Video: District Attorneys on the Frontier of Change
District Attorneys Chesa Boudin, George Gascón, and Larry Krasner and State’s Attorney Kimberly Foxx were all elected by a majority of voters because they promised change. Recorded May 17th, this event allowed us to gather some of the nation’s most progressive DAs together to explore how their policies impact their communities.
We hope that it provided some insight into what the progressive criminal justice movement means while debunking the criticisms their opponents continue to promote.
Here are two actions you can take.
- If you would like to help spread the word about the event and promote a justice system that supports healing, please consider engaging with your local networks on social media. You can find our social media toolkit HERE with everything you need to spread the word.
- Remember to VOTE NO on the recall in San Francisco on June 7 and not sign any recall petition in Los Angeles.
Since taking office, each of these attorneys implemented changes the voters wanted for years. As a result, each has faced hurdles, pushback, and even recall elections. Take a look:
- Kimberly Foxx - An Illinois state representative introduced a bill in April to authorize a recall against Illionios State’s Attorney Kim Foxx for creating “a crisis of confidence in the Cook County judicial system.”
- Chesa Boudin - On June 7, San Francisco voters will vote on Prop H, deciding whether to keep DA Boudin in office.
- George Gascón - In Los Angeles, an effort to recall DA George Gascón is gathering more signatures by the day. The stakes couldn't be higher. Voters will be tasked with deciding between forward-thinking, data-driven policies—created to address inequality and injustice—and draconian, wasteful, and racist policies that wreak havoc on our communities.
- Larry Krasner - In Philadelphia, progressive DA Larry Krasner successfully thwarted efforts to put an end to the progressive prosecution movement.
Recommended Articles
If you are interested in any other current events related to the topic of this panel, please check out the links below:
- Medium: Explained: The Role of the District Attorney
- Slate: The Wrong Prosecutors are Getting Recalled
- The Atlantic: Why California Wants to Recall Its Most Progressive Prosecutors
- Vox: “Progressive prosecutors” are working within the system to change it. How is that going?
- Bloomberg: Don’t Blame Progressive Prosecutors for Rising Crime
- LA Progressive: Boudin Recall Comes After His Effort for Real Change
- The New York Times Magazine: San Francisco’s D.A. Says Angry Elites Want Him Out of Office
Presented by:
- ACLU of Northern California
- ACLU of Southern California
- ACLU SoCal Pasadena/Foothills Chapter
- Black Lives Matter-LA
- Initiate Justice Action
- Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace (ICUJP)
- LA Progressive
- LA Voice Action
- Prosecutors Alliance California
- SEIU 2015
- Smart Justice California
