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Saltpork545 t1_ivu3zqm wrote

Reply to comment by mrsdex1 in I Love Democracy by lovelykittenman

No, they didn't vote to 'end slavery'. They voted to remove slavery from their state constitutions. Those state laws were enulled by the 14th amendment.

The idea that this has modern implications is nonsensical. This is a procedural vote that's basically feel good. As long as the 14th amendment is a thing states can't make new state level laws about actual slavery.

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Pegacorn21 t1_ivu63rh wrote

Involuntary labor (slavery by another name) is still a valid form of punishment in many jurisdictions. Some prisoners are forced to work whether they want to or not, and they're not paid for that work. Four of the states in question removed that option from their constitutions. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/voters-in-4-states-reject-slavery-involuntary-servitude-as-punishment-for-crime The fifth state actually rejected their amendment due to language issues, but are planning on bringing it up again in the future.

So no, it's not just a feel good vote, it does have practical implications for prisoners. As the PBS article I linked mentions it's a bit more nuanced than, "This immediately ends all forced prison labor", but it lays the groundwork for challenges.

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SharksForArms t1_ivukynx wrote

13th amendment considers prison labor to be a form of slavery and explicitly allows it. Those states outlawed said forced prison labor, which according to the constitution, is actual slavery.

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mrsdex1 t1_ivu5pis wrote

Slaverly is allowed for punishment of a crime, 13th Amendment.

No state is required to allow/participate in slavery. The feds are not allowed to step in and stop it.

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