Re-Entry Co-Operative of America, Hillsborough County Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and Florida Rights Restoration Coalition (FRRC) Host Event to Train Volunteers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 22, 2010
CONTACT:
Joyce Hamilton Henry, (786) 363-2737, jhamiltonhenry@aclufl.org
Tampa, Fla. – The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida Tampa Chapter will host a free Rights Restoration Workshop on March 27, 2010 from 1 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. This event is a workshop where individuals can meet with volunteers to learn how to have their rights restored and to begin that process.
The Rights Restoration Workshops have been successful throughout the state of Florida in assisting thousands of applicants with the Restoration of Civil Rights (RCR) procedure, allowing people with past felony convictions successfully to re-integrate into society.
“Nearly one million people in our state are still excluded from participating fully in our system of government due to a Civil War Era provision in our state constitution that permanently bans former felons from voting, serving on a jury and holding many occupational licenses,” said Darlene Williams, ACLU State Board Director and Chair of the ACLU of Florida Greater Tampa Chapter. “The current restoration process is lengthy and complicated and, despite the changes implemented in 2007, is still not automatic. Until our state constitution is changed to automatically restore these rights as most states already do, the Greater Tampa Chapter of the ACLU of Florida is committed to assisting ex-felons navigate the process to return them to full citizenship,” she asserted.
The event is free and open to the public and has been organized in partnership with Re-Entry Co-Operative of America, Hillsborough National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and Florida Rights Restoration Coalition (FRRC), organizations that have long stood with the ACLU of Florida in defending the rights of ex-felons.
“It’s our mission to shift the paradigm of thought that relates to former offenders. We want them to feel that they are again important to society and not casualties of bad decisions. There is no more important value to former offenders than knowing within themselves that they have the same rights, fully restored, as other citizens in society,” said Quinton Robinson, President of Re-Entry Co-Operative of America.
WHAT: Restore Your Civil Rights
WHEN: Saturday, March 27, 2010 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
WHERE: West Tampa Library
2312 West Union Street
Tampa, Florida, 33607
WHO: American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida
Florida Rights Restoration Coalition (FRRC)
NAACP, Hillsborough County Branch
Re-Entry Co-Operative of America
FOR MORE INFORMATION: ACLU of Florida Tampa office at 813.254.3320
About the ACLU of Florida
The ACLU of Florida is freedom's watchdog, working daily in the courts, legislatures and communities to defend individual rights and personal freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. For additional information, visit our web site at: www.aclufl.org.
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2010 Press Releases
