By Ashley Furst (Leading with Conviction™ 2024 participant):
I’m sure people have seen this image floating around the Internet by now. And I admit, I did laugh at first, then it forced me to think about the absolutely unprecedented situation we find ourselves in right now here in America.
I grapple with finding myself to be “sympathetic” to Trump’s new status as a person with 34 felony convictions, yet also appalled by his complete lack of accountability for the crimes he committed.
For the rest of us, our stories rarely make headlines, and when they do, they often focus on our crimes rather than our efforts at rehabilitation.
We all know that for the average person, a felony conviction can result in immediate imprisonment, heavy fines, and long-lasting social stigmas. We are often required to complete probation, attend mandatory counseling sessions, and adhere to strict legal requirements upon release where if we mess up, just once, we can get sent back to prison. For the rest of our lives, the shadow of our past mistakes looms large, the stigma of committing a crime permeating our access to basic human dignity.
In Trump’s case, the legal repercussions appear to be minimal in comparison. Despite his felony convictions, he continues to live in relative comfort, surrounded by wealth and loyal supporters. His financial resources allow him to afford top-tier legal representation, which most of us could never dream of. Furthermore, his public platform enables him to influence public opinion and maintain his political career, something unimaginable for the “average felon.”
The media also plays a significant role in shaping public perception of criminal justice. Trump’s extensive media presence and the portrayal of his legal troubles as partisan attacks have skewed public perception, allowing him to evade the kind of accountability that ordinary individuals face. The media’s focus on his political narrative rather than the gravity of his crimes further perpetuates the disparity in accountability.
For the rest of us, our stories rarely make headlines, and when they do, they often focus on our crimes rather than our efforts at rehabilitation. This difference in media portrayal reinforces the societal bias that protects the powerful while marginalizing the less privileged.
In our 10th anniversary year, JustLeadershipUSA’s work of educating, elevating, and empowering justice-impacted leaders continues and is growing even stronger!
We are preparing for our very special 10th anniversary gala in New York City on October 21st, and we would love for you to be there with us.
This is going to be a very special time to look back on the past decade of JLUSA’s important work, the 1,600+ leaders we have helped get to the next level in their work, and even more importantly, we will look ahead to the next 10 years and beyond!
We can’t do this without you. We need your support to help us continue to do this work now and into the future. By purchasing a $50 streaming ticket, you are saying to the amazing leaders in our network who represent the 70+ million Americans who have been directly impacted by the criminal legal system, “I see you, and I support you!”
Please plan now to join us in person or give a one-time $100 gift or set up a recurring $10 monthly donation to celebrate JLUSA’s 10th anniversary year, and together we will build a fair and just U.S. Thank you!
Mail that includes checks only:
JUSTLEADERSHIPUSA, INC
P.O. Box 23681
New York, NY 10087-3681
All other mail:
P.O. Box 1730, New York, NY 10037
347.454.2195
© 2024 JustLeadershipUSA. All Rights Reserved.
JustLeadershipUSA is a non-partisan organization. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed belong solely to the individual author or speaker, and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the organization.