National Day of Freedom and Justice Rally

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.

- 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.-