No Exception to the Promise

By Marcus Kelley

Freedom should be absolute—not conditional. A society cannot claim to value justice while permitting slavery and involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime.

POSTER PLACEHOLDER

Inspired by an op-ed written by Marcus Kelley, No Exception To The Promise exposes a truth many Americans never pay attention to: slavery was never fully abolished. Through the exception clauses embedded in the U.S. and Michigan Constitutions, forced labor remains legal within the prison system. The film explores how this loophole continues to shape incarceration, labor practices, and public policy today.

About the Issue

While history books celebrate the end of slavery, both the 13th Amendment and many state Constitutions permit involuntary servitude "as punishment for a crime." This exception has helped sustain systems of forced labor and exploitation within prisons.

  • More than 33,000 people are currently incarcerated in the Michigan Department of Corrections. [Cite]

  • Michigan Correctional Industries generates more than $10 million in annual revenue while many incarcerated workers earn between $0.65 and $1.31 per hour. [Cite]

  • Incarcerated workers across the United States produce more than $11 billion annually through prison labor and prison maintenance programs while often receiving little to no compensation. [Cite]

If freedom is a fundamental right, it should not come with exceptions.

Take Action

Join the effort to remove slavery and involuntary servitude from state and federal constitutions. 

  • Ask Lawmakers to End The Exception

    Ask lawmakers to advocate for slavery to be taken out of our federal and state Constitutions.

    Take Action

  • Support Marcus's Work

    Learn more about, donate to, or join the coalition to further Marcus’s work.

    Learn More

Host A Screening

Bring No Exception to the Promise to your campus, organization, coalition, faith community, conference, or community event to spark conversations about modern day slavery.

Screenings help communities challenge systems, rethink how we see involuntary servitude, and build support for solutions that prioritize freedom over punishment.

Interested in hosting a screening, panel, or community conversation potentially featuring Marcus Kelley and local advocates?