Contact:
Rabiah Burks, 202-822-6700
rburks@famm.org
Malcolm Jenkins, Will Allen, PA Lawmakers and FAMM
to Take Walking Tour of Philadelphia’s Drug-Free School Zones
Participants to meet with press after tour to educate the public on the school zone laws’ impact on incarceration rates in the state, specifically in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
WASHINGTON – FAMM, Players Coalition Co-Founder Malcolm Jenkins, NFL Veteran Will Allen, and a group of Pennsylvania state lawmakers will meet with press to discuss their experience of walking through neighborhoods impacted by the state’s enhanced sentences for drug trafficking in a school zone. The event with take place on April 1 at 1:15 p.m. at Eastern State Penitentiary.
In 2015, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that the Commonwealth’s drug-free school zone law was invalid. This decision had the effect of removing most of the state’s mandatory minimum sentencing laws. In the last two legislative sessions, Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives has voted overwhelmingly to reinstate the school zone law and mandatory minimum penalties. Fortunately, the legislation died in the Senate.
The walking tour will physically show participants how school zone laws are overbroad, arbitrary, and target communities of color – and why their mandatory penalties should not be reinstated.
Malcolm Jenkins, the co-founder of the Players Coalition, an independent 501c3 public charity and 501c4 advocacy organization created by NFL players to impact social and racial inequality in their communities, will participate and speak on behalf of the Coalition’s efforts for criminal justice reform.
Pennsylvania School Zone Press Availability
Monday, April 1, 2019
1:15 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Eastern State Penitentiary – Main Yard
2027 Fairmount Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19130
Participants include:
Malcolm Jenkins, (Players Coalition Co-Founder and Philadelphia Eagles Safety)
Will Allen, (11-year NFL veteran of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Rep. Jason Dawkins
Sen. Anthony Williams
Rep. Joanna E. McClinton
Sen. Sharif Street
Over the past 10 years, FAMM has worked with Pennsylvania lawmakers and advocates to prevent the reinstatement of mandatory minimums, encourage the early release of sick and elderly prisoners who are not a public safety risk, and improve prisons for both prisoners and their families. FAMM engages and empowers families to tell their stories and advocate reforms to our justice system.
For nearly three decades, FAMM has united the voices of affected families, the formerly incarcerated, and a range of stakeholders and advocates to fight for a more fair and effective justice system. FAMM’s focus on ending a one-size-fits-all punishment structure has led to reforms to sentencing and prison policies in 6 states and is paving the way to programs that support rehabilitation for the 94% of all prisoners who will return to our neighborhoods one day.
About Players Coalition
Players Coalition is an independent 501(c)(3) (charity) and 501(c)(4) (advocacy) organization, working with professional athletes, coaches and owners across leagues to improve social justice and racial equality in our country. The work is focused on three key pillars: Police & Community Relations, Criminal Justice Reform and Education & Economic Advancement. Players Coalition is solution-oriented, and members invest significant time and resources to educate themselves on various issues impacting their communities to identify where their influence can have the greatest impact. In 2017, the Players Coalition was co-founded by NFL Pro-Bowl Safety and 2017 NFLPA Byron “Whizzer” White winner Malcolm Jenkins and retired wide receiver and NFL 2015 Walter Payton Man of the Year winner Anquan Boldin. Players Coalition continues to grow in numbers of ambassadors with the collective goal of making an impact on federal, state and local levels through advocacy, engagement and providing resources. For more information follow @playerscoalition on Instagram and Facebook and @playercoalition on Twitter.
###
FAMM is a national nonpartisan advocacy organization that promotes fair and effective criminal justice policies that safeguard taxpayer dollars and keep our communities safe. Founded in 1991, FAMM is helping transform America’s criminal justice system by uniting the voices of impacted families and individuals and elevating the issues all across the country.
FAMM.org | www.facebook.com/FAMMFoundation | @FAMMFoundation
1100 H Street NW, Suite 1000, Washington, D.C. 20005 | 202-822-6700