California voters have rejected a constitutional amendment that aimed to eliminate the ban on forced labor in all forms. This measure was part of a broader reparations initiative intended to address systemic racism and exploitative practices against Black Californians. Advocates, especially from criminal justice reform, were significantly concerned about prison labor conditions, where incarcerated individuals are compensated improperly for demanding work such as fire fighting and landscaping.
The current California constitution permits forced labor as punishment for crime, which has raised concerns among advocates who argue for the rights and dignity of those incarcerated. By voting down this initiative, voters have chosen to maintain the status quo, which allows the exploitation of individuals held in the prison system. The initiative also aimed to align California with states like Alabama and Oregon that have removed such exceptions from their constitutions.
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