs about victims of police and gun violence.