Dr. Marc Lamont Hill, of Our World With Black Enterprise speaks to a panel about the mass incarceration crisis that is affecting black males. It helps to underscore and provide context for why Jesus Saves Ministries assists former felons in Kentucky in getting their voting rights restored through our Ex-Offender Advocacy Initiative in partnership with St. Stephen Church. To date, we have helped approximately 30 former felons regain the voting rights, as well as assisted a number of ex-offenders in getting their criminal records expunged. If you would like more information, contact me, Min. Angela Lee Price, at jesussaves1@insightbb.com or aprice@ssclive.org, or by calling 502-583-6798, Ext. 6804.
Jesus Saves Ministries, celebrating five years of lifting up Jesus Christ!
Jesus Saves Ministries shares the saving grace of Jesus Christ from an African American perspective by helping to demonstrate the power and relevancy of the Cross in the 21st century.
Showing posts with label Former Felons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Former Felons. Show all posts
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Monday, October 11, 2010
Ex-Offenders Make Application to Regain Voting Rights
By: Min. Angela Lee Price
Shonda Blakemore, left with Min Angela Lee Price, attended the “Let My People Vote” Restoration of Voting Rights and Expungement Workshop held Saturday, October 2nd at the St. Stephen Family Life Center in Louisville. The workshop was a partnership with the Men's Ministry. She and four applicants received word on October 6th from the Department of Corrections in Louisville that their applications have passed round one of the approval process and have been forwarded to the Department of Corrections and Governor’s office in Frankfort for final approval.Kentucky and Virginia are the last two remaining states that permanently disenfranchise all people with felony convictions, unless they receive individual, discretionary, executive clemency (see attached Brennan Center for Justice "Restoring The Right To Vote" document). "This is a primary reason St. Stephen Church and Jesus Saves Ministries are involved as advocates for ex-offenders, this and the fact that ours are ministries of reconciliation and social justice," states Min. Price. "We track applications through the entire process, and have shared the testimonies and stories of many of our applicants in Jesus Saves Newsletters and journals, on the Jesus Saves Ministries Blog, on the Jesus Saves Ministries and St. Stephen Church social networks and elsewhere to demonstrate the move of God in their lives.
The laws in Kentucky and Virginia need revision, especially when you consider that voting rights are automatically restored after release from prison in neighboring states Indiana, Ohio, and Illinois, 10 other states, and the District of Columbia. And even prisoners may vote in Maine and Vermont. Their voting rights are never revoked."Two applicants, Connie Wells-Cooksey and Kenneth Braxton, regain their rights to vote and hold public office in late March and both say they will be voting in the November midterm election. In all, voting rights were restored to 21 former felons through this ex-offender advocacy initiative, and the Louisville Branch NAACP modeled their first-time felons program after our initiative to help more than 100 former felons regain voting rights for the 2008 presidential election.
Applications are still be accepted. Call Min. Angela Lee Price at St. Stephen Church, 502-583-6798, Ext. 6804, or at Jesus Saves Ministries, 502-415-1001.
"Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked" Psalm 82:3-4.
"Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked" Psalm 82:3-4.
Let My People Vote Workshop Travels to Dismas Charities
Jesus Saves Ministries Conducted Let My People Vote Workshop August 12th
Brennen Report - Restoring Right to Vote.pdf
ApplicationforRestorationofCivilRights.doc
USSocialForum.ppt
Remember, it is not Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Age that saves. Jesus saves!
Friday, April 02, 2010
Voting Rights Restored to Connie Cooksey and Kenneth Braxton
Rev. Angela Lee Price
Two more people who in choosing to go with God have been healed of their affliction! Kenneth Braxton and Constance Wells-Cooksey (left with her daughter, Andrea and I), our latest applicants for restoration of voting rights received their certificates from Governor Beshear's office this month! Kenneth is a member of St. Stephen Church and one of my Sunday school members. Connie is a member of Bates Memorial Baptist Church here in Louisville, a decision counselor and greeter. Praise be to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who restores voice to the voiceless!! He is an awesome God!! We Praise God for these victories!
Find more photos like this on Jesus Saves Ministries
"It is a relief to have my rights restored, but it is a frustration to not be able to get the felonies off my record," states Kenneth Braxton. Kentucky is one of two remaining states where former felons lose rights permanently unless they successfully petition the governor's office to have voting rights restored. Currently, approximately 95% of felony convictions cannot be expunged in the state of Kentucky. Kenneth and Constance Wells-Cooksey, both received certificates from Govenor Beshear's office just in time for Resurrection Weekend through the Jesus Saves Ministries Former Felons Advocacy Initiative
In 2005, Jesus Saves Ministries assisted five former felons to regain their civil rights, including the right to vote. Our initiative in association with St. Stephen Church was the first faith-based advocacy program of it's kind that communicated directly with the governor's office, and local and state Departments of Corrections in Frankfort in tracking applicants through the entire restoration process. As a result of our initial success, the Louisville Branch NAACP modeled their 2008 first-time felons voting rights campaign after our program and assisted more than 100 former felons in regaining their voting rights.
Moreover, I believe God is not through. He will use the muted voices of those who have never voted, and those who were told they would never vote again to do what has never been done before! All we need to do is trust and believe in Him.
Contact me, Min. Angela Lee Price at jesussaves1@insightbb.com or by calling 502-583-6798 (St. Stephen Church). We believe the job is not done unless and until the certificate is in your hand. Anything else is smoke and mirrors!
Two more people who in choosing to go with God have been healed of their affliction! Kenneth Braxton and Constance Wells-Cooksey (left with her daughter, Andrea and I), our latest applicants for restoration of voting rights received their certificates from Governor Beshear's office this month! Kenneth is a member of St. Stephen Church and one of my Sunday school members. Connie is a member of Bates Memorial Baptist Church here in Louisville, a decision counselor and greeter. Praise be to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who restores voice to the voiceless!! He is an awesome God!! We Praise God for these victories!Find more photos like this on Jesus Saves Ministries
"It is a relief to have my rights restored, but it is a frustration to not be able to get the felonies off my record," states Kenneth Braxton. Kentucky is one of two remaining states where former felons lose rights permanently unless they successfully petition the governor's office to have voting rights restored. Currently, approximately 95% of felony convictions cannot be expunged in the state of Kentucky. Kenneth and Constance Wells-Cooksey, both received certificates from Govenor Beshear's office just in time for Resurrection Weekend through the Jesus Saves Ministries Former Felons Advocacy Initiative
In 2005, Jesus Saves Ministries assisted five former felons to regain their civil rights, including the right to vote. Our initiative in association with St. Stephen Church was the first faith-based advocacy program of it's kind that communicated directly with the governor's office, and local and state Departments of Corrections in Frankfort in tracking applicants through the entire restoration process. As a result of our initial success, the Louisville Branch NAACP modeled their 2008 first-time felons voting rights campaign after our program and assisted more than 100 former felons in regaining their voting rights.
Application for Restoration of Civil Rights 2-27-08.doc. The miracle of the 2008 presidential election was that more than half of those who had their rights restored through our initiative had never voted before. They were able to vote for the first time for the first African American president in our nation's history in Barack Obama. Only God could have done something so amazingly extraordinary as that!
In 2009, we assisted three more people in regaining their voting rights, Sandra Bartell, Tyrone Trumbo, and Rudolph Long. Read their stories on this blog and on the Jesus Saves Social Network.
Moreover, I believe God is not through. He will use the muted voices of those who have never voted, and those who were told they would never vote again to do what has never been done before! All we need to do is trust and believe in Him.
Contact me, Min. Angela Lee Price at jesussaves1@insightbb.com or by calling 502-583-6798 (St. Stephen Church). We believe the job is not done unless and until the certificate is in your hand. Anything else is smoke and mirrors!
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Black Males Expected to Make Bricks Without Straw
By: Min. Angela Lee Price
When it comes to black males in this economy, I am reminded of what Pharoah told the Israelites, make bricks without straw (Ex. 5:6-7). In many cases, black men have the desire to provide for their families and children, but not the means. They are expected to provide without provisions, the jobs necessary to make ends meet.
We are experiencing the full affect of this economic recession right now. The current national unemployment rate is at 9.7%. Kentucky's unemployment rate is at 11.1%, the highest its been since they started keeping track 33 years ago according to yesterday's Courier Journal Newspaper. What this particular article does not show is that overall unemployment in west Louisville, the area with the largest African American population in the state. West Louisville black unemployment rate is 13.4%. And black male unemployment in west Louisville is 17.5%, five times higher than east end employment based on census data. Yet, Pharoah is out there declaring, "Lazy, that's what you are-lazy....Now get to work" (Ex. 5:17-18). Sure, there is enough blame to go around, but the fact is, the statistics speak for themselves. We as a Christian community need to step up and help out. But how?
As scary as those statistics are, the unemployment rate for black males in many urban cities is double that of their white counterparts. Buffalo, Milwaukee, Detroit, St. Louis, and Chicago have all seen black male unemployment higher than 50% in recent years by some accounts. By all accounts, black males are hardest hit by this recession. They are "the least of these." In fact, it has been mentioned in several studies, including the Chicago Reporter article, Double Trouble that an unemployed white male with a criminal record stands a better chance of gaining employment than a black male without a criminal record.
Help us put a face to this group of "the least of these" by providing feedback to the staggering statistic of black male unemployment. What can the church, particularly the black church do to help?
When it comes to black males in this economy, I am reminded of what Pharoah told the Israelites, make bricks without straw (Ex. 5:6-7). In many cases, black men have the desire to provide for their families and children, but not the means. They are expected to provide without provisions, the jobs necessary to make ends meet.We are experiencing the full affect of this economic recession right now. The current national unemployment rate is at 9.7%. Kentucky's unemployment rate is at 11.1%, the highest its been since they started keeping track 33 years ago according to yesterday's Courier Journal Newspaper. What this particular article does not show is that overall unemployment in west Louisville, the area with the largest African American population in the state. West Louisville black unemployment rate is 13.4%. And black male unemployment in west Louisville is 17.5%, five times higher than east end employment based on census data. Yet, Pharoah is out there declaring, "Lazy, that's what you are-lazy....Now get to work" (Ex. 5:17-18). Sure, there is enough blame to go around, but the fact is, the statistics speak for themselves. We as a Christian community need to step up and help out. But how?
As scary as those statistics are, the unemployment rate for black males in many urban cities is double that of their white counterparts. Buffalo, Milwaukee, Detroit, St. Louis, and Chicago have all seen black male unemployment higher than 50% in recent years by some accounts. By all accounts, black males are hardest hit by this recession. They are "the least of these." In fact, it has been mentioned in several studies, including the Chicago Reporter article, Double Trouble that an unemployed white male with a criminal record stands a better chance of gaining employment than a black male without a criminal record.
Help us put a face to this group of "the least of these" by providing feedback to the staggering statistic of black male unemployment. What can the church, particularly the black church do to help?
Read these articles and post:
Monday, September 14, 2009
Long Over Due: Rudolph Long Regains Right to Vote
By: Min. Angela Lee Price
We are happy to report that another one of our applicants, Rudolph Long, III recently regained the rights to vote and hold public office. I spoke Rudolph on Friday, September 11th, as he received his certificate and voter registration card in the mail. The Lord's timing was perfect, and so we rejoiced! Here is what he had to say about regaining the right to vote:
Rudolph: It means a lot! I have a chance to have a hearsay in what's going on the world. Without the right to vote, you don't have a voice.
Min. Angela: Are you employed?
Rudolph: I've been unemployed for 11 months. I worked for the Lear Corporation for 13 years. I was laid off due to cutbacks in the automobile industry. My drug felony case dates back to February 1995. Since being laid off, it's hard to get a job because employers look at your past. I hear, "We don't hire people with felonies." It's almost like they treat you as if you have an incurable disease.
Kentucky is one of two remaining states that permanently denies the right to vote to former felons without a successful petition of the govenor's office for a restoration of those rights. Through an arrangement with the local and state Departments of Correction and the governor's office, I am able to track applications that come through this ministry or St. Stephen Church through the entire process.
We are happy to report that another one of our applicants, Rudolph Long, III recently regained the rights to vote and hold public office. I spoke Rudolph on Friday, September 11th, as he received his certificate and voter registration card in the mail. The Lord's timing was perfect, and so we rejoiced! Here is what he had to say about regaining the right to vote:
Min. Angela: What does it mean to you to have your voting rights restored?
Rudolph: It means a lot! I have a chance to have a hearsay in what's going on the world. Without the right to vote, you don't have a voice.
Min. Angela: Are you employed?
Rudolph: I've been unemployed for 11 months. I worked for the Lear Corporation for 13 years. I was laid off due to cutbacks in the automobile industry. My drug felony case dates back to February 1995. Since being laid off, it's hard to get a job because employers look at your past. I hear, "We don't hire people with felonies." It's almost like they treat you as if you have an incurable disease.
I feel like my case is different. I'm a changed man. I serve the Lord. My whole life represents Christ, but employers don't see that. They only go on your past.
Min. Angela: How are you a changed man?
Rudolph: I no longer deal with drugs. I don't smoke or drink. I have a wife, (Angela Long with Rudolph in photo.) and kids. Everytime I get a chance, I try to tell people about my hurts and pains so that they don't have to go through the same things I went through. It's been over 14 years now.
Min. Angela: What church do you attend?
Rudolph: On Fire Christian Center. I'm in leadership there. I'm a Jesus freak. Everywhere I step my foot I try to show it by the way I live and carry myself. I am trying to live a life of righteousness and holiness.
Min. Angela: When was the last time you voted?
Rudolph: I have never voted in my life. When I was 21 or 22, voting didn't matter to me. I didn't think it was important. Scripture says, "When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me" (1 Corin. 13:11). I'm a grown man now. I know my voice counts, and I plan to use it.
If you or someone you know would like more information on regaining voting rights, contact Min. Angela Lee Price at jesussaves1@insightbb.com, or aleeprice@ststephenonline.com. You may call 502-415-1001 (Mobile), or 502-583-6798 (St. Stephen Church) and leave a message.
Remember, it is not Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Age that saves. Jesus saves!
Related Posts:
Monday, July 06, 2009
Civil Rights Restored to Tyrone Trumbo, Sr.
Testimony of Tyrone Trumbo, Sr.
I want to thank God first for restoring my right to vote. When I received the certificate in the mail the week of June 22nd, my wife Tiffany and I were estastic. She didn't know how to act. I have four sons, five daughters, and nephews whom I am trying to inspire and keep from making the bad choice I made as a youth. I am trying to be a positive figure for my family and friends.
A friend who had his rights restored last year, Carlton Gibson told me about Rev. Angela and this advocacy program for former felons. It means the world to me to have my rights restored. It makes me feel like I have proven something to myself, my family, my community, and to God, that I am headed in the right direction.
I want to thank God first for restoring my right to vote. When I received the certificate in the mail the week of June 22nd, my wife Tiffany and I were estastic. She didn't know how to act. I have four sons, five daughters, and nephews whom I am trying to inspire and keep from making the bad choice I made as a youth. I am trying to be a positive figure for my family and friends.Secondly, I want to thank my brother for bringing me to St. Stephen Church. Since he brought me 10 years ago, my life has changed. Before then, I was in the streets hustling. Hearing Rev. Cosby preach has inspired me to do the right thing. One of my sons and a daughter have been baptized, and I have met good friends through Sunday school.
Tyrone Trumbo, Sr. with his 7-year-0ld son, Montre at Wednesday Night Bible Study on July 1st. Tryone signs Montre into children's Bible study class.
A friend who had his rights restored last year, Carlton Gibson told me about Rev. Angela and this advocacy program for former felons. It means the world to me to have my rights restored. It makes me feel like I have proven something to myself, my family, my community, and to God, that I am headed in the right direction.Min. Angela congratulates Tyrone for having civil rights restored, the right to vote and hold public office.
If you are someone you know is interested in applying for restoration of civil rights, e-mail Min. Angela Lee Price at jesussaves1@insightbb.com or call 502-415-1001. The applicant must have completed probation or parole, and all fines and restitution must be paid.
Related Posts:
Civil Rights Restored to Sandra Bartell
Jesus Saves Gangsters, Too!
Miracle On the Ohio
Civil Rights Restored to 11 Former Felons
Remember, it is not Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Age that saves. Jesus saves!
Civil Rights Restored to Sandra Bartell
Jesus Saves Gangsters, Too!
Miracle On the Ohio
Civil Rights Restored to 11 Former Felons
Remember, it is not Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Age that saves. Jesus saves!
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Civil Rights Restored to Sandra Bartell
By: Min. Angela Lee Price
Jesus Saves Ministries is helping to restore voting rights to former felons through an advocacy program that enabled 11 former felons to vote in the historic 2008 presidential election, many of whom casts votes for the first time in their lives through this initiative. By the power of Jesus Christ, more past offenders are turning their lives around and serving faithfully in their churches, and contributing more fully to their communities.
In 2004-2005, our restoration of civil rights initiative, in association with St. Stephen Church was the first faith-based advocacy program of its kind that communicated directly with the governor's office, and local and state Departments of Correction in Louisville and Frankfort in tracking applicants through the entire restoration process. In 2005, all five applicants submitted received their certificates within two months of filing.
In all 18 former felons have had rights restored through this initiative. Kentucky is one of two remaining states where former felons must petition the governor's office to have civil rights restored.
If you or someone you know is interested in having the rights to vote and hold public office restored, contact me at 502-415-1001, or e-mail me at jesussaves1@insightbb.com or jesussaves838@yahoo.com.
We bless God for his grace and favor upon St. Stephen Church Environmental Services supervisor Sandra Bartell. Sandra is the latest applicant to have civil rights restored through the Jesus Saves Ministries former felons' advocacy program.
Sandra received her certificate in the mail from Governor Steven Bashear office on Friday, May 15th. She spoke with me yesterday in the following video about what it means to once again be able to vote and hold public office.
Jesus Saves Ministries is helping to restore voting rights to former felons through an advocacy program that enabled 11 former felons to vote in the historic 2008 presidential election, many of whom casts votes for the first time in their lives through this initiative. By the power of Jesus Christ, more past offenders are turning their lives around and serving faithfully in their churches, and contributing more fully to their communities.
In 2004-2005, our restoration of civil rights initiative, in association with St. Stephen Church was the first faith-based advocacy program of its kind that communicated directly with the governor's office, and local and state Departments of Correction in Louisville and Frankfort in tracking applicants through the entire restoration process. In 2005, all five applicants submitted received their certificates within two months of filing.
In all 18 former felons have had rights restored through this initiative. Kentucky is one of two remaining states where former felons must petition the governor's office to have civil rights restored.
If you or someone you know is interested in having the rights to vote and hold public office restored, contact me at 502-415-1001, or e-mail me at jesussaves1@insightbb.com or jesussaves838@yahoo.com.
Thursday, October 02, 2008
NAACP effort helps former felons register to vote
By Emily Udell
Courier Journal Newspaper
October 1, 2008, Neighborhoods Section
Rev. Angela Lee Price, voter registration minister at St. Stephen Church, applauded at last night's ceremony at the local NAACP office. Donna Cook said she's been trying to get back her right to vote since her probation ended in 2005. But it wasn't until yesterday that she signed her voter-registration card through a program offered by the Louisville branch of the NAACP.
"Now I count for something. Now I stand for something again," said Cook, an environmental services worker who had her two children at her side. Cook, 44, was one of 142 participants in the local NAACP's program to register felons in time for next month's elections. Of those, 98 have had their voting rights restored, and a handful gathered last night to turn in their voter-registration cards.
"This program works - you are the living proof," branch President Raoul Cunningham told the group gathered at the office, 1245 Catalpa Court.
In Kentucky, felons must go through a process to secure their rights from the governor, and this year the NAACP reached out to people with records through radio advertisements and church visits.
To qualify, felons must have completed their sentence or parole and must not be under felony indectment, have pending charges or woe any fines or restitution.
This is the first year that the NAACP branch has included felons in its voter registration efforts. Other efforts target youths, senior citizens and African Americans.
Cunningham said laws disenfranchising felons disproportionately affect African Americans. "This is just a drop in the bucket," he said. "But we had to start somewhere."
Kentucky and Virginia are he only states in which all felony offenders are prohibited from voting unless they receive an exception from the governor, according to the American Civil Liberties Union, which advocates for the restoration of their voting rights.
The ACLU estimates 5.3 million Americans are unable to vote because of felony convictions, including about 186,000 in Kentucky. It says nearly 129,000 of those in Kentucky have serve their sentences.
Karen Henry, 35, who was among those turning in their cards last nights, said he is looking foward to gooing to the polls for the firs time next month. "It feels great to be a part of something that's part of being American," he said. "Even though you make mistakes, you shouldn't be condemned to pay for it for the rest of your life if you've paid you debt to society."
Read
Courier Journal Newspaper
October 1, 2008, Neighborhoods Section
Rev. Angela Lee Price, voter registration minister at St. Stephen Church, applauded at last night's ceremony at the local NAACP office. Donna Cook said she's been trying to get back her right to vote since her probation ended in 2005. But it wasn't until yesterday that she signed her voter-registration card through a program offered by the Louisville branch of the NAACP."Now I count for something. Now I stand for something again," said Cook, an environmental services worker who had her two children at her side. Cook, 44, was one of 142 participants in the local NAACP's program to register felons in time for next month's elections. Of those, 98 have had their voting rights restored, and a handful gathered last night to turn in their voter-registration cards.
"This program works - you are the living proof," branch President Raoul Cunningham told the group gathered at the office, 1245 Catalpa Court.
In Kentucky, felons must go through a process to secure their rights from the governor, and this year the NAACP reached out to people with records through radio advertisements and church visits.
To qualify, felons must have completed their sentence or parole and must not be under felony indectment, have pending charges or woe any fines or restitution.
This is the first year that the NAACP branch has included felons in its voter registration efforts. Other efforts target youths, senior citizens and African Americans.
Cunningham said laws disenfranchising felons disproportionately affect African Americans. "This is just a drop in the bucket," he said. "But we had to start somewhere."
Kentucky and Virginia are he only states in which all felony offenders are prohibited from voting unless they receive an exception from the governor, according to the American Civil Liberties Union, which advocates for the restoration of their voting rights.
The ACLU estimates 5.3 million Americans are unable to vote because of felony convictions, including about 186,000 in Kentucky. It says nearly 129,000 of those in Kentucky have serve their sentences.
Karen Henry, 35, who was among those turning in their cards last nights, said he is looking foward to gooing to the polls for the firs time next month. "It feels great to be a part of something that's part of being American," he said. "Even though you make mistakes, you shouldn't be condemned to pay for it for the rest of your life if you've paid you debt to society."
Read
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Civil Rights Restored to 11 Former Felons
By: Min. Angela Lee Price
On September 18th, after an inquiry to Governor Steve Beshear’s office, I learned that civil rights are being restored to 11 former felons who submitted applications for restoration of civil rights through the Jesus Saves Ministries partnership with St. Stephen Church this spring. The applicants began receiving their packets from the governor’s office on September 20th, which includes an order and certificate from the governor and secretary of state restoring the rights to hold public office and vote, and a voter registration card.
Four applicants are members of St. Stephen Church, two are members of Pleasant View Baptist Church, one a deacon with Bates Memorial Baptist Church, and the others do not have a church home.
Simmons College of Kentucky employee and St. Stephen Church member Luther Anderson was one of the first to receive his packet in the mail. “This is indeed is a blessing for me. I gave my life to the Lord and was baptized last year, and now I plan to vote for the first time in my life on November 4th,” Anderson stated.
“It is a blessing from God that Rev. Price is helping former felons like myself be able to vote. I haven’t voted since Jimmy Carter ran against Ronald Reagan in 1980,” said St. Stephen usher and Mighty Men’s Choir member John R. Williams, III.
In the spring, Jesus Saves Ministries partnered with St. Stephen Church, the Department of Corrections and WLOU Radio to assist former felons in regaining their civil rights. We received 21 applications in all through this second initiative. St. Stephen Senior Pastor Rev. Kevin Cosby will recognized the new voters at the church’s 9:40 worship service on Sunday, October 5th.
Remember, it is not Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Age that saves. Jesus saves!
Four applicants are members of St. Stephen Church, two are members of Pleasant View Baptist Church, one a deacon with Bates Memorial Baptist Church, and the others do not have a church home.
Simmons College of Kentucky employee and St. Stephen Church member Luther Anderson was one of the first to receive his packet in the mail. “This is indeed is a blessing for me. I gave my life to the Lord and was baptized last year, and now I plan to vote for the first time in my life on November 4th,” Anderson stated.“It is a blessing from God that Rev. Price is helping former felons like myself be able to vote. I haven’t voted since Jimmy Carter ran against Ronald Reagan in 1980,” said St. Stephen usher and Mighty Men’s Choir member John R. Williams, III.
In the spring, Jesus Saves Ministries partnered with St. Stephen Church, the Department of Corrections and WLOU Radio to assist former felons in regaining their civil rights. We received 21 applications in all through this second initiative. St. Stephen Senior Pastor Rev. Kevin Cosby will recognized the new voters at the church’s 9:40 worship service on Sunday, October 5th.
Remember, it is not Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Age that saves. Jesus saves!
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Jesus Saves Helping Restore Civil Rights to Former Felons
Jesus Saves Ministries is partnering with St. Stephen Church and the Department of Corrections to assist former felons in regaining their civil rights, including the right to vote. Restoration of Civil Rights applications are available at the Voter Registration table at St. Stephen Church, 1018 S. 15th Street, and through Jesus Saves Ministries. Qualifying applicants should complete the application and return it to Member Services Director Min. Angela Lee Price at St. Stephen Church or by e-mail to aleeprice@bellsouth.net at Jesus Saves Ministries by June 6th. The process has been relaxed considerably. References, personal statements, and the application fee are no longer required. Please encourage those who may qualify to apply now through Jesus Saves Ministries and St. Stephen Church.
Remember, it is not Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Age that saves. Jesus saves!
Remember, it is not Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Age that saves. Jesus saves!
Thursday, March 08, 2007
House Bill 70: Automatic Restoration of Voting Rights
By: Angela Lee Price
YOUR IMMEDIATE ACTION IS NEEDED!
Most of you know that I support the automatic restoration of voting rights to former felons. We serve a God of reconciliation. Reconciliation is demonstrated most profoundly when we restore former felons to full citizenship. If a person cannot vote, they don’t have a voice in the democratic process. I don’t care how you look at it, they are not whole citizens. Kentucky’s unjust application process needs to be abolished, and you can help today! Let’s give more deserving citizens like LaMont Anderson, who regained his civil rights through the St. Stephen Voter Empowerment Campaign in 2005, the right to vote.
On Wednesday, February 28, The Kentucky House passed HB 70 by a margin of 70 - 28. House Bill 70 will allow Kentuckians to vote on amending Section 145 of the Kentucky Constitution to require automatic restoration of voting rights to convicted felons upon completion of their sentence. The bill will not apply to those convicted of murder, rape, and sodomy. The bill has been received in the Senate but has not yet been assigned to a committee.
We only have until Monday, March 12 to get the Senate to approve the measure. PLEASE CALL FRANKFORT TODAY at 1-800-373-7181 and leave this message for your Senator or State Representative, “The NAACP (or give your name) request that you urge the Senate leadership to immediately hold hearings on the bill and that you vote in favor of HB 70.”
If you don’t know the name of your Senator or State Representative, give the person answering your address and zip code, she will look up the name and take the message. That may take a few minutes. It is best that you call the voter registration office and obtain your Senator’s name before calling.
Please take immediate action TODAY by contacting your senator or representative, if you are an individual, or senators in your area if you represent an organization.
Remember, it is not Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Age that saves. Jesus saves!
YOUR IMMEDIATE ACTION IS NEEDED! Most of you know that I support the automatic restoration of voting rights to former felons. We serve a God of reconciliation. Reconciliation is demonstrated most profoundly when we restore former felons to full citizenship. If a person cannot vote, they don’t have a voice in the democratic process. I don’t care how you look at it, they are not whole citizens. Kentucky’s unjust application process needs to be abolished, and you can help today! Let’s give more deserving citizens like LaMont Anderson, who regained his civil rights through the St. Stephen Voter Empowerment Campaign in 2005, the right to vote.
On Wednesday, February 28, The Kentucky House passed HB 70 by a margin of 70 - 28. House Bill 70 will allow Kentuckians to vote on amending Section 145 of the Kentucky Constitution to require automatic restoration of voting rights to convicted felons upon completion of their sentence. The bill will not apply to those convicted of murder, rape, and sodomy. The bill has been received in the Senate but has not yet been assigned to a committee.
We only have until Monday, March 12 to get the Senate to approve the measure. PLEASE CALL FRANKFORT TODAY at 1-800-373-7181 and leave this message for your Senator or State Representative, “The NAACP (or give your name) request that you urge the Senate leadership to immediately hold hearings on the bill and that you vote in favor of HB 70.”
If you don’t know the name of your Senator or State Representative, give the person answering your address and zip code, she will look up the name and take the message. That may take a few minutes. It is best that you call the voter registration office and obtain your Senator’s name before calling.
Please take immediate action TODAY by contacting your senator or representative, if you are an individual, or senators in your area if you represent an organization.
Remember, it is not Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Age that saves. Jesus saves!
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Support Voting Rights Act Passage
By: Angela Lee Price
When I was the Voter Empowerment Coordinator for St. Stephen Church in 2004-2005, Frank Watkins, Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr.'s press secretary, and I exchanged several e-mails regarding the expiration in 2007 of sections of the 1965 Voting Rights Acting. He forwarded an excerpt from the book, A More Perfect Union by Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. Below is an excerpt from his original excerpt to me. It explains Sections Four and Five of the Voting Rights Act, the sections that are set to expire in 2007.
To read the latest developments surrounding passage of the Voting Rights Act, click on BlackNews.com. Be sure to read Earl Ofari Hutchinson's article, Voting Rights Peril No Longer A Hoax.
------------------------------------
Excerpt from the book, A More Perfect Union,
Remember, it is not Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Ages that saves, Jesus saves!
When I was the Voter Empowerment Coordinator for St. Stephen Church in 2004-2005, Frank Watkins, Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr.'s press secretary, and I exchanged several e-mails regarding the expiration in 2007 of sections of the 1965 Voting Rights Acting. He forwarded an excerpt from the book, A More Perfect Union by Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. Below is an excerpt from his original excerpt to me. It explains Sections Four and Five of the Voting Rights Act, the sections that are set to expire in 2007.To read the latest developments surrounding passage of the Voting Rights Act, click on BlackNews.com. Be sure to read Earl Ofari Hutchinson's article, Voting Rights Peril No Longer A Hoax.
------------------------------------
Excerpt from the book, A More Perfect Union,
By: Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr.:
The Voting Rights Act (VRA) was enacted in 1965 to end Jim Crow laws and practices that prevented blacks from voting mainly in southern states. Most sections of the act were permanent, but Section Four was set to expire in 1970. Section Four defines which political subdivisions are subject to restrictions outlined under Section Five. Without Section Four, Section Five has no effect.
Specifically, Section Four declares that a state or other political subdivision is subject to Section Five if: "(a) it maintained a test or device as a condition for voter registration on November 1 of 1964, 1968, or 1972; and (b) either less than 50 percent of those citizens of legal voting age were registered to vote or less than 50 percent of such citizens voted in the presidential election held in the year in which it used a test or device." "Test or device" includes such instruments as literacy, educational achievement, and good moral quality tests. Section Four also provides that states can be exempted from Section Five if they can meet a strict standard of nondiscrimination in voting practices during the previous ten years. Sections Four and Five are the only temporary sections in the act.
Section Five applies only to those states with a history of using discriminatory voting procedures as defined in Section Four. Under Section Five, covered jurisdictions must submit any proposed voting procedure or election law changes to the Federal District Court for the District of Columbia, or the U.S. attorney general, for what is commonly called "preclearance." The covered jurisdiction must prove that the proposed change does not have the intent or effect of discriminating against any minorities. If the jurisdiction does not meet this burden, the proposed voting procedure or election law change cannot take effect. The expiration of Section Four would end Section Five federal preclearance for covered states that seek to change their election procedures.
Originally only applied to southern states, in 1970 Congress extended Sections Four and Five for five years and expanded coverage to all states. In 1975 Congress extended these sections for another seven years, while expanding coverage to protect the voting rights of ethnic groups whose language is other than English. In 1982, Congress again extended Sections Four and Five, this time for twenty-five years - through 2007. The 1982 extension also expanded federal oversight of state voting procedures.
The heart of the VRA is Sections Two, Four and Five. Section Two outlaws all forms of voter discrimination and allows states and individual citizens to challenge discriminatory voting procedures enacted by states (like Jim Crow laws). To challenge a voting practice, a plaintiff need only show that the voting practice has a discriminatory result, not that a discriminatory intent existed when the policy was implemented. Section Two applies to all states and citizens. Section Two also served as the impetus for the creation of equal opportunity minority political districts. However, some of those districts have subsequently been interpreted as unconstitutional by a "strict constructionist" and conservative Supreme Court using narrow interpretations.
Writing for the majority in City of Mobile v. Bolden (1980), Justice Potter Stewart argued that "racially discriminatory motivation is a necessary ingredient of a Fifteenth Amendment violation." So when the VRA came up for renewal in 1982, the Reagan administration did not so much try to end our protections of nondiscrimination in voting as it tried to weaken the enforcement provisions in Sections Four and Five by ending the preclearance provision. Ending that enforcement mechanism would have made the VRA much less effective. Consistent with Bolden, Reagan also tried to weaken Section Two by changing the criteria for court-determined voter discrimination by altering the standard of proof from "effect" to "intent." Proving intent is obviously more difficult, time consuming, and costly than proving effect. But in renewing and extending the VRA in 1982 for twenty-five years, Congress preserved the preclearance provision and insisted that the standard in voter discrimination cases was proof of a "discriminatory effect," not a "discriminatory intent." Such attempts at weakening the VRA must be resisted now and into the future.
Because Section Two is permanent, any election procedure with a discriminatory effect would continue to be illegal and could be challenged by an individual citizen or the federal government. In conjunction with the Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution outlawing voter discrimination on the basis of race, color, or previous condition of servitude, Section Two ensures that African Americans will not be denied the federal legal right to vote, even if Sections Four and Five expires in 2007. However, without Sections Four and Five the burden falls to the aggrieved individual to remedy any voting discrimination, rather than the states having an affirmative duty not to discriminate as currently enforced through the preclearance provision.
No provision of the VRA is scheduled to expire before 2007. As the August 6 expiration date nears, Congress will examine the VRA's history and effectiveness and decide whether changes should be made and expiring provisions extended. In each of the last three instances in which Congress considered the VRA, it has strengthened and reauthorized it for an increasingly longer period of time (five years in 1970, seven years in 1975, and twenty-five years in 1982). However, if Republicans are in control of the House, the Senate, or the White House in 2007, and are joined by some conservative or southern Democrats, an effective 1965 Voting Rights Act could definitely be endangered through weakening its Sections Two, Four, and Five provisions. However, the greater immediate danger, before 2007, is a narrow interpretation of an equal opportunity minority political redistricting case by a "strict constructionist" and conservative Supreme Court, which could undermine the effectiveness of the Voting Rights Act.
I do understand the concern of many African Americans that there could be a threat to our voting rights. After all, it was only a little more than thirty-five years ago that southern states used Jim Crow laws and violence to deny blacks the ability to exercise their vote. A majority of African Americans alive today lived in a period where segregation and the denial of constitutional rights to blacks were not uncommon. Until we affirm the right to vote in the Constitution, the only real protection or "guarantee" of protecting our right to vote is to be politically informed with accurate information, and to maximize voter registration and political participation among all Americans. That is the one thing conservatives fear the most!
The Voting Rights Act (VRA) was enacted in 1965 to end Jim Crow laws and practices that prevented blacks from voting mainly in southern states. Most sections of the act were permanent, but Section Four was set to expire in 1970. Section Four defines which political subdivisions are subject to restrictions outlined under Section Five. Without Section Four, Section Five has no effect.
Specifically, Section Four declares that a state or other political subdivision is subject to Section Five if: "(a) it maintained a test or device as a condition for voter registration on November 1 of 1964, 1968, or 1972; and (b) either less than 50 percent of those citizens of legal voting age were registered to vote or less than 50 percent of such citizens voted in the presidential election held in the year in which it used a test or device." "Test or device" includes such instruments as literacy, educational achievement, and good moral quality tests. Section Four also provides that states can be exempted from Section Five if they can meet a strict standard of nondiscrimination in voting practices during the previous ten years. Sections Four and Five are the only temporary sections in the act.
Section Five applies only to those states with a history of using discriminatory voting procedures as defined in Section Four. Under Section Five, covered jurisdictions must submit any proposed voting procedure or election law changes to the Federal District Court for the District of Columbia, or the U.S. attorney general, for what is commonly called "preclearance." The covered jurisdiction must prove that the proposed change does not have the intent or effect of discriminating against any minorities. If the jurisdiction does not meet this burden, the proposed voting procedure or election law change cannot take effect. The expiration of Section Four would end Section Five federal preclearance for covered states that seek to change their election procedures.
Originally only applied to southern states, in 1970 Congress extended Sections Four and Five for five years and expanded coverage to all states. In 1975 Congress extended these sections for another seven years, while expanding coverage to protect the voting rights of ethnic groups whose language is other than English. In 1982, Congress again extended Sections Four and Five, this time for twenty-five years - through 2007. The 1982 extension also expanded federal oversight of state voting procedures.
The heart of the VRA is Sections Two, Four and Five. Section Two outlaws all forms of voter discrimination and allows states and individual citizens to challenge discriminatory voting procedures enacted by states (like Jim Crow laws). To challenge a voting practice, a plaintiff need only show that the voting practice has a discriminatory result, not that a discriminatory intent existed when the policy was implemented. Section Two applies to all states and citizens. Section Two also served as the impetus for the creation of equal opportunity minority political districts. However, some of those districts have subsequently been interpreted as unconstitutional by a "strict constructionist" and conservative Supreme Court using narrow interpretations.
Writing for the majority in City of Mobile v. Bolden (1980), Justice Potter Stewart argued that "racially discriminatory motivation is a necessary ingredient of a Fifteenth Amendment violation." So when the VRA came up for renewal in 1982, the Reagan administration did not so much try to end our protections of nondiscrimination in voting as it tried to weaken the enforcement provisions in Sections Four and Five by ending the preclearance provision. Ending that enforcement mechanism would have made the VRA much less effective. Consistent with Bolden, Reagan also tried to weaken Section Two by changing the criteria for court-determined voter discrimination by altering the standard of proof from "effect" to "intent." Proving intent is obviously more difficult, time consuming, and costly than proving effect. But in renewing and extending the VRA in 1982 for twenty-five years, Congress preserved the preclearance provision and insisted that the standard in voter discrimination cases was proof of a "discriminatory effect," not a "discriminatory intent." Such attempts at weakening the VRA must be resisted now and into the future.
Because Section Two is permanent, any election procedure with a discriminatory effect would continue to be illegal and could be challenged by an individual citizen or the federal government. In conjunction with the Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution outlawing voter discrimination on the basis of race, color, or previous condition of servitude, Section Two ensures that African Americans will not be denied the federal legal right to vote, even if Sections Four and Five expires in 2007. However, without Sections Four and Five the burden falls to the aggrieved individual to remedy any voting discrimination, rather than the states having an affirmative duty not to discriminate as currently enforced through the preclearance provision.
No provision of the VRA is scheduled to expire before 2007. As the August 6 expiration date nears, Congress will examine the VRA's history and effectiveness and decide whether changes should be made and expiring provisions extended. In each of the last three instances in which Congress considered the VRA, it has strengthened and reauthorized it for an increasingly longer period of time (five years in 1970, seven years in 1975, and twenty-five years in 1982). However, if Republicans are in control of the House, the Senate, or the White House in 2007, and are joined by some conservative or southern Democrats, an effective 1965 Voting Rights Act could definitely be endangered through weakening its Sections Two, Four, and Five provisions. However, the greater immediate danger, before 2007, is a narrow interpretation of an equal opportunity minority political redistricting case by a "strict constructionist" and conservative Supreme Court, which could undermine the effectiveness of the Voting Rights Act.
I do understand the concern of many African Americans that there could be a threat to our voting rights. After all, it was only a little more than thirty-five years ago that southern states used Jim Crow laws and violence to deny blacks the ability to exercise their vote. A majority of African Americans alive today lived in a period where segregation and the denial of constitutional rights to blacks were not uncommon. Until we affirm the right to vote in the Constitution, the only real protection or "guarantee" of protecting our right to vote is to be politically informed with accurate information, and to maximize voter registration and political participation among all Americans. That is the one thing conservatives fear the most!
Remember, it is not Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Ages that saves, Jesus saves!
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Restoration Of Voting Rights
Please join me in supporting Raoul Cunningham and the NAACP in their efforts
ensure passage of House Bill 480 automatically restoring voting rights to former felons. Below is a letter Raoul sent to the Kentucky General Assembly recently.
ensure passage of House Bill 480 automatically restoring voting rights to former felons. Below is a letter Raoul sent to the Kentucky General Assembly recently.Angela Lee Price
Founder
Jesus Saves Ministries
By: Raoul Cunningham
Today, Kentucky remains one of three states that does not have some form of automatic restoration of voting rights for former convicted felons who have completed their sentence and made full restitution. The provision denying felons the right to vote has been in place since the adoption of Kentucky’s first Constitution in 1792.
In 2001, the General Assembly passed legislation, KRS 196.045, requiring the Department of Corrections “to implement a simplified process for the restoration of civil rights to eligible felony offenders.” During the past several years, there has been a steady decline in the number of restorations granted. In the 2003 fiscal year, 1,231 Kentuckians had their rights restored. In the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2005, the number dropped to 464.
House Bill 480 will automatically restore voting rights to felony offenders.
The Louisville Branch NAACP is asking that you whole heartedly support HB 480.
Voting is a fundamental right of democracy and should not continue to be denied to the more than 145,000 Kentucky felon offenders who have paid their debt to society.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Raoul Cunningham, President
Louisville Branch NAACP
This letter was sent from the Louisville Branch to members of the General Assembly in support of Restoration of Voting Rights to former felons, and was published in the NAACP Newsletter, March 2006.
This letter was sent from the Louisville Branch to members of the General Assembly in support of Restoration of Voting Rights to former felons, and was published in the NAACP Newsletter, March 2006.
Restoring Voting Rights
This editorial appeared in the Courier Journal Newspaper on February 22, 2006, A12, and was reprinted in the Louisville Branch NAACP Newsletter, March 2006.
Eighty percent of Americans polled two years ago favored automatic restoration of voting rights for ex-cons who have served their time and otherwise have met the terms of their release.
Unfortunately, Kentucky remains one of just three states where, instead, the restoration of voting rights to felons remains the governor’s exclusive prerogative. It’s a bad, arbitrary system, and civil rights groups, churches and civil libertarians are right to be pushing for passage of House Bill 480, which calls for placing on November’s ballot a constitutional amendment to allow automatic restoration of voting rights.
It’s unfair and counterproductive to insist that people coming out of prison live responsibly while withholding from them the rights of responsible citizenship. They remain hostages to a system dating to the 19th Century, when disenfranchisement laws were adopted as one of many ways to deny black citizens the vote.
In the 21 Century, these antiquated laws have left nearly five million Americans separated from their voting rights, including 13 percent of all African American men. The impact plays out differently in different locales, but those who have studied the issue have found that in some close elections, current members of Congress would not have won if significant portions of the constituency had not been disenfranchised.
Status-quo, incumbent-friendly politics are clearly a factor in keeping these laws on the books. Republicans fear that ex-cons would be more likely to vote for Democrats, while Democrats fear that pushing pushing too hard for restoring voting rights will get them tagged as soft on crime. But such overt political considerations shouldn’t prevent Kentucky from breaking with the past.
Passage of HB 480 would be a step toward true justice for thousands of Kentuckians who have made mistakes, especially by becoming substance abusers, but who are making good and deserve a second chance at full, productive citizenship.
Eighty percent of Americans polled two years ago favored automatic restoration of voting rights for ex-cons who have served their time and otherwise have met the terms of their release.
Unfortunately, Kentucky remains one of just three states where, instead, the restoration of voting rights to felons remains the governor’s exclusive prerogative. It’s a bad, arbitrary system, and civil rights groups, churches and civil libertarians are right to be pushing for passage of House Bill 480, which calls for placing on November’s ballot a constitutional amendment to allow automatic restoration of voting rights.
It’s unfair and counterproductive to insist that people coming out of prison live responsibly while withholding from them the rights of responsible citizenship. They remain hostages to a system dating to the 19th Century, when disenfranchisement laws were adopted as one of many ways to deny black citizens the vote.
In the 21 Century, these antiquated laws have left nearly five million Americans separated from their voting rights, including 13 percent of all African American men. The impact plays out differently in different locales, but those who have studied the issue have found that in some close elections, current members of Congress would not have won if significant portions of the constituency had not been disenfranchised.
Status-quo, incumbent-friendly politics are clearly a factor in keeping these laws on the books. Republicans fear that ex-cons would be more likely to vote for Democrats, while Democrats fear that pushing pushing too hard for restoring voting rights will get them tagged as soft on crime. But such overt political considerations shouldn’t prevent Kentucky from breaking with the past.
Passage of HB 480 would be a step toward true justice for thousands of Kentuckians who have made mistakes, especially by becoming substance abusers, but who are making good and deserve a second chance at full, productive citizenship.
Friday, December 30, 2005
St. Stephen Church Voter Empowerment: Worthy of Flagship Distinction
Rev. David Martin received a certificate from the Commonwealth of Kentucky restoring his civil rights at a Christian Addiction Ministry Program Restoration Dinner. He was one of five people to have civil rights restored through St. Stephen Chruch. From Left to Right: St. Stephen Church senior pastor Rev. Dr. Kevin Cosby, restoration of civil rights recipient Rev. David Martin, voter empowerment coordinator Angela Lee Price, and Christian Addiction Ministry Program (CAMP) director Virgil Todd.
By: Angela Lee Price
St. Stephen Church is considered a flagship church among African American Baptist churches in the state of Kentucky. By God's grace, the church has accomplished many "firsts" for which she has been commended. The St. Stephen Voter Empowerment Campaign was one of them. Through the campaign, a total of 527 people were empowered with the ballot in the 2004 general election, more than any African American church in the state of Kentucky, and five former felons received certificates from the Commonwealth of Kentucky restoring their rights to vote and hold public office.
St. Stephen Church senior pastor Kevin Cosby’s vision was to ensure that all members of St. Stephen Church were registered to vote and exercised their rights in the 2004 general election. Campaign objectives included educating all St. Stephen ministries about the political process and engaging them in the campaign, providing transportation to the polls, establishing a permanent registration process, and assisting former felons in successfully regaining the right to vote.This is an interview I conducted on August 28, 2004 on 1570 WLBJ Radio with Virgil Todd, Director of the Christian Addiction Ministry Program (CAMP) at St. Stephen Baptist Church concerning the church's campaign to help former felons regain their civil rights, including the right to vote.
This is part 2 of a two-part interview with Dr. Kevin Cosby, Senior Pastor, St. Stephen Church, Louisville, Kentucky conducted on September 4, 2004 on 1570 WLBJ Radio concerning the church's voter empowerment campaign. In all, a total of 527 people were empowered with the ballot through St. Stephen Church for the 2004 general election during the 13-week campaign.
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