Highly recommend reading the book "Just Mercy" and I am so grateful to the friend who recommended it to me. Impressed by the commitment pf overworked, underpaid staff and volunteers who risk their income, reputations and possibly lives in an era when racism and injustice continue practically unabated--just because they care. Who else would dare erect a monument to lynchings in an era when racist Americans, sometimes with guns and sometimes in politics, have reopened a historic wound; an era in which racists feel free to demonstrate their views publicly, and not only get away with it but get widespread support! I believe EJI demonstrates there are kinder, more humane choices.
Review from Guidestar
This is an exemplary organization because it is devoted to helping juveniles who are serving very long sentences behind bars~sometimes Life Without Parole, which means that if a young person is convicted of a serious crime, he or she could remain incarcerated for the rest of their natural lives. Bryan Stevenson appeared before the U.S. Supreme Court in March of 2012 hoping to convince the court to overturn mandatory life sentences for juveniles involved in a crime where someone was killed. The court ruled 5-4 that Life Without Parole for this type of crime was unconstitutional. Mr. Stevenson is the executive director of Equal Justice Initiative and the organization reaches out to the poor and to those on death row as well,helping people obtain justice when they cannot do so alone. I have just begun to contribute financially to this organization as I believe our young people need an advocate like Bryan Stevenson.