Variety and Rolling Stone have recently announced that they will be joining forces to co-host their first-ever Criminal Justice Reform Summit.
The event, slated to occur on the November 14th, will connect philanthropic, advocacy, policymaking communities and entertainment communities together with the aim to propel criminal justice reform. CNN host and activist Van Jones, Kim Kardashian West and Meek Mill will be among those in attendance and are expected to play a role in the summit's proceedings.
Jones will deliver a keynote speech regarding the nature of the American criminal justice system alongside Kim who has taken to using her platform to advocate for prison reform, speaking to influential policymakers including American President, Donald Trump. “Not only do we face a mass incarceration problem in the United States, but almost 60 percent of inmates currently in prison or jail are racial and ethnic minorities,” Jones told Variety. “Uncovering the roots of this national issue and creating a diverse advocacy community is a huge step toward generating legitimate policy change," he continued.
As distinguished and wide-reaching publications, both Variety and Rollingstone have voiced the importance of such an event. Claudia Eller, co-editor-in-chief of Variety magazine said, “As leading national publications, Variety and Rolling Stone are responsible for enlisting their platforms to shed light on the need for criminal justice reform." Jason Fine, editor of Rolling Stone magazine shared, "We believe that a national effort to bring about criminal justice reform is one of the most important issues of our time.”
For more information on the event, click here.