Airing on MSNBC and CNN, the Substantial Six-Figure Ad Buy Highlights Toll of Outdated Sentencing and How Previous Clemency Efforts Led by Republicans and Democrats Have Paved the Way for Biden to Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. — FWD.us, a bipartisan political organization working to advance safe and effective criminal justice reforms, announced today the launch of a new ad buy urging President Biden to take decisive clemency action to commute the sentences of thousands of people serving excessive federal prison terms before the end of his term. Starting on Wednesday, December 4th during MSNBC’s Morning Joe, the ad will air for two weeks to start on MSNBC and CNN in the Washington D.C. area as well as on various digital platforms.
The ad follows growing calls from congressional leaders, civil rights organizations, and directly impacted families asking for the President to use his executive clemency power to address out of date and racially disparate sentencing, and safely reduce the federal prison population.
“Thousands of people have spent decades in prison serving disproportionately long sentences,” said Zoë Towns, Executive Director of FWD.us. “They are parents and grandparents, many well past the age of retirement and many dealing with illness, who can come home without compromising public safety. Clemency from President Biden may be their last, best chance at relief.”
Long prison sentences have undermined the very social fabric that works to keep families and communities safe. As much as they cost us, they have a very low rate of public safety return. It’s why leaders in red, blue, and purple jurisdictions have turned their attention to criminal justice reforms that safely reduce jail and prison populations, including through tools like clemency.
Earlier this week, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre announced President Biden is actively considering more pardons in the final weeks of his presidency.
About FWD.us’ Clemency work
- Clemency Primer: With the Stroke of a Pen: A Primer on Presidential Clemency
- Clemency Poll Memo: New Polling Shows Strong National Support for Reducing Incarceration and Expanding Clemency
- Federal Prison Population Fact Sheet with the NAACP: The Federal Prison Population Is at an Inflection Point
- Clemency & Advancing Public Safety Brief: The Case for Clemency: Reducing Lengthy Federal Prison Sentences and Advancing Public Safety
About FWD.us: FWD.us is a bipartisan political organization that believes America’s families, communities, and economy thrive when more individuals are able to achieve their full potential. For too long, our failed immigration and criminal justice systems have locked too many people out of the American dream. Founded by leaders in the technology and business communities, we seek to grow and galvanize political support to break through gridlock and achieve meaningful reforms. Together, we can move America forward.
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