COLUMBUS, Ohio — State and national advocates came together in Columbus on Monday to call on state lawmakers to pass criminal justice reform. Those who stepped up to the mic said, regardless of skin color or background, elected officials need to do what they can to help families affected by incarceration. 

“This is a battle I’m fighting in Youngstown every day,” said Will Miller of Youngstown.

Miller was one of nearly 100 people affected by incarceration who gathered at the Sheraton Columbus Hotel at Capitol Square. Miller served 26 years in prison for murder and attempted murder.

“And when I came home, I was under the assumption that I was going to be able to relive my life, get back to living a life the right way,” Miller said. 

​But Miller said it has been extremely difficult to find a job and a place to live because of his criminal background.​ Despite that, he said he wants to help fix what he helped break to improve the life of his family and community.

“I didn’t have the resources for the latter to do that until I met Mr. Ward,” said Miller.

Mr. Fred Ward is the statewide director for Building Freedom Ohio. According to its website, the grassroots organization organizes Ohio’s communities to lead the fight against mass incarceration.

Building Freedom Ohio and others planned to lobby lawmakers for two days about ending the death penalty, reforming Ohio’s bail system and eliminating collateral sanctions on people reintegrating into society.

“It is totally debilitating to stop people from having access to jobs, opportunities, you know, become new careers,” said Ward. “So we want to make sure that we educate people and also build enough collective collaboration to be able to talk to the legislators to change it.”

Miller said it means everything to know an organization like BFO is behind him.

“When you know somebody believe in you, when you really know somebody believe in you and they really want to give you a second chance, it gives you strength that you can’t really you can’t really describe that,” Miller said. “You know, even in your darkest times when stuff gets hard it’s like, you know, I got is. And you got people that’s telling you every day, we with you why you get it. I don’t know if you ever know that feeling, man, but it’s a great feeling. It’s a great feeling.”

Miller and others will talk to lawmakers sponsoring comprehensive criminal justice reform legislation and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, R-Ohio. Miller said if he could play a small part in a big change, it could redefine his life.

“I really can die like knowing I did something good,” said Miller. “I left something on this earth that was meaningful. That’s all I’m asking for.”