"There should be no place for any provision in our State Constitution or statues that permit slavery, even if it be limited to punishment for crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted.

"In this time of national mourning and reflection over the tragedy of the racially motivated church killings in Charleston, South Carolina, it is incumbent on our society to seek out and expunge from our laws, practices or customs all vestiges of the cruel and immoral institution of slavery.

"Any reference to slavery in Section 25 of the Kentucky Constitution should be expressly limited to its unconditional prohibition.

"The Kentucky Commission on Human Rights stands with and all civil and human rights advocates that promote civil and human rights and all Kentucky citizens of goodwill, to encourage and recommend that the General Assembly pass appropriate legislation to begin the process of amending Section 25 of the Kentucky Constitution to remove any reference to, or suggestion that, slavery is acceptable for any reason in Kentucky, including as a punishment for crime."