Why did California voters reject a proposition to ban prison slavery? | Opinion

The recent defeat of Proposition 6, which would have banned forced labor in California’s prisons, combined with the success of Proposition 36, which strengthens penalties for certain crimes, is a stark reminder that our state’s progressive reputation masks a more complicated reality.

At the root of this puzzle is how our society fundamentally misunderstands what imprisonment means: Imprisonment strips people of their freedom, family connections, basic life experiences and self-determination while confining them to a cell. Forced prison labor that generates profits for private corporations and state entities crosses the line from punishment into slavery. When we compel incarcerated people to work — under threat of additional punishment — we’re not simply engaging in punitive actions, we’re perpetuating slavery under a different name.

Unfortunately, voters who rejected Prop. 6 didn’t understand the stakes. Some believed the measure was merely symbolic. Others bought into misleading narratives that this was about prisoners not wanting to do “chores.” These misconceptions obscure the harsh reality: Private corporations contract with the Department of Corrections and benefit from this captive workforce, while taxpayers fund the system that enables it.

Indeed, the largest backers of Prop. 36, which is expected to add a few thousand more people to the state’s prisons and county jails over the next few years, also rely heavily on prison labor.

Instead of focusing on education and rehabilitation proven to reduce recidivism, California’s system of involuntary servitude prioritizes menial labor over programs that can help people build stable lives and stay out of prison for good.

Prop. 6’s failure and Prop. 36’s success becomes even more troubling when viewed in a broader political context. California politicians are positioning themselves as the resistance to the upcoming Trump Administration, but they’re missing a crucial historical parallel: This moment mirrors the 1990s, when California’s demographic shift toward a majority-minority state sparked a series of ballot initiatives designed to suppress people of color. Today, as the nation follows a similar demographic trajectory, we’re witnessing the same reactionary response at the national level. The right wing faction of this nation is actually the resistance, and a diverse society is the future they’re resisting.

The messaging employed to convince voters to reject Prop. 6 and embrace Prop. 36 reflects a desire to maintain systemic inequalities. This election, we had a chance to eliminate one of the last explicit forms of legal slavery in the Golden State. We failed.

But this setback doesn’t mean we will stop fighting. If anything, it clarifies our path forward.

We need to build community-led campaigns. This means developing our own funding channels, communications strategies and grassroots networks rather than relying on traditional political structures that have often failed to represent the very communities most impacted by mass incarceration.

We must invest more time in voter education and engagement. Many voters didn’t know about Prop. 6 until they saw their ballots, and the measure’s wording created confusion.

We also need to reframe conversations around public safety. When we don’t invest in affordable housing, mental health services and workforce development, we shouldn’t be surprised by increases in petty crime. The solution isn’t more incarceration, it’s addressing root causes.

Finally, we must keep pushing for the full restoration of rights for incarcerated people. The practice of forced labor in prisons isn’t just about the work itself, it’s about fundamental human dignity and the right to self-determination in one’s rehabilitation and education.

As we move forward, we’ll likely pursue multiple paths, both legislative action and possibly another ballot initiative. This time, we’ll be better prepared to combat misinformation and help voters understand how prison slavery affects not just incarcerated individuals, but our entire society.

Many Californians like to think of ourselves as exceptional and progressive, but our actions often fall short of our proclaimed values. The defeat of Prop. 6 is a wake-up call, not the end of the story. The movement to actually end slavery in California continues, and with better organization, clearer messaging and sustained community engagement, we will succeed in making our state live up to its ideals.

The question isn’t whether we’ll try again, it’s how soon — and how much stronger we’ll be when we do.

This story was originally published December 12, 2024 at 10:41 AM.