By Frankie Robertson
Did you know that Moms of Black Boys United, Inc. (MOBB United) has chapters in various cities across the country? We have sons in every city. Wherever we have sons, we get busy with our advocacy. Advocacy is the biggest part of being a member of MOBB United, and it allows us to achieve pertinent and urgent changes throughout the country. Our MOBB United for Social Change Baton Rouge, LA Chapter has been especially busy advocating, which is much needed because Louisiana has the highest rate of incarceration in the WORLD.
Like the Baton Rouge moms, you can BE about the business of protecting our sons. Every member of MOBB United can do grassroots work like this chapter has done to be directly involved in MOBB United’s mission (influence policy, change perception, demonstrate our power, partner strategically, and promote self-care). We all can help protect our sons by:
- Responding to MOBB United for Social Change action alerts.
- Participating in MOBB United Saturday national calls.
- Sharing the MOBB United for Social Change Facebook page and inviting friends to like the page.
FACE IN THE PLACE
- Attending regular community meetings related to police reform.
- Attending Metro Council meetings when the agenda includes police reform measures.
- Attending legislative committee hearings addressing the need for police reform measures in advance of the 2017 legislative session.
- Attending legislative committee meetings addressing criminal justice reform and prison alternatives, as well as the subsequent bill signing.
- Attending the Louisiana Public Broadcasting televised Town Hall meeting, “The Black and The Blue” addressing stressed interactions between the black community and law enforcement.
- Attending a viewing and panel discussion of documentary 13th, by Ava DuVernay.
- Attending a viewing of the documentary “I Am Not Your Negro”, directed by Raul Peck, based on James Baldwin's unfinished manuscript.
- Attending Governor John Bel Edwards Joint Address of the Louisiana Legislature for the convening of the 2017 Legislative Session.
- Attending weekly Louisianans for Prison Alternatives coalition weekly coalition conference calls and in person strategy sessions to plan lobby day and track legislation.
- Attending the release of the Justice Reinvestment Task Force Recommendations and Press Conference at the State Capitol.
- Attending Q&A “Gov Talks” session hosted by Governor John Bel Edwards to have Q&A with members of the Justice Reinvestment Task force regarding the group’s criminal justice reform recommendations.
HANDS TO THE PLOW
Participating in:
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Day of Service.
- The Women’s March of New Orleans (public event details).
- A televised Louisiana Public Broadcasting Town Hall meeting regarding the November 2016 elections and bringing mass incarceration concerns to the forefront.
- The Louisianans for Prison Alternatives Coalition overall work and Lobby Day related to criminal justice reform in LA.
WORK WORK WORK WORK WORK
- Working with like-minded organizations addressing disparities for African-American males. Organizations include Urban Congress on African American Males and most recently, Progressive Social Network of Baton Rouge.
- Livestream of LPA lobby day activities.
- Met with State Representative Ted James and Councilman Lamont Cole to introduce to MOBB United and MOBB United for Social Change. We also discussed opportunities for policy recommendations and bills to address police reform and institutional racism in Baton Rouge and across the state.
- Hosted first Meet & Greet on May 6.
MOBB United applauds the Baton Rouge Chapter’s efforts. Keep up the great work!