Fighting For The Ministry ( People's Rights )

Tuesday, September 30, 2008 - New York , NY ) The NAACP Legal Defense Fund (LDF) filed a lawsuit today in federal court on behalf of Reverend Kenneth Glasgow to allow him to resume registering eligible voters currently incarcerated in Alabama ’s correctional facilities.



With just 24 days remaining before voter registration closes to citizens seeking to participate in the November 4 elections, the lawsuit challenges the decision of Richard Allen, Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Corrections, to rescind Reverend Glasgow’s access to incarcerated individuals who are eligible to vote under Alabama law.



“With less than a month before the close of voter registration in Alabama , the Commissioner is effectively denying the franchise to eligible voters. This is an egregious attempt to hamper the democratic process in the State of Alabama ,” said John Payton, LDF President and Director-Counsel.



Commissioner Allen initially provided enthusiastic support for Reverend Glasgow’s ministry of hope, reconciliation and redemption to Alabama’s inmates through activities that include voting, and established specific procedures by which non-partisan voter registration activities could be conducted safely and effectively. He not only directed the wardens of all Alabama correctional institutions to facilitate Reverend Glasgow’s entry, but provided a list to Reverend Glasgow of more than 6,000 inmates convicted only of simple drug possession crimes, offenses for which one does not lose his or her voting rights under Alabama ’s constitution and laws. Most on the list are unaware of their eligibility to register to vote.



However, as soon as news spread about the success of Reverend Glasgow’s ministry and his assistance helping eligible inmates register to vote, Commissioner Allen reversed course. While many applauded Reverend Glasgow’s attempt to minister to inmates and assist their rehabilitation through political participation, the Chair of the Alabama Republican Party wrote a letter to the Commissioner stating that it “was in full support of increasing the amount of registered voters in the state,” but not those “who have committed crimes and are currently incarcerated in the penal system,” even though some are eligible to register.



The Commissioner then swiftly prohibited Reverend Glasgow from continuing to conduct his non-partisan voter registration activities for incarcerated, but eligible, Alabamians. This course of action is a textbook case of viewpoint discrimination – excluding a speaker from a forum because of disagreement with his opinion or ideology – that violates the First Amendment.



“Unlike the Commissioner,” Rev. Glasgow responded, “my actions are not influenced by a political party’s agenda. My prison ministry is focused not on politics, but on restoring people’s lives. Since I have personally benefited from this type of ministry, it is my calling to help inmates with their re-entry back into society and their families.”



While incarcerated more than six years ago, Reverend Glasgow became involved in a prison ministry that addressed the importance of spirituality, personal responsibility, civic responsibility, forgiveness and restoration — both as personal virtues and as cornerstones for one’s community. Reverend Glasgow was particularly struck by the prison ministry’s focus on exercising the right to vote as a means to restore an offender to his community and vowed to give back by starting his own ministry. Upon his release in 2002, Rev. Glasgow remained true to his word and founded The Ordinary People Society, a faith-based ministry headquartered in Dothan , Alabama . In 2004, the Alabama Board of Pardons and Parole restored Rev. Glasgow’s voting rights.



“Reverend Glasgow’s ministry has carefully observed Alabama’s voting laws and every procedure established by the Commissioner to offer non-partisan assistance to eligible voters in Alabama’s penal system, most of whom do not know they have retained their voting rights,” said Ryan P. Haygood, Co-Director of LDF’s Political Participation Group. “The Commissioner’s decision to cancel this important effort is arbitrary and unconstitutional. The time to remedy these constitutional violations is now.”



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ABOUT LDF

The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (LDF) is America 's legal counsel on issues of race. Through advocacy and litigation, LDF focuses on issues of education, voter protection, economic justice and criminal justice. We encourage students to embark on careers in the public interest through scholarships and internship programs. LDF pursues racial justice to move our nation toward a society that fulfills the promise of equality for all.