Former prisoners protest job bias

WW photo: Stevan Kirschbaum

Over 300 ex-prisoners and supporters, many African-American and Latino as well as Asian and immigrants of many nationalities, rallied and marched from Bunker Hill Community College to the Massachusetts State House here May 22 to protest the system of employment discrimination known as Criminal Offender Record Information Act.

The march was the final leg of a four-day march from Worcester, Mass., to Boston. Over 60 ex-prisoners and supporters completed the entire march. Under the draconian CORI system, employers can search and find the criminal records of ex-felons for 15 years. Only after 15 years can the ex-prisoner file to have the record sealed. It’s 10 years for misdemeanors.

As speaker after speaker made clear, the system hurts not only the ex-prisoners but their families too, preventing them from earning a living and surviving. The march was organized and coordinated by the Boston Workers Alliance and by EPOCA (Ex-prisoners and Prisoners Organizing for Community Advancement).

Many community organizations participated, including Neighbor to Neighbor, the Women’s Fightback Network and the International Action Center. The march was led by a sound truck provided by USW Local 8751, Boston School Bus Drivers. Bishop Filipe Teixeira, OFSJC, led chants from the truck.