FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 26, 2021
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National Religious Campaign Against Torture applauds Biden executive order phasing out federal contracts with private prisons

“It’s time to end the commercial exploitation of predominantly black and brown people.”

WASHINGTON – Today President Biden signed an executive order ordering the Justice Department to not renew federal contracts with private prisons, a major victory in the movement to take the profit motive out of prisons.

In response to the executive order, Mr. Johnny Perez, Director of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture’s U.S. Prisons Program, issued the following statement:

“Private prison executives and investors make their fortunes by lobbying for policies that fill beds and keep people behind bars as long as they can. By removing the profit motive from incarceration, we move away from an era of commercial exploitation of predominantly black and brown people and move closer to a society that reflects our shared morals and values. This executive order is a good step in the right direction, and we look forward to the many others to come.”

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The National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT) mobilizes people of faith to end torture in U.S. policy, practice, and culture. A nationally recognized interfaith membership organization based in Washington, DC, NRCAT is comprised of more than 300 religious organizations and more than 75,000 individuals have participated in our programs and activities. Our diverse partners share a common commitment to advancing the values of human dignity, human rights and an end to torture, without exception. To achieve its mission, NRCAT engages in grassroots organizing, public education, and state and national policy advocacy.