Democrats push to remove slavery, involuntary servitude from Arkansas Constitution

A proposed constitutional amendment would remove Arkansas’ status as one of two states that still has language allowing for involuntary servitude of citizens. Rep. Vivian Flowers, D-Pine Bluff, hopes fellow lawmakers will refer for voter consideration HJR 1007, which would repeal an exception that allows for slavery and involuntary servitude for those serving sentences for crimes.

Flowers, who appeared on this week’s edition of Talk Business & Politics, said the archaic language needs to be removed to make a statement about who we are as a state and nation. So far, she’s garnered the support of most of the Democratic caucus in her effort, but she hopes it will become a bipartisan push.

“It just seems to me that if we’re really going to be a state and a nation that is committed to justice and fairness, one that completely disassociates ourself with the enslavement of people and also one that values work, I think we have to do that,” she said.

Alabama is the other state that still operates under similar language for inmate labor that allows the state to work them in institutional assignments for free.

Flowers’ proposal, which has support from the Democratic caucus, could be one of three legislative-referred proposals to voters in the 2020 general election.

The current language of the Arkansas Constitution allows state-imprisoned citizens to work for no pay while serving their sentences. Flowers argues that by allowing for the retention of some form of income tied to the labor performed during prison sentences, those offenders would be better off when they re-enter society.

“I just would encourage when people think about this to think about this in terms of the moral, not only in terms of the moral imperative, but then there is also an economic issue,” she said. “There’s an issue around race and ethnicity and the impact, and the disparities that we see across the justice system, and just remember that this is also an issue around mass incarceration.”

Flowers believes that a permanent half-cent sales tax for highways will be one of the three legislative-referred proposals from the 92nd General Assembly. She believes a revised tort reform proposal may also make the cut from the 46 filings that closed last week. But the third potential referral is anyone’s guess, she said.

You can view her full interview on the subject here.