FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Aug. 30th, 2014

New York, NY: On October 25th, members of the Florida based Dream Defenders approached gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist about the state’s notorious for-profit prison system. In the exclusive video released today, Charlie Crist acknowledges the devastating abuse of for-profit prisons and commits to reject any money from the industry’s powerful lobbying arm.

Video may be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9HbxHIRIrE&list=UUcUjdXzuKwrJCE-PFyxJXtw

ColorOfChange Executive Director Rashad Robinson stated, “Under Scott’s rule, Florida has become one of the country’s leading states on for-profit incarceration. Gov. Scott has avoided addressing his shameful private prison legacy through out much of election season — but not anymore. Crist’s comments create a unique opportunity to hold Gov. Scott accountable for addressing one of the most important issues facing Black Floridians in a tight election race.

“Both Charlie Crist and Governor Scott have accepted money from private prison companies in the past, but Crist’s comments make it clear that the future of private prison companies’ stronghold over Florida politicians is at stake in this election. There is a long road ahead to holding Florida’s next governor accountable for ending for-profit prisons, but it starts with ensuring candidates publicly discuss their agendas before Floridians go to cast their votes. We need Scott to face this issue head on.”

Florida’s entire youth prison system is privatized. Nearly 20,000 ColorOfChange have taken action calling for an end to Florida’s private prison contract system.

Phillip Agnew, Executive Director of the Dream Defenders stated, “The privatization of prisons and the commodification of black and brown bodies is a particular form of evil – one that Florida seems to revel in. All of our juvenile facilities are private, and we came a few votes short of privatizing all of our adult facilities.

“It’s important that we know what side our candidates for governor are on. The side of justice and treating people of who have made mistakes humanely, or on the side of corporations that care more about lining their own pockets at the expense of our communities. It’s a moral injustice, it’s that simple.”

###

With more than 900,000 members, ColorOfChange is the nation’s largest online civil rights group