HEARING TODAY.
BILL O’NEIL LIVED IT -- LISTEN
THEN.
BILL, WHAT DID THEY DISCUSS.
L: TASK FORCE --
BILL: TASK FORCE MEMBERS ARE
LOOKING FOR INPUT FROM THE
PUBLIC ON HOW TO REFORM THE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
TODAY, THEY HEARD AN EARFUL.
>> FIRED UP FROM THIS WHOLE
JUSTICE PROCESS.
BILL: MICHAEL IS A
SELF-DESCRIBED THREE-TIME FELON
WHO CALLED ON THE TASK FORCE TO
LEGALIZE MARIJUANA.
>> NOT ONLY THE FINANCIAL
BENEFIT OF GROWING THESE PLANTS
FOR THE ECONOMY, BUT ALSO AS A
MEASURE OF MENTAL HEALTH.
BILL: HE WASN’T ALONE.
SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
URGED THE TASK FORCE TO
DECRIMINALIZE MARIJUANA.
>> BLACK PEOPLE ARE 3.3 TIMES
MORE LIKELY TO BE ARRESTED IN
NORTH CAROLINA FOR A LOW-LEVEL
MARIJUANA OFFENSE.
BILL: A NUMBER OF GROUPS SPOKE
OUT ABOUT INEQUALITY.
>> YOU ARE NOT ADDRESSING RACIAL
INEQUITY IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM IF YOU ARE NOT
SIMULTANEOUSLY ADDRESSING RACIAL
EQUITY IN OUR SCHOOLS.
FEEL: AN ATTORNEY FOR THE GROUP
SAYS THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS
IDENTIFYIN INTELLECTUAL AND
EMOTIONAL DISABILITIES WHICH
DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT BLACK
STUDENTS.
ONE MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WROUGHT
UP RELIGION.
 WE ARE ESSENTIALLY SPIRITUAL
BEINGS.
ALL PROCLAIM SOME VERSION OF THE
GOLDEN RULE, T LOVE OTHERS AS
WE LOVE OURSELVES.
BILL: AN ATTORNEY ASKED THE TASK
FORCE TO MAKE CHANGES OF WHAT HE
CALLS -- CHANGES TO WHAT HE
CALLED AN UNJUST SYSTEM THAT
TARGETS COMMUNIT OF -- THAT
TARGETS PEOPLE OF COLOR.
A NUMBER OF PEOPLE ALSO RAISED
QUESTIONS TODAY ABOUT MENTAL
HEALTH, AND HOW TO REFORM THAT
PART OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE
THE TASK FORCE CREATED BY THE
GOVERNOR IS EXPECTED TO DELIVER
IT
