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If CA’s #COVID-19 mortality rate was equal to the rate in San Quentin Prison, then *300,000+* Californians would have died.
Where did we go wrong & how do we start getting it right? (thread) https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-08-11/san-quentin-coronavirus-herd-immunity-covid-19
Where did we go wrong & how do we start getting it right? (thread) https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-08-11/san-quentin-coronavirus-herd-immunity-covid-19
The first incarcerated individuals were diagnosed with COVID in March. Infections soared following transfers from prisons with known outbreaks. In #SanQuentin alone, there have been 2200+ cases and 25 deaths. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-08-11/san-quentin-coronavirus-herd-immunity-covid-19
Many families & friends of those in prison are kept in the dark about their loved one’s health. One mother started looking for answers, but found that “everybody started hanging up in my face.” https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jul/03/california-prisons-coronavirus-covid-19-health
Releases during COVID-19 brought the CA prison population below 100,000 for the first time in 30 years. Nearly 6,000 were released by the end of July, with thousands more to be considered for early release in August.
Of those released early, few have access to necessary resources. Many are released without a COVID test result & told to take public transit home; some have no home to go to & with few beds reserved for recently released individuals, options are limited. https://www.npr.org/2020/04/09/830394249/advocates-inmates-released-early-due-to-pandemic-need-help-to-safely-shelter
The We the Unhoused podcast even noted that some people recently released from incarceration hadn’t even been told that COVID-19 was happening. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-29-a-tale-of-two-boardwalks/id1490017575?i=1000486014701
These issues impact communities like #AD64 with higher incarceration rates the most. One study found that the incarceration rate at age 30 for people who grew up on LA’s Westside was ~0%, compared to 7% in places like Compton and parts of South LA. https://www.brookings.edu/research/work-and-opportunity-before-and-after-incarceration/
Incarceration is a public health emergency. People have poor living conditions with little access to hygiene. Even before COVID, overcrowding in CA prisons caused enough suffering to be ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
We can’t wait to reimagine public safety. We need #CareNotCages #DefundThePolice #FreeThemAll #BlackLivesMatter 
It’s time we:
Prioritize decarceration
Properly fund re-entry services
End cash bail
Provide those who are incarcerated with proper health care
Support families with incarcerated loved ones
Learn more about our vision at http://www.fatimaforassembly.com
Prioritize decarcerationProperly fund re-entry servicesEnd cash bailProvide those who are incarcerated with proper health careSupport families with incarcerated loved onesLearn more about our vision at http://www.fatimaforassembly.com
