Straight Ahead is a left-wing Pennsylvania-based advocacy organization that specializes in criminal justice policy. It is the legislative, lobbying, and electoral arm of the Abolitionist Law Center, a left-wing criminal justice reform organization.

The organization seeks the eventual abolition of prisons and the end of the incarceration of criminals. More immediately, it supports an end to life sentences without the possibility of parole, which it calls “death by incarceration.” ¹

The organization works to organize those who are currently incarcerated. While prisoners in Pennsylvania cannot vote, the organization contends they can encourage their families and friends who are free to vote. The organization’s executive director has claimed credit for using this mobilization tactic to defeat Republicans in Pennsylvania in the 2022 midterms. ²

Background

Straight Ahead is a left-wing organization based in Pennsylvania that works on criminal justice reform efforts. The organization is the 501(c)(4) lobbying, legislative, and electoral arm of the Abolitionist Law Center, a left-wing criminal justice reform organization. ³

The organization is named after the “Straight Ahead” salutation that was used by the late black revolutionary and Black Panther Party and Black Liberation Army member Russell “Maroon” Shoatz. The organization calls Shoatz, who was imprisoned for his involvement in the murder of Philadelphia police officers  a “mentor” and a “political prisoner.” ⁴

The organization was established in 2021. ⁵

Issue Stances

Straight Ahead seeks to abolish the prison system and to release of all inmates from incarceration. The organization endeavors to lobby for the release of prison inmates where it can. ⁶

The organization opposes life sentences without the possibility of parole, which it calls “death by incarceration.” It has supported legislation in Pennsylvania that would do away with them and establish parole eligibility for all prison inmates, regardless of the crimes they have committed. ⁷

It also supports legislation that would allow for the parole of those sentenced to life without parole who have since become sick and old. ⁸

It expresses the view that no one should spend their entire lives in prison and that every person is capable of change. It also seeks to redirect money from prisons and the criminal justice system to spend on social welfare programs. ⁹

Political Activities

In 2021, Straight Ahead joined with other left-wing organizations to support the election of left-wing judicial candidates in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, which includes the city of Pittsburgh. The coalition backed eight candidates in the Democratic primary for the court of common pleas. Five of those backed candidates won. ¹⁰

In a February 2023 op-ed for the far-left website Counterpunch, the organization’s executive director claimed credit for building a prison abolitionist movement that defeated Republicans running statewide in 2022. The organization took part in a joint canvassing campaign with other left-wing organizations that knocked on 20,000 doors in Philadelphia. It also coordinated with other family members of the imprisoned and had them do their own canvassing. ¹¹

Leadership

As of March 2023, Robert Saleem Holbrook was the executive director of the organization. He was previously incarcerated under a life sentence without parole for his role in a murder in which he was a lookout during a drug deal that went wrong. He was released after a U.S. Supreme Court decision found that life sentences for minors were unconstitutional. ¹²

1. “About Us.” Straight Ahead. Accessed March 27, 2023. https://straight-ahead.org/about-us/.
2. Holbrook, Robert Saleem. “How a Decarceral and Abolitionist Movement Helped Defeat the ‘Red Wave’ in Pennsylvania.” CounterPunch, February 9, 2023. https://www.counterpunch.org/2023/02/09/how-a-decarceral-and-abolitionist-movement-helped-defeat-the-red-wave-in-pennsylvania/.
3. “About Us.” Straight Ahead. Accessed March 27, 2023. https://straight-ahead.org/about-us/.
4. “About Us.” Straight Ahead. Accessed March 27, 2023. https://straight-ahead.org/about-us/.
5. Black, Amber. “My Freedom, Five Years on (a MSG from Robert Saleem Holbrook).” My Freedom, Five Years On (A Msg From Robert Saleem Holbrook) , February 20, 2023. https://abolitionistlawcenter.org/2023/02/20/my-freedom-five-years-on-a-msg-from-robert-saleem-holbrook/.
6. “About Us.” Straight Ahead. Accessed March 27, 2023. https://straight-ahead.org/about-us/.
7. “About Us.” Straight Ahead. Accessed March 27, 2023. https://straight-ahead.org/about-us/.
8. “About Us.” Straight Ahead. Accessed March 27, 2023. https://straight-ahead.org/about-us/.
9. “About Us.” Straight Ahead. Accessed March 27, 2023. https://straight-ahead.org/about-us/.
10. Ward, Ian. “How Progressives Are Knocking out Local Judges across the Country.” POLITICO, September 3, 2021. https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2021/09/03/robert-saleem-holbrook-conservative-judges-criminal-justice-506966.
11. Holbrook, Robert Saleem. “How a Decarceral and Abolitionist Movement Helped Defeat the ‘Red Wave’ in Pennsylvania.” CounterPunch, February 9, 2023. https://www.counterpunch.org/2023/02/09/how-a-decarceral-and-abolitionist-movement-helped-defeat-the-red-wave-in-pennsylvania/.
12. Ward, Ian. “How Progressives Are Knocking out Local Judges across the Country.” POLITICO, September 3, 2021. https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2021/09/03/robert-saleem-holbrook-conservative-judges-criminal-justice-506966