Engage in discussions around "Just Mercy" this March for Community Read.

According to Death Penalty Information Center, since 1973, 185 death row prisoners have been exonerated of all charges related to their death row conviction. Of the 185 prisoners exonerated, 99 of those exonerated were African American. 

The adult Community Read title, Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson is a powerful and thought-provoking book about Stevenson's fight for justice and the changes needed in the criminal justice system. As a young attorney, Stevenson began the Equal Justice Initiative to help defend the poor, the incarcerated, and the wrongly condemned. In this book, Stevenson covers the early days of EJI as they fought against the nation's highest death sentencing and execution rates. Walter McMillian was one of EJI's first clients. He was a young African American man who was wrongly sentenced to die for the murder of a young white woman. The book shows the emotional journey that Stevenson and McMillian went through as they fought for freedom and justice.

America has the highest incarceration rate in the world. This book is guaranteed to start a conversation on capital punishment in America and the flaws in our criminal justice system.  Adults who want to learn more about our Community Read title, Just Mercy can attend a book talk, a film discussion, or a book club. For those inspired by "Just Mercy", you may want to check out our suggested reading list. 

For the entire month of March, the Library offers Community Read inspired programs and events. Take the Community Read pledge and read Just Mercy (and the other selected titles). Click here for a calendar.

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This blog was written by Jessica Reid, teen librarian at Mountain Island Library.