Screening of “13th” and Discussion at Hampton Library

Racial Justice East End, PEER/NYPAN: Progressive East End Reformers, Canio’s Cultural Café and the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the South Fork will host a special community screening and discussion of Ava DuVernay’s film, “13th,” on June 29 at 6 p.m. at the Hampton Library in Bridgehampton.

The 13th Amendment to the U. S. Constitution abolished slavery. But it included a provision many people don’t know about: ”Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist.”

That exception justifies the use of forced labor, as long as the laborer is a convict. This documentary makes the case that inclusion of this loophole is only one of the justifications for continuing domination of people of color.

Director Ava DuVernay supports her thesis through the use of both historical footage and interviews. From Nixon’s ‘Law & Order’ reign to Clinton’s harsh sentencing for drug offense, the NEW Jim Crow has lead to mass incarceration and created the ‘Prison/Industrial Complex.’

A discussion will follow the film. All are welcome to this free event. Please RSVP to PEER_SouthFork@gmail.com.