On Wednesday, October 2nd, GLIDE along with community leaders and lawmakers held a rally at City Hall in support of Proposition 6, the statewide ballot initiative to enhance safety and save taxpayer dollars by prioritizing rehabilitation in California prisons.  

As a co-sponsor of Proposition 6, GLIDE led this community event to bring awareness about this historic ballot initiative, joining the national movement to remove language in our state constitution that dehumanizes incarcerated people.  

The rally consisted of several community organizations including, Young Women’s Freedom Center, Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ), and Legal Services for Prisoners with Children.  

Our very own GLIDE President & CEO, Dr. Gina, kicked off the event by speaking about the significance of passing Proposition 6 for our clients, staff and the overall Glide community around the Bay Area. “At GLIDE, we have worked for decades to break cycles of poverty and marginalization for low-income San Franciscans, and we know that people can thrive through education, opportunity, supportive services, empathy, and respect.”  

Under Proposition 6, state prisons could still set up volunteer work assignment programs. But by ending involuntary servitude, incarcerated individuals won’t be punished if they decline work in favor of rehabilitation-related programming.  

Present at the rally were Assemblymember Matt Haney and San Francisco Supervisor Dean Preston, who spoke to the audience about the role of Proposition 6 as a public safety matter that is long overdue for our state. Assemblymember Matt Haney said“I am proud to support Prop 6 because ending forced prison work will prioritize rehabilitation.  

Prop 6 will help those released from incarceration to have a fair shot of reentering society successfully reducing recidivism and crime.” We had Kim Tavaglione, Executive Director of the San Francisco Labor Council, speaking about the rights of incarcerated workers.

                Andra Gadson, GLIDE Ambassador and Field Manager speaking to the crowd in
                                                                         support of Prop 6

Andra Gadson, GLIDE Field Manager, was among speakers with lived experience of prisons. He spoke in support of voluntary work assignments and how they prepared him to gain employment once he was released from prison.  

In closing, the Skywatchers Ensemble led the community in a modified version of the song, Ella’s Song by Sweet Honey in the Rock, about the importance of fighting for freedom for those who are the most marginalized in our communities.  

We want to give a special thank you to all our elected officials, community leaders and members for joining GLIDE on this day.