U.S : Tell the Black Caucus : Stop Taking Private Prison Money !

CBC PAC is using the reputation of the Congressional Black Caucus to uphold corporate power.

Tell the CBC: Corporations Don't Speak for Black People

Dear friend,

The Congressional Black Caucus Political Action Committee¹ claims to speak for Black people but is really a mouthpiece for corporate power with a board made up primarily of corporate lobbyists and funding from some of the worst industries for Black people, including Private Prison lobbyists.² This "civil rights washing" — wrapping dangerous policies in a cloak of support from Black gatekeepers  — cannot be trusted or lifted up as the voice of Black people.

The lobbyists sitting on the CBC PAC’s board represent companies that are notorious in the mistreatment and exploitation of Black people.³ This includes Al Wynn, the Congressman-turned-Big Tobacco lobbyist who reportedly used his position on the board to block the endorsement of currentCBC member and progressive hero, Rep. Donna Edwards', historic bid to become only the second Black woman to be elected to the Senate.⁴

Join us in calling on the CBC PAC to remake their board to reflect CBC leadership and cut ties with industries that harm Black people, including Private Prison lobbyists, Big Tobacco, and the anti-worker National Restaurant Association.

The lobbyists and corporate funders wielding influence over the CBC PAC represent the worst of the worst. Perhaps the most disturbing corporate funders of the CBC PAC are the lobbyists from the private prison industry. Ironically, both Democratic Presidential candidates have shunned contributions from private prison lobbyists⁵ but the CBC PAC has taken thousands of dollars from Akin Gump, the lobbying firm that makes millions lobbying to protect their private prison client, Corrections Corporation of America, from increased regulation and transparency.⁶ 

Private prison companies are responsible for some of the worst human rights abuses targeting Black communities in America.⁷ Companies like CCA and GEO Group are focused on one thing: profit. And in order to make the most money for their shareholders, they cut corners on critical health, safety, and rehabilitative services, creating some of the worst conditions in the country. Over the past 25 years, CCA and GEO Group have given $10 million to candidates and spent $25 million lobbying for laws that put more people in prison.⁸ Now, these companies are hard at work figuring out how to profit off growing political support for "alternatives to incarceration," launching highly exploitative electronic monitoring and probation services that bankrupt low-income Black folks.⁹

Since we launched this campaign a month ago, the CBC PAC has been struggling to explain itself as more and more members of the full Caucus have raised concerns.¹⁰ If we can keep the pressure on, the PAC will have to be remade.

Click here to tell the members of the Congressional Black Caucus to end the CBC PAC’s reliance on corporations that harm Black people and reconfigure the CBC PACboard to end the corporate dominance in its decision making.

Until Justice is Real,

Rashad, Arisha, Scott, Brandi, Enchanta, and the rest of the ColorOfChange.org team.

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References

[1] Political Action Committees are organizations formed for the purpose of raising and spending money to elect and defeat electoral candidates. Read more here: https://act.colorofchange.org/go/5878?t=6&akid=5613.1942551.LX_1Mz

[2] http://act.colorofchange.org/go/5879?t=8&akid=5613.1942551.LX_1Mz

[3] “Hillary Clinton’s Congressional Black Caucus PAC Endorsement Approved by Board Awash in Lobbyists” The Intercept, 2-11-16, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/5880?t=10&akid=5613.1942551.LX_1Mz

[4] “Black Caucus PAC shuns endorsement of Donna Edwards,” Politico, 2-12-16 http://act.colorofchange.org/go/5882?t=12&akid=5613.1942551.LX_1Mz

[5] “Hillary Clinton says she’ll end private prisons, stop taking their money,” Huffington Post, 10-23-15,http://act.colorofchange.org/go/5883?t=14&akid=5613.1942551.LX_1Mz

[6] https://act.colorofchange.org/go/5894?t=17&akid=5613.1942551.LX_1Mz

[7] "Too Good to be True: Private Prisons in America,"(.pdf) Sentencing Project, 01-2012
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/4051?t=19&akid=5613.1942551.LX_1Mz

[8] How for-profit prisons have become the biggest lobby no one is talking about," Washington Post 04-28-2015 https://act.colorofchange.org/go/5399?t=21&akid=5613.1942551.LX_1Mz

[9] "Chain Gang 2.0: If You Can’t Afford This GPS Ankle Bracelet, You Get Thrown In Jail," International Business Times 09-21-2015 http://act.colorofchange.org/go/5434?t=23&akid=5613.1942551.LX_1Mz

[10] "ColorOfChange vs. the Black Caucus and Money Politics" 365Politics, 3.14.16, http://act.colorofchange.org/go/6030?t=25&akid=5613.1942551.LX_1Mz

http://act.colorofchange.org/go/4051?t=27&akid=5613.1942551.LX_1Mz

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