Craig L. BerkmanFounder and Chief Executive Officer of the Free at Last Coalition, Craig is a successful businessman and longstanding champion of civil rights with a deeply personal vested interest in the organization.
Since 1970, during Vietnam War protests that threatened to polarize the country, Craig has worked with those in power to ensure that basic Constitutional freedoms and rights are guaranteed for all Americans. Through vast connections in the political and business worlds, as well as civic and religious organizations, Craig has diffused tinderbox situations and led opposition to ballot measures discriminating or promoting hate against certain segments of society. He is a champion of all Americans and now is focused on another marginalized group. Growing up in a modest setting, he earned a scholarship to Wheaton College in Illinois, then continued his education at UC Berkeley and Lewis and Clark College, earning graduate and law degrees. He served as a captain in the U.S. Army.
|
He went on to create his businesses and built a medical device and tech corporation that became the 182nd largest company in America. Through those successes, he would be asked to sit on several boards of top companies. He was active in politics throughout most of his adult life and once ran for governor of Oregon.
He would aid Gov. Tom McCall of Oregon in arranging peaceful protests of the Vietnam War during a national American Legion Convention. It became known as “Operation Tranquility” – Craig’s design. The successful, peaceful meeting of protestors and veterans would earn him praise from all sides.
Craig has now taken on the mantle of fighting for those who have been denied their rights in a long-forgotten clause in the Constitution. He has set out to abolish slavery from the language in the 13th Amendment of the United States’ most fundamental and revered document.
This comes after serving six years in federal prison on charges of securities fraud. It was during this time that Craig had time to reassess and change direction. After reading an editorial titled “Yep, Slavery is Still Legal,” he knew what his mission should be.
He learned that the 13th Amendment carries the clause, “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.”
Like all who learn of the clause, he was shocked that language for slavery in any form still existed, and in a document spelling out laws for the beacon of freedom that is the United States.
Craig called on his faith to guide him into the future with a mission of freedom for all. That was to act in securing once more the rights and freedoms for those who had surrendered them under terms of incarceration, but who were returning to society after serving their time, becoming free Americans once again.
It was also a chance to reunite families and provide for those were tangentially affected by these archaic laws and the idea of one human owning another.
Shortly after asking God for guidance, Craig began the mission of the Free at Last Coalition, with its message of peace and forgiveness.
He is once again tapping his network of influential men and women to stand up and become involved, petitioning lawmakers to remove the language that allows slavery in any form in the 21st century.
He would aid Gov. Tom McCall of Oregon in arranging peaceful protests of the Vietnam War during a national American Legion Convention. It became known as “Operation Tranquility” – Craig’s design. The successful, peaceful meeting of protestors and veterans would earn him praise from all sides.
Craig has now taken on the mantle of fighting for those who have been denied their rights in a long-forgotten clause in the Constitution. He has set out to abolish slavery from the language in the 13th Amendment of the United States’ most fundamental and revered document.
This comes after serving six years in federal prison on charges of securities fraud. It was during this time that Craig had time to reassess and change direction. After reading an editorial titled “Yep, Slavery is Still Legal,” he knew what his mission should be.
He learned that the 13th Amendment carries the clause, “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.”
Like all who learn of the clause, he was shocked that language for slavery in any form still existed, and in a document spelling out laws for the beacon of freedom that is the United States.
Craig called on his faith to guide him into the future with a mission of freedom for all. That was to act in securing once more the rights and freedoms for those who had surrendered them under terms of incarceration, but who were returning to society after serving their time, becoming free Americans once again.
It was also a chance to reunite families and provide for those were tangentially affected by these archaic laws and the idea of one human owning another.
Shortly after asking God for guidance, Craig began the mission of the Free at Last Coalition, with its message of peace and forgiveness.
He is once again tapping his network of influential men and women to stand up and become involved, petitioning lawmakers to remove the language that allows slavery in any form in the 21st century.