The ad, which launched statewide this week, tells the story of two formerly incarcerated individuals who benefited from programs implemented by Rep. Trone
This week, Rep. David Trone’s campaign for the U.S. Senate released a new ad focusing on Trone’s progressive record of criminal justice reform in Maryland and across the country. The ad launched on television and digital platforms statewide this week.
The ad features two formerly incarcerated individuals, Kenneth and Marcus, who tell the story of how incarceration impacted their lives — and how programs providing college education, implemented by Rep. Trone, gave them a second chance upon their release.
“I was part of the pilot program. It had me feeling like a student and not a prisoner. It just kind of melted the barbed wire and the fences away.”
-Kenneth Bond
The ad launched as the campaign announced an upcoming criminal justice roundtable in Baltimore headlined by Dr. Yusef Salaam, a member of the Exonerated Five, internationally acclaimed author and justice advocate currently running for New York City Council. The event will be held on Friday, October 27th. More information about the event can be found here, and press are invited to RSVP here.
Ad Transcript:
Kenneth: For 27 years, I was incarcerated.
Marcus: Prison was very dehumanizing.
Kenneth: I knew if I learned, if I built myself with information, that’s something to be proud of.
Marcus: The man will never change until the pain of staying the same becomes greater than the pain of change.
Kenneth: Thanks to Congressman Trone, the Second Chance Act was passed.
Marcus: I was part of the pilot program. It had me feeling like a student and not a prisoner. It just kind of melted the barbed wire and the fences away.
Kenneth: I had a 3.8 GPA.
Marcus: I was a straight-A student.
Kenneth: A person who receives a college degree while incarcerated is less likely to come back to prison.
Marcus: I know when David was a businessman, he helped to ban the box and give recently incarcerated people a job. I think he sees everyone as human beings.
Kenneth: Once I realized I was going home, I…[sighs]
Marcus: I think David believes in second chances.
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