We are a national coalition fighting to abolish constitutional slavery and involuntary servitude in all forms, for all people.
End the Exception. Abolish Constitutional Slavery.
Rep. Sandra Hollins, Utah’s first Black female representative and Joan Trumpauer on the Utah State Floor after Rep. Hollins introduced HJR 8 to remove slavery and involuntary servitude from the Utah Constitution.
The 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution outlawed slavery and involuntary servitude ‘except as a punishment for crime where of the party shall have been duly convicted.’
Our state constitutions are not symbolic documents, they are living documents that form the basis for all of our laws. The language that remains in our constitutions permitting slavery is immoral and we must remove it.
California
Organizers in California are working to abolish involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime. Slavery is already prohibited.
Nebraska
In 2020, Nebraskans voted yes to end slavery and involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime!
New Jersey
Organizers in New Jersey are working to pass a constitutional amendment that prohibits slavery and involuntary servitude in the state, including as punishment for a crime.
South Carolina
Our goal is to enact legislation which will once and for all abolish legalized slavery in our state. To finish what our ancestors began. South Carolina has a representative for the Abolish Slavery National Network and we look forward to moving this issue forward in the halls of legislation.
Utah
In 2020, Utahns voted yes on Amendment C to remove 144-year-old language that allows slavery and involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime!
Colorado
In 2018, Colorado became the first state to vote to remove language from the state constitution permitting slavery and involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime. Amendment A received 66.2 percent of the vote.