Kim Kardashian stands up for prisoners who fought LA fires and 'were paid just a few dollars a day'
Kim Kardashian has endorsed legislation that would pay all incarcerated workers the federal minimum wage one year after supporting prison inmate firefighters who fought the devastating LA fires.The 45-year-old SKIMS mogul - whose prison reform journey has been well documented - has backed Democratic Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker's bill, which was reintroduced on Thursday.The act would require that prisoners who are working receive the federal minimum wage through amendments to the Fair Labor Standards Act and eliminate 'excessive' deductions for fees, fines, and living costs in correctional facilities.Kardashian explained that it was seeing incarcerated persons fighting the LA fires last year that motivated her to endorse the bill.'I personally watched incarcerated people who risked their lives battling the massive wildfires in Los Angeles last year.'They showed so much bravery and commitment doing the same dangerous work as professional firefighters but they were paid just a few dollars a day,' Kardashian told People. Kim Kardashian has endorsed legislation that would pay all incarcerated workers the federal minimum wage a year after supporting prison inmate firefighters who fought the devastating LA firesThe reality star went on to say that many of the imprisoned firefighters won't be afforded the same opportunities on the outside, despite risking their lives previously.Kardashian explained: 'In many cases, they’re banned from even applying for firefighting jobs once they’re released. That's not just unfair, it's unamerican.'Booker had first introduced the legislation in 2023 but it stalled after being referred to the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee.His office cited ACLU research that said prisoners who work contribute billions of dollars annually to the US economy. However, they are not paid the same as regular workers, as they are behind bars for their crimes.Last year, catastrophic infernos - including the Pacific Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire - sparked up amid strong winds, with more than 31 lives lost.At the time, Kardashian voiced her support for incarcerated individuals who were volunteer firefighters to combat the natural disaster.She penned, 'I have spent the last week watching my city burning. And have seen and spoken to many firefighters who are up all night long using every ounce of their strength to save our community.''Thank you to @calfire LA County Fire and Los Angeles City Fire for everything you are doing to save lives, homes and property.' Democratic Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker's bill, backed by Kardashian, was reintroduced on Thursday Kardashian explained that it was seeing incarcerated individuals fighting the Los Angeles fires last year that motivated her to endorse the billIn another slide, the reality star added, 'On all five fires in Los Angeles, there are hundreds of incarcerated firefighters, risking their lives to save us.'Kardashian expressed that they were 'working 24-hour shifts' on both the Palisades and Eaton Fires. 'They get paid almost nothing, risk their lives, some have died, to prove to the community that they have changed and are now first responders. I see them as heroes.' She explained to her followers that incarcerated firefighters have been paid $1 an hour since 1984 'to risk their lives.' 'It has never been raised with inflation,' Kim pointed out. 'It's never been raised when fires got worse and many died.' 'This year, there was an agreement to raise the incarcerated firefighter pay to $5/hour, but it got shot down [at the] last minute.' Kardashian then referenced California Governor Gavin Newsom and wrote, 'I am urging @cagovernor to do what no Governor has done in 4 decades.' The TV personality shared a message on Instagram amid the LA fires last January Kardashian expressed that fire crews were 'working 24-hour shifts' on both the Palisades and Eaton Fires Kardashian then referenced California Governor Gavin Newsom and wrote, 'I am urging @cagovernor to do what no Governor has done in four decades' Lastly, the mother-of-four also sent her gratitude to the firefighters who helped save her community, which had been threatened by the Kenneth Fire In August 2024, she was joined by her sister Kendall Jenner to visit incarcerated firefighters of the Pine Grove and Growlersberg Fire Camps 'And raise the incarcerated firefighter pay to a rate that honors a human being risking their life to save our lives and homes.'The SKIMS founder has often spoken out and been an activist for criminal justice reform over the years. In August 2024, she was joined by her sister Kendall Jenner to visit incarcerated firefighters of the Pine Grove and Growlersberg Fire Camps. Along with sharing photos from the visit, Kim wrote about meeting the 'incredible' incarcerated firefighters who are 'working so hard at fighting these California fires.'
