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1/ Advocates & advocacy groups - please LISTEN! You can call for immeadiate action without making the violent/nonviolent distinction. I know it’s well-meaning, but it can do A LOT of damage to the criminal justice reform narrative. #COVID19 #cjreform
2/ You can say “release the elderly/sick” without saying “leave the juveniles”. You can say “release people” without saying “leave the violent offenders to die”. You can say “release those awaiting trial” without throwing those jailed for tech violations or who are convicted away
3/ Make your evidence-based arguments for your desired outcomes - WITHOUT harming others in the process. Offer to be a part of solutions. Tell the stories of humans who do not deserve to die slow, painful deaths when it could have been prevented. #valueallhumans #COVID19
4/ Continue to educate a scared public & overwhelmed policy makers (with no expertise or lived experience) on the difference between a person & their conviction type, the disparities in our system, the context in which violence happens & inaccurate perceptions of dangerousness.
5/ Amplify the message that one person in harms way places each and everyone there. Let’s look at smart and measured responses, while insisting on truth telling. Lives are at risk. Leaving the incarcerated to die is not Justice. #peoplenotprisons #cjreform
This urgent & uphill advocacy effort must be undertaken TOGETHER. Viruses do not look at court records, registries or criminal histories. They look for HUMANS to infect. And that my friend, is ALL of US. /END #COVID19 #valueallhumans
