Incarcerated People Fighting Wildfires Finally Eligible for Jobs When They Get Out
For decades, our country has unfairly relied on prison labor — and nowhere is this more obvious than in California, where thousands of people behind bars help fight fires each fall, risking their lives for $1 an hour. In response to a Color Of Change campaign, California Governor Gavin Newsom just signed an order expunging felonies off firefighters’ records. This means that people who fight fires while incarcerated can now join the firefighting ranks and build a real career based on their training and experience once they’re out. It’s high time we end discrimination against formerly incarcerated people, and stop erecting barriers to jobs, housing, and full participation in society. And we will continue our fight to make sure incarcerated firefighters are fully compensated and valued for their work.