Dr. JC Richardson, Pastor of Wesley UMC and Together Baton Rouge/Together LA leader, speaks at press conference before the defeat of four proposed constitutional amendments, including Amendment 3 which would have tried more children as adults.

After Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry's failed attempt to rewrite the constitution to change state tax and budget laws in 2024, the legislature voted to put his four proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot.  Reports indicated that an election in March was chosen to take advantage of projected low turnout (only 12%). 

Leaders from Westside Sponsoring Committee, Pointe Coupee United Together, and their sister Together Louisiana (TLA) organizations opposed all four measures but targeted Amendment 3 which, if passed, would have given the legislature power to try children as young as 10 for unspecified adult crimes. When legislators were pressed on what those crimes would be, their response was "just trust us"!

TLA focused on organizing with rural parishes and collaborated with other nonprofit organizations that were opposed to the amendments. 

Doubling voter turnout expectations, including among black voters, more than 21% of the electorate turned out to vote and all four measures were soundly rejected.  In areas where TLA focused their outreach, both rural and urban, Amendment 3 overwhelmingly failed. TLA worked across the political aisle in achieving this victory, engaging many conservative parishes and gaining national attention for their work, including by Vice President Kamala Harris. 

The legislature did not give up! Attorney General Liz Murrill promoted a bill that would have again charged children aged 15 and 16 with unspecified adult crimes and created specialty courts to try these cases in different parishes. TLA advocated against the bill and it was defeated!

The coalition continues to meet and develop strategies to address prison reform. 

Political Foes, Landry Allies United Against Amendments, The Advocate [pdf]