On Saturday night, the Vanguard hosted its 9th annual fundraiser – Reforming the Prosecution System. The event focused on problems in the prosecution system, including misconduct and wrongful convictions, and the movement of progressive reformers.
Speaker Genevieve Jones-Wright explained on Saturday that the criminal justice system works the way it was intended – it was meant to criminalize poor people of color and it’s working. People need to drive change and the current San Francisco District Attorney race is an opportunity to do so, with Deputy Public Defender Chesa Boudin running neck and neck for the position in the election. She turned back to the topics of the previous speakers as well, noting how restorative justice is important for individuals to rethink the prison system in terms of people.
“No one is less human,” Jones-Wright stated. “Our system should not strip humanity from someone who enters a jail’s gates.”
Speakers: Lisa Rea – Restorative Justice International; Noah Phillips – former Sacramento DA Candidate; Genevieve Jones-Wright – former San Diego DA Candidate; Satana Deberry – Durham, NC DA; Jeffrey Deskovic – Exonereee and Director of Jeffrey Deskovic Foundation