Amy Ralston Povah Goes to DC – 2014

Larry Duke received a compassionate release on March 5, 2015

Craig Cesal has served 13 years for a marijuana conspiracy conviction.

Jim with Customs and Border Security asked Amy, “What country are these (pot prisoners) serving life in?”                                  Ironically, most people don’t know this is happening in the U.S.

Amy Meets Gore Vidal

Amy spoke to the iconic Gore Vidal about her CAN-DO Foundation. Vidal was outspoken about ending the drug war and congratulated Amy on her efforts to raise awareness to the horrible plight of mass incarceration.

I am a HUGE fan of Gore Vidal’s so it was a huge honor to meet him and talk to him about my non-profit, CAN-DO.

Rosary ceremony held by Martin Sheen at Arlington West in Santa Monica – 2002

Amy and Derek attended a rosary ceremony held by Martin Sheen at Arlington West in Santa Monica, 2002

Amy explains to Martin Sheen that she was a real clemency recipient not long after Sheen’s West Wing character, President Josiah Bartlet, struggled with his decision to grant clemency to certain fictional drug offenders.

FAMM fundraiser in Los Angeles – 2009

Amy spoke at a FAMM fundraiser in Los Angeles 2009. Amy met with singer/songwriters, Jill Sobule, Herbie Hancock and Julie Stewart Founder of FAMM.

Amy with singer/songwriters, Jill Sobule, Herbie Hancock and Julie Stewart Founder of FAMM.

Jill Sobule talking to comedian Julia Sweeney.

Journey for Justice Rally – 2005

On August 13 -14, 2005, Amy attended the Journey for Justice Rally in Washington D.C. Friday evening, there was a reception at the City Hall building. Amy brought a huge collage that the WOMEN OF PEKIN made for CAN-DO and displayed it at City Hall the night before the rally.

Amy displaying powerful collage of women incarcerated in Pekin prison.

“What a shameful legacy for a country that espouses to be the ‘Home of the Free!’” said Amy, when she was interviewed by a documentarian Friday night. “I’m here to represent the many women I left behind, because they don’t have a voice and I could easily be in prison if I hadn’t been one of the lucky few to receive clemency.”

Collage layout in Washington DC

Women looking at collage in DC

Below is a photo of me and Donna w/Shabez Films (the documenarian)

Amy with Donna of Shabez Films

Amy holding a poster of Danielle Metz before the event.

Amy holding a poster of Danielle Metz before the event.

Amy brought posters of the many women who have clemency petitions filed with the Pardon Office and who are presently on the CAN-DO website. Each poster displayed the face of a woman seeking mercy through clemency.

Roughly a thousand people showed up in Lafayette Park on Saturday near the White House to protest this country’s reliance on mass incarceration as a way to battle drug abuse. The War on Drugs has caused incarceration rates to escalate to the point it has crowned the United States as the country that imprisons more people than any other country in the world.

Nora Callahan’s powerful presentation

Nora Callahan made a powerful presentation by putting faces on cardboard cutouts that was displayed directly in front of the White House. www.november.org

Nearly a thousand people showed up in Lafayette Park near the White House to protest