Although the media has been focusing solely on Kim Kardashian’s criminal justice reform efforts, there's a lot more that went into the action behind freeing the 17 federal inmates who were released in 90 days. Meet Brittany K. Barnett and MiAngel Cody. These are the two black female lawyers who put in the work to free these inmates who were all serving life sentences without parole. These women came together to launch the 90 Days Of Freedom Campaign, in response to President Trump’s signing of the First Step Act, which allows some people imprisoned on federal drug offenses to seek sentence reductions, particularly those serving life terms.
Now, this is not to take away from Kim Kardashian’s role in the 90 Days Of Freedom Campaign because she is involved in funding the program. She has become the face of everything as she’s also taking a law apprenticeship and actively working to educate herself in criminal justice. However, I think it’s imperative to acknowledge the women behind this powerful initiative who are working behind closed doors to make all of this happen.
In a recent Facebook post, Barnett states,” MiAngel Cody and I have BEEN doing this work for FREE. Ask any of our dozens of clients who are now free living their best lives. Both of us left six figure salary jobs and wiped out our own savings accounts to fund our work. We attempted to get grants from these large foundations shelling out MILLIONS of dollars to other organizations but would not look our way because they so-called don’t fund “direct services.” She continued to say, “Kim linked arms with us to support us when foundations turned us down. We and our clients and their families have a lot of love for her and are deeply grateful for her.”
There are many people who have dedicated their entire lives to prison reform and changing the ways of our criminal justice system. As we continue to praise Kim K. for her role in all of this, let’s remember to recognize the incredible legal team that’s fighting for these changes and are equally important pieces to the puzzle.
I’m glad to see Kim Kardashian using her influence for such an impactful movement and I’m looking forward to see what all is to come.