ACLU hosting ‘talk story’ event Thursday in Hilo

The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii is hosting a free talk-story event, 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday at WikiFresh restaurant, 1177 Kilauea Ave. in Hilo.

The event, part of the ACLUs Smart Justice campaign, is free and open to the public. The evening will be an open conversation about the current landscape of civil rights and the criminal justice system in Hawaii.

The discussion will touch on some of the ACLU’s recent work in the legislature and the Campaign for Smart Justice initiative. More importantly, the event will seek the public’s input on civil rights concerns in their community and where they want to see change.

According to an ACLU statement, Smart Justice is a nationwide campaign that is focused on ushering in a new era of justice in America, one that is free of bias and discrimination and committed to the personal safety, health and dignity of every individual and community.

Fixing money bail is the first step of the Hawaii Campaign for Smart Justice, to address systemic racial inequalities in the system while reducing incarceration rates by 50 percent.

“With the recent Maui jail riots, a sharp rise in law enforcement-involved shootings, the proposed expansion of Hawaii Community Correctional Center, and widening scandals around policing, prosecution, and conditions of confinement, criminal justice reform is on everyone’s minds,” said Monica Espitia, ACLU Hawaii’s Smart Justice campaign director, who will lead the discussion. “At a time when Hawaii’s crime rate is flat or decreasing, and costly choices must be made about the future of our jails and prisons — it’s clear that this is a crucial time to have honest conversations about mass incarceration’s negative effects on communities in Hawai‘i and what the alternatives look like.”

Food and refreshments will be available.

Guests can RSVP at https://go.peoplepower.org/event/action_attend/19462, or just walk in.