Meet and rally
The group will join supporters in Charlestown at Bunker Hill Community College on Thursday morning and rally at 2:30 that afternoon at the Statehouse.
Published 21:42, May the 19th, 2008
A long road ahead for CORI reformers
BOSTON. If you live along Route 20 just west of Boston, a group of ex-convicts may be coming to your town.
But rest easy, they’re just moving on through, and frankly, only hoping for a fair shake.
A dozen former prisoners and probationers began marching Sunday from Worcester to Boston to raise support for CORI law reform. They contend the rigors of the walk, which will end with a rally Thursday at the Statehouse, have nothing on the struggle to put their lives back together.
“I haven’t had so much as a parking ticket (since 1993),” said 50-year-old Debra Murray, of Springfield, who was fired from a job and has battled for new work and housing due to a marijuana possession charge 15 years ago.
The criminal record that has hindered Murray will not be sealed until 2010, per current CORI laws.
The ex-offenders on the march support legislation that would reduce such measures.
If there is no reduction, Juan Filomeno, 50, of Worcester, may have a hard time leaving behind a breaking and entering charge from a few years ago. He was already denied a “sure-thing” custodian job once the employer learned of his criminal record.
“Because of CORI, I’ve been turned down for a job time and time again,” Filomeno said while bringing up the rear near downtown Marlborough.
Just then a honk came from a passing car, prompting a smile and a wave from the walkers. With some 30 miles to go and a long road to recovery back home, any support is welcome to this group.