By Reality Check
When I met James Jackson 10 years ago, he’d already been in prison for 40 years and today he’s been in prison for 50 years since 1971. Jack came to prison with a 15 year sentence but killed a man while in prison.
In 2021, prisons in America are an American warzone, a death trap, a DOG EAT DOG KILLZONE. So, can you imagine how dangerous it was in 1970? I promise you, if you ever land behind these walls and find yourself in a fight to the death, the thoughts of your family picking up your dead body in a box will drive you to do whatever it takes to make sure you are the one to survive.
So, there is Jack 50 years later, still being punished for surviving in prison. If released today at age 68, who would he overpower in a strong armed robbery. Can you picture him selling drugs on the block at age 68.
He is a threat to no one.
In Luke 23:39-43, there were two men on crosses next to Christ. One ridiculed Christ, the other in a moment of regret and repentance for his lifestyle, expressed his belief in Christ and asked Christ to remember him. Christ told him, “This day shall you be with me in paradise!” wow, amazing. The first human being on the planet to cross over to paradise with Christ himself was not just a convicted criminal but was a man sitting on death-row. A man society said was beyond rehabilitation, was worthless and worthy of death.
Was the same man Christ said was worthy of being given the very thing that those who judged him said he wasn’t worthy of, a second chance!?
You swear on the Bible in the court room, then Biblical principles disappear when it’s time to judge those in the room. This isn’t about being tough on crime. So what is this game being played with men’s lives really about?
Florida prisons are full of men like Jack who’ve done their time and are a threat to no one and who’ve earned the right to be released. The man on the cross had a two minute conversation with Christ in which he expressed authentic regret and repented. Two minutes of AUTHENTIC repentance WAS ENOUGH FOR HIM TO BE granted a second chance by Christ.
So isn’t Jack’s 50 years of authentic change enough for Jack. Sometimes the system acts like the other thief on the cross; unwilling or unable to recognize when it’s in the presence of good men.
Till then, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said,….’Injustice anywhere is Injustice everywhere’.
#free jamesjackson50yrs.jameshayes50yrs.lamarmungan55 yrs.josephwilliams32yrs.jeffaustin32 yrs.
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