"End Racial Mass Incarceration/The Joseph K Holiday Freedom Campaign"

Joseph K. Holiday Buried Alive Over 25 Years We Can't Breathe
As our country boldly confronts and examines social justice, as well as racial equality, it is impossible to overlook the overwhelming presence of systemic-racism, not only in the excessive force and senseless killings by police public servants.
But just as importantly, the time has come to truly examine and challenge the brokenness of America's Criminal Justice System...
My name is Shawn Trell Holiday, I'm a 26 year old health care worker, mother of 2 beautiful children Love and Ocean Blue.
I would like to share the personal struggle of having a wonderful father whom has been incarcerated my entire life, since I was only 1 year old - yet in spite of his situation he has guided, loved and supported me, helping me become the strong woman and loving mother I am today.
There are far too many as myself whom, Lost our fathers, brothers and sons to the corporation of the prison-system and the profit-driven incentive to lock up as many people as possible, keep them there as long as possible and make sure they return to prison as many times as possible... The ultimate crime is being black or from economically disadvantaged communities...
It is time for those whom act as instruments of justice to truly ask their conscience, What is the price of a life worth?!
Not only do entire families suffer from this unmerciful system of what is now human warehousing of millions of people, but it serves our victims or their families no true justice by simply massincarcerating offenders; what this country needs is reform and transformation through restorativejustice programs that will truly help offenders to right their wrongs by having a new mindset with a positive moral compass. America must consciously realize that we all are so much more than the worst things we've ever done!
The racial inequality within the judicial criminal justice system has proven to be as costly and ungodly as the crimes and criminality themselves.. ..
The founders of this great nation recognized that all people were born with certain inalienable rights to include equal protection of the law and true justice for all...
However, there has been a systemic-knee on the necks of the poor and disadvantaged of this country (blacks & whites) particularly demonstrated within the judicial-systems throughout America, mandated by state and federal legislation.
Sadly, more than 2.2 million people are currently incarcerated in U.S. jails and prisons. A 500% increase over the past 40 years. Although the United States accounts for only about 5% of the World's population, it warehouses nearly 25% of the World's prison population. Another 4.75 million Americans are subjected to the Supervision imposed by Probation or Parole.
The number of offenders serving Life-sentences has steadily increased, so that 1 in 9 persons in prison are now serving a life-sentence. It has cost the state of Mississippi well over$500,OOO to incarcerate Joseph Holiday for over 25 years now. Multiply that by the tens of thousands of others inside the prison system, while our schools and health systems continuousily are forced to suffer as a direct result of this!
Mostly young men of color over 1 million of the 2.2 million U.S. prisoners are African-American males... 1 in 9 African-American males between the ages of 20 and 34 are now in prison and if this systemic-racial inequality continues one third of all black men will be imprisoned at some point in their Lifetime!
As a voice for my family and all the families of offenders, victims and their families, whom are all having generational negative effects from mass-incarceration. We Can't Breathe Either!!!
My father Joseph K. Holiday has been BURIED ALIVE for over 25 years, since the young age of 1 9! He is serving a Life-sentence for murder, in which there is: (1 .) No physical evidence at all, (2.) No weapon, (3.) No motive, (4.) No credible witness, (5.) Actually 3 trials ,the second trial ending in a hung jury.
Recently the Joseph K. Holiday Freedom Campaign was established by family and National Community-Activists.
A well known Internet Radio Station in our hometown of New Orleans, "Music Talks Radio" shared my father's story around the world and the support has been truly inspirational. They informed the public of the undeniable loopholes such as: The local News paper ( The Natchez Democrat) described the 2 State's witnesses used to convict my father as quote: "Dubious Witnesses (defined as:
Doubtful people with no credibility or real character) one of those witnesses was actually the very 1 st suspect of the crime and fit the exact description of the State's witness whom was the backseat passenger sitting directly behind the driver whom was shot! (Who else on earth could be more reliable??) Wait but it gets better, the 2 nd witness, whom sat directly beside the victim in the passenger seat, testified that he had never ever seen my father before, not at the crime, not ever, only that day at court! The 2 nd un-credibale witness testified, she and the 1 suspect stood at least half a block away from the incident when she heard a loud pop! In the exact same testimony she revealed that not only was she a life-long mental patient under guardianship and had been committed to the state's mental hospital several times, but that she was actually in the process of buying crack from the 1 st uncredible witness the exact moment of the crime. While already high on crack cocaine and valiums...
No one should have served over 25 years with a life-sentence on the testimony of such unstable, uncredible testimonies... and still lingering in prison with no relief in sight.
Joseph Holiday was seen as an outsider by the people of Natchez.
My father was actually visiting my grandmother that had fallen ill in Mississippi. He had relocated from New Orleans to Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1 994, the year the Big Easy became the murder capital of the U.S. He was so determined to avoid this fate that he worked several jobs such as a Bodyguard for B.E.T. Networks, a Security Guard for Twin City Security protecting Low-income Housing residents. He had actually taken a leave of absence where he then worked as an assistant day-care teacher at Camden Day-care Centers at 3 locations of North and South Minneapolis. While attending Minneapolis Community College for Registered Nursing Assistance. Prior to this, he grew up in New Orleans East. The oldest of 7. My father dropped out of school in the 6th grade to raise his 6 younger siblings. He changed diapers, cooked and sent them to school as he took care of the household... He has always had a beautiful Heart & Soul.
Sadly, He is incarcerated in the State of Mississippi, which incarcerates more people per capita than China and Russia combined. Due to it's harsh sentencing guidelines (even for 1 time offenders as my father) Mississippi has the 2nd highest incarceration rate in the country.
Mr. Sean "J.Z." Carter and Mario "Yo-Gotti" Mimms have hired a legal team to represent my father and hundreds of other offenders for inhumane living conditions beyond human imagination. It's heart breaking that he has endured this harsh treatment for a quarter of a century.
From December 29th, 2019 till September 2020 at least MDOC Offenders have died from suspicious suicides, homicides & questionable natural causes. There has been graphic videos & pictures provided from within MDOC prisons of riots, violent murders and horrific living conditions.
Over half of those within MDOC's over-crowded prisons have no incentives, no chances for early release or rewards for good behavior, which contributes to the high rates of suicides, violence and complete hopelessness... Held captive to the Nation's toughest "Truth in Sentencing" Law of 1995, Legislation requiring offenders to serve at least 85% of their sentences before parole eligibility. Offenses prior to July 1 st 1995 are still entitled to parole after 50% time is served or 10 years, including capital murder.
Attorney Alesha Judkins, Mississippi Director for FWD US is quoted for saying 'IMississippi's sentencing laws are outdated and extreme."
For decades, Legislative-Reforms excluded to only non-violent offenders have had only a very small impact on recidivism and crime in general. Non-violent offenders are greatly overshadowed by their violent crime counter-parts in the overall Criminal Justice System (State and Federal). 87% percent of those incarcerated are held in State facilities, the majority for violent crimes. This is evidence that the existing 'I Lockem' up and throw away the key" policies aren't working! Taxing our country economically and socially!
The United States of America is the richest country on Earth, most blessed with the brightest minds in academia and technology with no match to our military might, yet we continue to hide our social-problems behind concrete walls and barbed wire fences. Where mass-incarcerartion is equivalent to mass-graves, where the souls of men die slow... The victims, the offenders, all families and communities are suffering from the vicious cycle of this miscarriage of justice.
There is no Justice in painting all offenders of violent crimes with the same brush of unforgiveness...
Please understand my prayers and compassion runs deep for the victims and the families. Although my father has never spoken of his case with me, from the evidence and issues I've discovered, it's just not right to throw any teenager away with no 2 nd chance after 25 years served.
The history of the United States reminds us that we are a nation of 2 nd chances, that to believe in redemption and atonement is to believe in a HIGHER POWER greater than ourselves!
Contrary to popular belief there are offenders with violent crimes and lengthy sentences whom still apply themselves and build on their constitution as a person. My father has voluntarily joined, graduated and mentored nationally recognized rehabilitative programs such as Moral Recognition Therapy, Restorative-Justice, Entreprenurial Leadership, Anger Management, Offender Social Development, Financial Literacy, Dads 101, Workforce Readiness and Experiencing God. He went on to recruit over 1,000 men into these programs mentoring them all where many have returned to their communities as productive law-abiding citizens.
On May 4th 2015 the trial/sentencing Judge that presided over my father's case granted his petition for Declatory Judgement for Parole Recommendation. The Judged declared that quote: "Due to the circumstances of this case and his positive accomplishments while incarcerated Joseph has done a sufficient amount of time..... I strongly recommend parole for Joseph K. Holiday pursuant to Law!!" unquote. However, MDOC has refused to recognize the trial Judge's order.
In 201 7, my father wrote the Judge and advised him of the unjust denial of his opportunity for parole. On October 31 st 2017 the Judge handed down 'IA Direct Order for Parole!!" Yet until this very day MDOC has unilaterally denied the "Direct Order" of the sentencing Judge...
In memory of all victims and families of violent crime throughout the entire United States, my father has launched a Life Changing program: Cons Against Guns, not only focusing on offenders rehabilitation, but more towards atonement toward victims, their families and communities. Confronting the psychological and social reasons of violence.
One example of this program is "The Letters to the Youth" where offenders and civilians write anonymous letters to At-Risk and Challenged Youth expressing the importance of Education, Respecting Parents, the dark sided of joining gangs and other valuable facts of life.
It's ironic that children would listen to those in prison, whom have traveled down the same misguided paths as they are traveling these days. Too many of our youth are filling up prisons and grave yards like never before!
After hearing my father's story on Music Talks Radio, he was contacted by childhood friend Danna
Lloyd. An educator and Head Girl's Basketball Coach in New Orleans. Together they founded a Youth Centered Developmental Program entitled (TBoy) Taking & Bringing Back Our Youth! Catering to At-Risk Inner-City Youth of New Orleans and nationally, helping them overcome the socioeconomic barriers that hinders their social-development. Overcoming Juvenile Recidivism is also their objective. Working with Youth Courts in New Orleans and nationally. TBoy is in partnership with many other Community Development Organizations through (New Orleans Youth Coalition). He cowrote the Juvenile Recidivism Curriculum Workbook, STEP INTO YOUR FUTURE, an At-Risk Guide for Juvenile Delinquents.
Behavior Assessments, Annual Field Trips to Angola State Prison, Entreprenurial Leadership and Assistance Relief Fund for Low-Income Families of Youth whom are victims to gun-violence deaths... The Joseph K. Holiday Freedom Campaign prays that you will be moved to any form of action at your disposal. Circulate and sign his Clemency/Pardon and Petitions.
Donations to The Joseph K. Holiday Freedom Campaign Go Fund Me page @ Go-Fundme.com
We pray for your compassion and support for Joseph K. Holiday whom is doing amazing, world changing things even while being Buried Alive!!
We Can't Breathe
(1.) @ YouTube
Joseph K. Holiday 25 Years Buried Alive
We Can't Breathe
(2.) Sign Clemency Petition @ Care2Petition.com
Joseph K. Holiday
(3.) TBoy:www.TakingBackOurYouth at NoLa.com
(4.) Writing Address: Joseph K. Holiday
642
P.O. Box 88550 Pearl, Ms. 39208