Like me, I’m guessing that many of you were laboring under the impression that slavery in the United States went away some time in the middle of the century before last. But don’t try telling that to people in five states that will be voting on the subject of ending slavery next month. Voters in Alabama, Louisiana, Oregon, Tennessee, and Vermont will be considering ballot measures to eliminate “slavery” as the word applies to prisoners who are assigned to prison labor while serving their sentences. This type of forced labor is allowed under the 13th amendment, which banned slavery, but made a specific exception for work performed “as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted.” This particular form of “justice reformation” has been making the rounds for several years and it was already enacted in Colorado, Nebraska and Utah. But the trend seems to be spreading. (Associated Press)
Next month, five states are voting on… slavery
