Alabama Activist Emerges from Prison with Renewed Focus on Voting Rights

After three decades of advocating for the voting rights of felons, Kenneth Sharpton-Glasgow's mission took a dramatic turn following his own incarceration. Spending 11 months in federal prison for tax evasion and drug distribution, Sharpton-Glasgow found himself among men involved in the January 6th Capitol riots.

Reflecting on his experience, Sharpton-Glasgow remarked, “Now we have Trump, a presidential candidate, running for office and he’s got 34 felonies. So, to me, I’m like, is that God smiling on me?”

Upon his release this week, Sharpton-Glasgow shared his vision with AL.com, seeing the 2024 election year as a prime opportunity to highlight felon disenfranchisement as a bipartisan issue. With high-profile figures like former President Trump and Hunter Biden now among those with felony convictions, the topic is gaining broader attention.

At 59, Sharpton-Glasgow has spent much of his life under the last name Glasgow, despite being the half-brother of famed activist Rev. Al Sharpton. Born Kenneth Sharpton, his complicated relationship with his name traces back to family dynamics and efforts to protect himself during volatile times.

During his 14-year sentence for drug charges in Florida, Sharpton-Glasgow converted to Christianity and conceived the idea for The Ordinary People Society (TOPS). Following his release in 2001, he dedicated himself to aiding those impacted by incarceration and drug-related issues, including significant efforts to restore voting rights for felons in Alabama and Florida.

His journey took a dire twist in 2018 when he was charged with capital murder after a man he was assisting ended up involved in a fatal shooting. Although he didn’t pull the trigger, the charges, which were eventually dropped, marked a dark chapter in his life.

In 2023, Sharpton-Glasgow pleaded guilty to tax evasion and drug charges. Federal prosecutors alleged misuse of over $1 million in donations to his nonprofit for personal expenses, failure to file tax returns, and false disability claims.

Describing his federal prison experience, Sharpton-Glasgow noted a stark contrast to state prison in Florida, highlighting less violence and better resources. He collaborated with other inmates on initiatives to register eligible voters within the prison, emphasizing that those without crimes involving moral turpitude could still vote.

Looking ahead, Sharpton-Glasgow is seeking a fresh start, symbolized by a name change prompted by a heartfelt letter from his 97-year-old father, Al Sharpton, Sr. Balancing his father's wishes with his mother’s legacy, he embraced the name Sharpton-Glasgow.

“If we look at Biblical history, everybody that God touched or redeemed or resurrected out of the mess of whatever they went through, he renamed them,” he explained.

Sharpton-Glasgow will reside at a halfway house until he can return to Dothan, where he plans to focus on preaching and step back from the day-to-day operations of TOPS. His mission remains steadfast: supporting marginalized individuals and advocating for their rights.

“Paul in the Bible, he was in prison, and he wrote two-thirds of the New Testament,” Sharpton-Glasgow reflected. “Jesus went through prison and the crucifixion. Peter wrote a letter from prison. People in prison are people.”