By Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr.
For most of my life, I have been advocating for those most vulnerable in our communities — lower-income families, women, and people of color. I understand what it is like to feel you have no voice and like nobody is fighting for your rights. I’ve witnessed first-hand that having constitutional rights makes all the difference in the world. That’s why I’ve been a supporter of Marsy’s Law since before it passed in Illinois 5 years ago.
Since then, Marsy’s Law has worked well in our state. The justice system was not overburdened, but adapted well. Nor were the rights of the accused impacted, which are enshrined in the state and US constitutions. It has vastly improved the lives of countless victims of crime in Illinois.
Nobody wants to become the victim of a crime, but it could happen to anyone. Minorities, women, and urban communities are particularly vulnerable. Why would we not do everything in our power to protect those who have been victimized? We have a responsibility to make sure that those who become victims are treated with fairness, dignity, and respect; that they have the right to be heard in court and to be notified of court proceedings.
Enshrining victims’ rights in our state constitutions shows that we value victims and that no abuser should have more rights than their victim; that we value their safety. Ultimately, equal rights are the foundation of any society. This is what Marsy’s Law seeks to provide, nothing more, nothing less.
Nearly 35 states have constitutional protections for crime victims and one in three Americans already lives in a state which has specifically passed Marsy’s Law. It would be a tragedy if the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania was to be left behind. It would be sad to allow the opportunity for progress to pass by.
Changes to the constitution are not taken lightly, nor should they be. But the process by which our elected officials scrutinized these ideas has been as rigorous in Pennsylvania as it was in Illinois. The bar for passing such changes is rightly high. But in this case, so too is the public support. It is a rare moment in our history that people all across the country can come together behind an idea.
Of course, there are those who are trying to resist our progress. But then, there are always people who will be opposed to equal rights, as there always have been. Our experience in Illinois is a testament to the fact that the claims of these opponents are at best misguided and at worst, misleading. None of the outlandish scaremongering came true. None of the supposed unintended consequences came to pass.
We should not allow special interests to hamper progress, we should not allow lawyers to stand in the way of justice. Without enforceable rights for crime victims, the criminal justice system cannot function properly. Without that, there can be no justice at all.
Join me in fighting for meaningful, enforceable rights for crime victims and vote yes on Marsy’s Law, the Crime Victims’ Rights Amendment.