Purple Project For Democracy: A Discussion On The 13th Amendment

Anti-death penalty campaigners stage a demonstration and march outside the Federal Bulding in Los Angeles on September 28, 2010. Anti-death penalty campaigners slammed California's bid to resume executions this week after a five-year hiatus, as a killer's fate remained uncertain amid a shortage of a key drug. Albert Greenwood Brown, convicted of the 1980 abduction and rape of a 15-year-old schoolgirl, is scheduled to die at 9:00 pm Thursday (0400 GMT Friday) after a legal delay ordered by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. But the execution, due to take place at San Quentin prison, north of San Francisco, is also in doubt as it would come hours before the expiration date of the jail's remaining stock of a key lethal drug used in the death chamber.

“Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.”

The 13th Amendment, Section 1 states: “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.” Basically, it outlawed slavery except those convicted of crimes. And some have argued that radicalized mass incarceration of black people today, in a way, is a continuation of of slavery.

Jody Armour sits down with Larry to talk through the complexities of both the 8th and 13th Amendments and their impact on where the country sits today.

Guest:

Jody Armour, professor of law at USC; he tweets

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