NATIONAL DAY OF FREEDOM AND JUSTICE PKG

- saturday, gulf coast residents,- along with people across- the nation, came together to- bring awareness to the movement- for prison reform in the united- states.

- news 25's grace boyles has more- from gulfport.- - <nats: "it's just hard seeing - all these - families go through so much.">- august 22nd is national day of- freedom and justice, a day- dedicated to the effort of- prison reform.

In honor of the- day and its cause, many gathere- - - - at jones park in- gulfport for a rally hosted by- - - - the parchman project and- mississipi rising coalition.- one of the attendees, president- of the republic of new- africa rico forbes, spoke out - about his own experience with - - - - the united states prison system- rico forbes, president of - republic of new africa: "the- argument that i have- with this government is that i- was convicted twice for the sam- crime: bank robbery.- the fifth amendment states that- our citizens should not be twic- put in jeopardy."

- gregory barabino, the president- of the naacp of - hancock county, cites a - - - - disconnect between lawmakers an- constituents as a reason for th- lack of - progress with prison reform.- gregory barabino, president of- naacp of hancock county: "we- need legislation- and we need representation from- the people that these laws and- the culture of- prison-- that it affects.

So, - that's why we're trying to get- our voicfe heard out here."

- grace boyles, news 25: "the - rally featured a bell-ringing - - - - that happened at the same time- all across the nation.

The- gesture is supposed to signify - solidarity in the fight - for constitutional rights and - freedom for those incarcerated- in the united states."- gregory barabino, pressident of- naacp of hancock county: "the - biggest point that- needs to be made is that we nee- to organize because if you want- to change - legislation and fight leaders - that don't have our interests--- we need to organize - and we need to come together an- try to make things change."

- rico forbes, president of - republic of new africa: "we nee- some- champions to deal with this - injustice that is taking place.- i mean if there is a law, the - - - - champions to deal with this - injustice that is taking place.- i mean if there is a law, the - law should be for all and not - for a few."

- in gulfport, grace boyles, news- 25.