“Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.”
As many have recently found out, the City of Greenfield is fining people for not maintaining sidewalks or tree belts, and have historically fined people for not removing snow from the sidewalk. What some should know, but may not realize, is that this is town owned property.
So what does that mean? Well, simply put Greenfield is violating the straightforward text of the 13th Amendment. Forcing you to do manual labor and fining you for noncompliance is the definition of involuntary servitude. Many see this as their civic duty, which is commendable. But the city has no lawful right to force people into manual labor. So please, when the city fines you, fight the ticket as it wholly violates our country’s laws against involuntary servitude.
William Chambers, Esq.
Greenfield